Bogotá: Clouds, Cold and Chicha Soul

The Altitude Ambush: Sitting at 2,640 meters, Bogotá leaves most visitors winded after two flights of stairs on day one - locals will tell you to skip the coffee and alcohol the first night and drink agua de panela instead. Four Seasons in One Day: Rolos joke that Bogotá has every season before lunch - bright sun at 9 AM, downpour by noon, cold wind at 4 PM - nobody leaves home without a jacket regardless of the forecast. Rolo Formality: Locals from the capital speak careful, grammatically precise Spanish and greet strangers with 'con mucho gusto' rather than a casual hola - it can read as cold to visitors from the coast, but it's simply the local register. Ciclovía Sunday Takeover: Every Sunday and holiday from 7 AM to 2 PM, 120+ km of main roads close to cars entirely, and the whole city turns into a giant bike lane - drivers plan errands around it, not the other way around. TransMilenio Sardine Reality: The BRT system that locals love to complain about is also the backbone of daily life for millions - rush hour (6-9 AM, 4-7 PM) is a full-contact sport, and pickpocketing is common enough that locals carry bags in front of their bodies.

Ciclovía: Every Sunday and public holiday, year-round, from 7 AM to 2 PM - one of the largest recurring car-free events on the planet, with families, cyclists, skaters and joggers filling streets that are gridlocked with traffic the other six days. Novenas de Navidad: December 16-24, families and neighbors gather each night to pray, sing villancicos and eat natilla and buñuelos - skipping a novena night is treated as genuinely rude if you've been invited. Amor y Amistad: Third Saturday of September, Colombia's version of Valentine's Day for friends and coworkers - offices run 'amigo secreto' (secret friend) gift exchanges for weeks beforehand. Alumbrado Navideño: Early December through January, the city switches on massive light displays along the Río Medellín-style routes and around Parque de la 93 and Salitre - families do a nighttime driving or walking tour to see them.

Festival Estéreo Picnic - March/April: One of Latin America's biggest international music festivals, held at Parque Simón Bolívar, drawing global headliners and tens of thousands of young bogotanos. Feria Internacional del Libro de Bogotá (FILBo) - April/May: One of the largest book fairs in the Spanish-speaking world at Corferias, taken seriously by a genuinely bookish city. Rock al Parque - Late June/early July: Free, city-run rock festival in Parque Simón Bolívar that's been running since 1995 and is a rite of passage for teenage bogotanos. Amor y Amistad Season - Mid-September: Weeks of office gift exchanges and friend dinners lead up to the third Saturday of the month. Alumbrados and Novenas - December: Christmas lights switch on citywide in early December, followed by nightly family novena prayers through Christmas Eve.

Ajiaco Santafereño at La Puerta Falsa: The definitive Bogotá dish - a thick soup made with three types of potato (including the local guasca herb for its distinctive flavor), chicken, corn on the cob, capers and cream, always served with avocado on the side; this two-century-old spot in La Candelaria is where locals send visiting family. Chicha Culture: The fermented corn drink predates the Spanish and was once banned by the government as a public-health and social-control measure - today it's had a comeback in chicherías in Chapinero and around Plaza del Chorro de Quevedo, drunk slightly sour and served in a clay cup called a 'totuma'. Chocolate Santafereño Breakfast: Hot chocolate with a chunk of queso costeño melted directly into the cup, eaten with buttered bread or almojábana - locals debate whether the cheese belongs in the cup or on the side, and it's a genuinely divisive local topic. Tamales Santafereños on Sunday: Corn dough steamed in plantain leaves with chicken, pork, rice and chickpeas, traditionally eaten for Sunday breakfast with hot chocolate - families order them ahead from a trusted 'tamalera' rather than buying from just anywhere. Fritanga Nights: A mixed grill of chorizo, morcilla (blood sausage), chicharrón and potatoes shared at the table, usually late at night after drinks - not a health food, and locals know it. Street Obleas and Fruit: Paper-thin wafers stacked with arequipe, cheese and fruit jam sold from carts around universities and parks, alongside cups of mango biche (sliced green mango with salt and lime) - cheap, ubiquitous, and something every rolo grew up eating after school. Bogotá's plate is only one regional style within a broader Colombian food culture that shifts dramatically between the highlands, the coast and the Amazon.

Rolo Reserve: Bogotanos are famously more formal and reserved on first meeting than Colombians from the Caribbean coast or Cali - it's not coldness, it's a cultural default that warms up considerably once you're not a stranger anymore. Handshake Then Cheek: A firm handshake opens a business interaction; a single cheek kiss (right cheek, even between men and women who've just met socially) is standard once things move to a social register. Class Consciousness (Estratos): Bogotá assigns every building a socioeconomic 'estrato' from 1 to 6 that determines utility rates and subtly shapes where people say they live - locals read a neighborhood's estrato instantly and it comes up in casual conversation more than outsiders expect. Punctuality Paradox: Business meetings expect you on time; social plans run on 'hora colombiana,' which can mean 30-45 minutes of grace - showing up exactly on time to a party can mean waiting alone with the host. Titles Matter: Addressing someone as 'doctor' or 'doctora' is common even outside medicine or law, as a mark of respect for anyone with authority or education - locals use it liberally with older strangers, landlords, and officials. Bogotá's formality contrasts with the warmer, more laid-back pace found in smaller Colombian cities like Bucaramanga, where the Rolo reserve gives way to Santandereano directness.

Regional Identity: "Rolo/a" (ROH-lo) = person from Bogotá - used both affectionately and as a mild stereotype for being reserved and not much of a dancer. Essential Slang: "Parce" or "Parcero" (PAR-seh / par-SEH-ro) = friend/dude - safe to use with almost anyone your age or younger. "Chévere" (CHEH-veh-reh) = cool/great - used constantly across generations. "¿Qué más?" (keh mahs) = what's up? - the standard opening to any casual greeting. Bogotá-Specific: "Berraco/a" (beh-RAH-ko) = tough, impressive, or difficult depending on tone - highly versatile compliment or complaint. "Vaina" (VAI-nah) = thing/stuff, filler word used constantly - 'esa vaina' can mean almost any object or situation. "Guaro" (GWAH-ro) = aguardiente, the anise-flavored liquor locals drink at parties. Politeness: "Con mucho gusto" (kon MOO-cho GOOS-toh) = with pleasure/nice to meet you - the standard, slightly formal Rolo greeting response. "A la orden" (ah lah OR-den) = at your service - said by shopkeepers and street vendors constantly, doesn't require a purchase. Food Terms: "Tinto" (TEEN-toh) = small black coffee, not red wine - saying you want 'tinto' in Bogotá always means coffee.

TransMilenio (BRT):

• COP 3,550 flat fare with a TuLlave card (card itself costs around COP 5,000)
• Runs roughly 4:30 AM to 11 PM on dedicated bus lanes across the city
• Locals load credit onto the card rather than buying single trips, and avoid the 6-9 AM and 4-7 PM rush windows when possible
• Keep bags in front of your body - pickpocketing is a known risk in packed carriages

SITP Buses:

• Same TuLlave card and fare as TransMilenio, feeder buses reach neighborhoods the BRT trunk lines don't
• Slower but less crowded, locals use them for the 'last mile' home

Uber and Taxis:

• Uber operates in a legal gray area but is widely used and typically COP 8,000-25,000 for an in-city trip
• Regulated taxis have an official minimum fare around COP 8,000, plus a roughly COP 8,100 surcharge to/from El Dorado airport
• Locals always ask for taxis to be called via app (Taxis Libres, Tappsi) rather than hailed at night for safety

Ciclovía and Cycling:

• Free every Sunday and holiday, 7 AM-2 PM, on over 120 km of closed main roads
• Bogotá has one of Latin America's largest permanent bike-lane networks (ciclorrutas), and many locals commute by bike year-round despite the cold mornings
• Bike rentals run roughly COP 15,000-30,000 per day near Usaquén and the historic center

Walking:

• La Candelaria and Chapinero are very walkable, but Bogotá's grid is enormous - locals combine walking within a neighborhood with TransMilenio or Uber between them
• Watch footing on colonial cobblestones and always confirm safe routes at night with locals or your accommodation.

Food & Drinks:

• Ajiaco or set lunch (menú del día): COP 12,000-20,000, includes soup, main and juice
• Street empanada or arepa: COP 2,000-4,000
• Tinto (small coffee) from a street vendor: COP 1,000-2,000; specialty coffee shop cappuccino: COP 6,000-10,000
• Beer at a neighborhood bar: COP 4,000-8,000; aguardiente shot: COP 4,000-6,000
• Mid-range restaurant dinner with drinks: COP 40,000-70,000 per person

Groceries (Local Markets):

• Weekly shop for two at a corner tienda/market: COP 100,000-180,000
• Fresh fruit at Paloquemao market: COP 2,000-5,000 per kilo depending on fruit
• Bread (pan): COP 1,500-3,000; bag of local coffee: COP 10,000-20,000 per 250g

Activities & Transport:

• TransMilenio/SITP fare: COP 3,550
• Monserrate cable car or funicular: roughly COP 30,000 round trip
• Museo del Oro entry: around COP 5,000 (often free on Sundays)
• Graffiti or walking tour: COP 0 (tip-based) to COP 60,000 for a private guide
• Uber across town: COP 10,000-25,000

Accommodation:

• Budget hostel dorm bed: COP 35,000-60,000/night
• Mid-range hotel: COP 150,000-280,000/night
• Boutique/luxury hotel in Zona Rosa or Usaquén: COP 350,000-700,000+/night

Year-Round Basics:

• Bogotá sits at 2,640m and holds a near-constant 8-19°C (46-66°F) year-round - there's no real summer or winter, just wetter and drier months
• Layers are non-negotiable: locals carry a jacket or scarf even on sunny mornings because afternoon rain is close to a daily habit
• UV index runs high (10+) even under cloud at this altitude, so sunscreen and sunglasses matter regardless of temperature

Seasonal Guide:

Dry Season (Dec-Feb): 9-19°C

• Sunniest, clearest stretch of the year and the most popular time to visit
• Locals still layer up for cold mornings and evenings, light jacket essential

First Rainy Season (Mar-May): 8-18°C

• Frequent afternoon downpours, pack a compact umbrella or rain shell
• Mornings can be deceptively bright before clouds build by noon

Second Dry-ish Spell (Jun-Aug): 8-19°C

• Drier than the rainy months but still unpredictable, windier in August
• Locals wear closed shoes and a warm sweater regardless of forecast

Second Rainy Season (Sep-Nov): 8-18°C

• Similar to March-May, heaviest rain typically in October
• Waterproof footwear helps on cobblestone streets in La Candelaria that flood quickly

Evening Social Scene:

• Chichería Gatherings: Chorro de Quevedo bars fill with students and locals most nights after 7 PM
• Live Music: Rock, salsa and vallenato bars throughout Chapinero and La Candelaria host regular local acts
• Language Exchange: Weekly intercambio meetups in Chapinero mix Spanish practice with beer

Sports & Recreation:

• Ciclovía Group Rides: Sunday morning group cycling from Usaquén down through the historic center
• Amateur Tejo Leagues: Neighborhood canchas de tejo host informal weekend competitions
• Ultimate Frisbee/Rugby: Parque Simón Bolívar pickup games on weekend mornings, open to newcomers

Cultural Activities:

• Graffiti and Mural Workshops: Local street artists in Candelaria occasionally run paid workshops for visitors
• Cooking Classes: Learn ajiaco and arepa preparation from home cooks through small local operators
• FILBo and Rock al Parque: City-run cultural festivals actively welcome walk-up participation and volunteers

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Community Kitchens: Several NGOs in southern Bogotá neighborhoods accept short-term volunteer help
• Environmental Groups: Jardín Botánico and páramo conservation groups run occasional public planting days

Cerro de Monserrate at Sunrise: Take the cable car or funicular up before 7 AM to watch the entire savanna wake up in fog below you, then have hot chocolate with cheese at the summit before the crowds arrive. Graffiti Tour Through La Candelaria and Egipto: Bogotá has one of the most permissive street-art scenes in Latin America (artists need only avoid painting over religious imagery, national symbols, or advertising), and walking tours led by working local artists explain murals like the Gaitán tribute pieces tied to the 1948 Bogotazo riots. La Puerta Falsa at Midnight: This 200-year-old hole-in-the-wall bakery-restaurant in La Candelaria serves tamales and hot chocolate to a mix of students, taxi drivers and tourists at all hours - going late, when it's mostly locals, is the real version. Chorro de Quevedo Chichería Crawl: The plaza where Bogotá was supposedly founded is now ringed with tiny chicherías serving fermented corn chicha out of clay cups - an unpretentious, cheap night that's more about conversation than getting drunk. Usaquén Sunday Flea Market: A colonial village swallowed by the city, now hosting a weekend antiques and crafts market with fortune tellers, empanada stalls and live music in the plaza - arrive by 11 AM before tour groups do. Ciclovía by Rented Bike: Join the Sunday car-free takeover of the city's main avenues on a rented bike and ride from Usaquén down to the historic center - it's the single best way to see how much space Bogotá reclaims from cars every week.

Paloquemao Market: The city's iconic wholesale-and-retail food market, open from before dawn, famous for its flower section and exotic fruit stalls - locals arrive by 7-8 AM for the best produce and to avoid the midday crowds. Usaquén Sunday Flea Market: Antiques, crafts, leather goods and street food fill the colonial plaza every Sunday - go before 11 AM for better prices and before tour buses arrive. Mercado de San Alejo: A smaller antiques and vintage market held the first Sunday of each month near Parque de la Independencia - locals hunt for old vinyl, coins and retro furniture here. La Perseverancia Market: A working-class neighborhood market known among gastronomes for having some of the best home-style ajiaco and traditional cooking in the city, well off the tourist trail. Corabastos: The massive wholesale market on the city's western edge, mostly for restaurant owners and bulk buyers, but a genuinely eye-opening look at how a 8-million-person city feeds itself.

Parque Simón Bolívar: The city's green lung, where locals jog, picnic, fly kites and gather for concerts - largest and most-used public park, best visited on weekday mornings if you want it quiet. Jardín Botánico José Celestino Mutis: Far less crowded than Simón Bolívar, with greenhouses and native paramo plant collections - a favorite for a slow Sunday walk among locals who want nature without festival crowds. Usaquén Plaza on a Weekday Evening: Once the market stalls clear out, the colonial plaza becomes a quiet spot for a coffee or beer as the sun sets behind the mountains. Quinta de Bolívar Gardens: The former house of Simón Bolívar, now a museum, but its gardens at the foot of Monserrate are a genuinely peaceful, half-hidden spot most tourists skip. La Candelaria Rooftops at Dusk: Several small hostels and cafés in the historic center have rooftop terraces facing the eastern hills - a low-key local habit for watching the daily afternoon rain clear out.

Chichería (chee-cheh-REE-ah): Small, often family-run bars specializing in fermented corn chicha, concentrated around Chorro de Quevedo - historically working-class spaces that have become a cultural touchstone again after decades of official disapproval. Estanco (es-TAHN-ko): Neighborhood liquor stores that double as informal bars, where locals buy a bottle of aguardiente or beer and drink standing on the sidewalk or at a plastic table out front. Cancha de Tejo (KAHN-cha deh TEH-ho): Bar attached to a tejo court, working-class and unpretentious, where the sport and the beer are equally the point. Café de Especialidad: Bogotá's third-wave coffee scene (La Candelaria and Chapinero especially) has grown fast, with baristas who'll walk you through single-origin beans from Huila or Nariño - a very different vibe from the traditional tinto stall. Rooftop Bars in Chapinero and Zona T: Upscale but not exclusive, these cater to a younger professional crowd for after-work drinks with mountain views, especially popular on Thursday and Friday nights.

Rolo Self-Deprecation: Bogotanos joke openly about their own reputation for being cold, overly formal, and terrible dancers compared to the coast or Cali - 'somos fríos pero no tanto' (we're cold but not that cold) is a common half-joking rebuttal. Weather Sarcasm: Constant jokes about needing four outfits in one day and never trusting a sunny morning - locals mock tourists who leave their hotel without a jacket because the sky 'looks fine.' Bureaucracy Gallows Humor: Long lines and paperwork for basic government processes (getting a cédula, paying certain taxes) generate endless memes and resigned jokes about 'la vuelta' (the runaround) as simply part of Colombian life. TransMilenio Complaints as Bonding: Complaining about overcrowded buses, delays, or fare hikes is a near-universal conversation starter among strangers waiting at a station - shared frustration functions as small talk.

Jorge Eliécer Gaitán: Populist political leader whose 1948 assassination in downtown Bogotá triggered the Bogotazo riots and a decade of violence known as La Violencia - his image, painted across Candelaria walls by street artists like DJLU, still carries real political weight. Fernando Botero: The world-famous 'fat figures' painter and sculptor donated dozens of his own works and personal art collection to the city, housed for free at the Museo Botero in La Candelaria - locals are quietly proud that a Medellín-born artist chose Bogotá for his most important gift. Gabriel García Márquez: Though from the Caribbean coast, the Nobel laureate lived and worked in Bogotá for years, and the Centro Cultural Gabriel García Márquez near Plaza de Bolívar (designed by his son) anchors the city's literary identity. Shakira and Juanes references aside, locally it's Andrea Echeverri: Frontwoman of rock band Aterciopelados, a Bogotá native who became the voice of Colombian alt-rock in the 1990s and remains a cultural touchstone for anyone who grew up on Rock al Parque. Débora Arango: Pioneering, controversial 20th-century painter whose nude and political works scandalized conservative Bogotá society - now celebrated retrospectively as one of Colombia's most important artists.

Fútbol Clásico Capitalino: Millonarios vs. Independiente Santa Fe is the defining local rivalry, played at Estadio El Campín and splitting friend groups and families - Millonarios fans lean blue and historically wealthier neighborhoods, Santa Fe (red) claims older working-class roots, though loyalties don't map cleanly onto class anymore. Cycling Culture: Colombia's mountain-cycling obsession (produced by Nairo Quintana and Egan Bernal) runs deep here - weekend group rides climb Patios and La Calera into the mountains east of the city before sunrise, and Bogotá is arguably the most bike-friendly capital in Latin America thanks to Ciclovía and an expanding permanent bike-lane network. Tejo: The national sport, essentially throwing a metal disc at gunpowder-packed targets, is taken completely seriously in working-class 'canchas de tejo,' usually attached to a bar - beer is mandatory, and locals will absolutely heckle a bad throw. Ultimate and Rugby Growth: Parque Simón Bolívar hosts a growing amateur ultimate frisbee and rugby scene on weekends, largely university students and young professionals, open to anyone who shows up.

Hot Chocolate with Cheese: Chocolate Santafereño served with a chunk of queso costeño dropped in to melt, then fished out and eaten, or eaten alongside dunked bread - genuinely divides locals on the 'correct' method but nobody questions the combination itself. Chicha with Street Empanadas: The tart, slightly sour fermented corn drink paired with fried, crispy empanadas at Chorro de Quevedo - a textural and flavor contrast locals consider a perfect match, not the odd pairing it seems on paper. Aguardiente with Salt-Rimmed Lime: Rather than a shot chased with anything sweet, aguardiente (anise liquor) is often drunk with a wedge of lime dipped in salt on the side - standard at any Bogotá party. Changua for Breakfast: A milk-and-water soup with scallions, cilantro, and a poached egg floating in it, served over stale bread - a peasant hangover cure that's become a nostalgic weekend breakfast for many rolos.

Catholic Backbone: The overwhelming majority identify as Catholic, and the skyline reflects it, from the colonial churches of La Candelaria to the white sanctuary crowning Monserrate - but daily practice has become notably more relaxed among younger bogotanos. Monserrate Pilgrimage: The sanctuary atop Cerro de Monserrate, reached by cable car, funicular or a genuinely tough hike, draws both tourists for the view and devout pilgrims (some climbing on their knees during Holy Week) to honor El Señor Caído. Semana Santa Processions: Holy Week sees solemn processions and packed churches across the historic center - many businesses close and families travel, so expect a quieter, slower city. Evangelical Growth: Evangelical and Pentecostal churches have grown fast in working-class neighborhoods over the past two decades - it's common to hear loud services from converted storefronts on a Sunday walk through southern barrios.

Payment Methods:

• Cards widely accepted in malls, restaurants and chains; cash still preferred at markets, small tiendas and street stalls
• Locals use Nequi and Daviplata (mobile wallet apps) constantly for peer-to-peer payments and even splitting a taxi
• ATMs (cajeros) are everywhere but withdraw cash during the day in well-lit areas, not late at night

Bargaining Culture:

• Fixed prices in shops and malls, no negotiation expected
• Light haggling is normal and accepted at craft markets like Usaquén's Sunday market or San Alejo, especially buying multiple items
• Locals never bargain over food prices at a market stall - considered disrespectful to the vendor's margins

Shopping Hours:

• Most shops run 10 AM-8 PM, malls often stay open later
• Sunday hours are shorter for small shops, though malls stay busy with families
• Traditional markets like Paloquemao open before dawn and are best visited by 8 AM

Tax & Receipts:

• 19% IVA is included in listed prices
• Tax refunds for tourists exist but require purchases at registered stores and paperwork at the airport - most travelers find it not worth the hassle for small purchases
• Ask for a 'factura' for anything valuable in case of returns or warranty issues

Absolute Essentials:

• "Hola" (OH-lah) = hello
• "Con mucho gusto" (kon MOO-cho GOOS-toh) = pleasure to meet you / you're welcome
• "Por favor" (por fah-VOR) = please
• "Gracias" (GRAH-see-ahs) = thank you
• "¿Hablas inglés?" (AH-blahs een-GLEYS) = do you speak English?

Daily Greetings:

• "Buenos días" (BWAY-nos DEE-ahs) = good morning
• "¿Qué más?" (keh mahs) = what's up?
• "¿Bien o qué?" (bee-EN oh keh) = you good?
• "Hasta luego" (AHS-tah LWAY-go) = see you later

Numbers & Practical:

• "Uno, dos, tres" (OO-no, dos, tres) = one, two, three
• "¿Cuánto cuesta?" (KWAN-to KWEH-stah) = how much does it cost?
• "¿Dónde queda...?" (DON-deh KEH-dah) = where is...?
• "Manzana" (man-SAH-nah) = city block, used constantly for directions

Food & Dining:

• "Un tinto, por favor" (oon TEEN-toh por fah-VOR) = a small coffee, please
• "¡Qué rico!" (keh REE-koh) = how delicious!
• "Sin picante" (seen pee-KAHN-teh) = without spicy sauce
• "La cuenta, por favor" (lah KWEN-tah por fah-VOR) = the check, please

Authentic Local Products:

• Colombian Coffee: Single-origin beans from Huila or Nariño - COP 15,000-30,000 per 250g bag
• Mochila Wayuu-style Bags: Handwoven bags (genuinely from La Guajira artisans if bought right) - COP 60,000-180,000
• Ruana: Traditional Boyacá wool poncho, warm and practical for the altitude - COP 80,000-200,000
• Emeralds: Colombia produces some of the world's finest, sold at certified shops in the Emerald District downtown, not street stalls

Handcrafted Items:

• Filigree Jewelry from Mompox-style silverwork sold in Candelaria craft shops - COP 40,000-150,000
• Leather Goods: Bags and wallets, especially around Usaquén market - COP 50,000-200,000
• Ceramics and Pottery: Traditional Ráquira-style pieces available in Bogotá markets - COP 20,000-90,000

Edible Souvenirs:

• Bocadillo (guava paste): COP 3,000-8,000
• Aguardiente (if traveling internationally, check customs limits): COP 25,000-40,000 per bottle
• Chocolate Santafereño blocks with spices for hot chocolate: COP 8,000-15,000

Where Locals Actually Shop:

• Usaquén Sunday Market and San Alejo for genuine crafts, not tourist-trap prices
• Paloquemao for coffee, chocolate and dried goods at local prices
• Avoid souvenir shops directly on Plaza de Bolívar - prices run noticeably higher than a few blocks away

Family-Friendliness Rating: 7/10 - Genuinely family-friendly with good infrastructure in northern neighborhoods, though altitude and traffic require planning with young kids.

Extended Family Culture: Colombian families are close-knit and multi-generational gatherings are the norm - Sunday lunches with grandparents are still common, and locals are generally warm and patient with visiting children.

Stroller Accessibility: Northern Bogotá (Usaquén, Chapinero Alto, Parque de la 93) is stroller-friendly with paved sidewalks; La Candelaria's colonial cobblestones are rough going, so a baby carrier works better there than a stroller.

Baby Facilities: Large malls (Andino, Santafé, Hacienda Santa Bárbara) have changing rooms and nursing areas; high chairs are standard in most sit-down restaurants.

Family Activities: Maloka interactive science museum, the Jardín Botánico, and Parque Simón Bolívar's playgrounds and paddleboats are all solid options with kids; Monserrate's cable car is an easy win for children who'd struggle with the hike.

Altitude Note for Families: Some children (like adults) feel altitude effects the first day or two - locals recommend a slow first 24 hours, plenty of water and avoiding heavy exertion right after arrival.