Maps and Directions
Here is a printable map of Bogota in Adobe Acrobat format (1mb).
Arriving in Bogota
These directions assume you're arriving by air. The directions are essentially the same if you arrive by bus, except the bus terminal is closer to town than the airport. Here's the view as you leave the airport:
You'll see many people crowded around the exit.
As you leave, on the right there is a taxi stand. Tell them the address (Calle 16 #2-43) and they will give you a slip of paper with the correct price. Do not give this paper to the driver! If you arrive by bus, there is also a taxi stand that provides this service at the bus terminal.
If you want to take a bus to the Platypus, walk away and left from the terminal across the big street towards the parking lot. There is a lane for buses and a waiting area. Look for a bus that has "GERMANIA" written on the sign in the front window, like this:
This bus goes directly up Calle 26 (also called Avenida El Dorado) for around 45 minutes. At Carrera 13, the bus turns right, travels about 6 blocks, then left up Calle 19. The bus stops near the traffic circle at Carrera 3.
Get off the bus and look towards the mountains. You may need to walk up a few meters until you reach a wide, brick and concrete pedestrian walkway on the right. There is a TransMilenio bus station here. Turn right and walk down that walkway towards the round monument in the middle - this is the Parque de las Periodistas. Across the street and slightly to the left of the monument is the L-shaped Banco de Bogota building. The street behind that building is Calle 16. Walk up Calle 16 (uphill) until you see the Platypus painted on a green building on the right side.
To see a panoramic view of this walkway and the Parque de las Periodistas, click the picture below (if you're on a slow connection, be aware, it's a big picture!). Calle 19 and the TransMilenio station are at the end of the path to the left. On the right side of the picture, the L-shaped Banco de Bogota building is to the left of the round monument.
