Chorro de Quevedo

The Chorro de Quevedo is the legendary birthplace of Bogotá, a tiny plaza in the historic La Candelaria district traditionally regarded as the spot where the Spanish founded the city in 1538. Tucked at the end of a narrow lane, it is one of the capital's most atmospheric corners.

The little square takes its name from a colonial water spout. A priest named Quevedo once owned the site and its fountain, which supplied water to the early city. A small chapel now stands on the plaza, and the surrounding buildings preserve the low, whitewashed, tile-roofed look of colonial Bogotá.

Today it is a hub of bohemian street life. By day, artists and vendors set up in the plaza, and the famously narrow Callejón del Embudo, a funnel-shaped alley lined with murals and craft stalls, leads off it toward cafés serving chicha, a traditional fermented maize drink. By night, students, travelers and storytellers gather, and impromptu performances fill the space.

The plaza sits in the heart of La Candelaria, Bogotá's colonial old town of steep streets, universities, museums and street art. From here it is a short walk to the Botero Museum, the Gold Museum and the grand Plaza de Bolívar, so the Chorro makes a natural starting point for exploring the district on foot. The cable car and funicular up the Monserrate mountain shrine are also close by, and street food carts around the plaza sell tamales and hot chocolate against the cold. The area is best enjoyed by day and early evening with normal city awareness. Bogotá sits high in the Andes, so the climate is cool year-round; the drier spells around December to March and July to August bring the most comfortable weather for wandering La Candelaria and its historic little plazas.