Camino Real (Colombia)
The Camino Real was a riding and driving route of the Spanish Crown in Colombia , which led from Girardot ( ⊙ ) to Bogotá ( ⊙ ).
It overcomes an altitude difference of 2400 m over a distance of approx. 120 km. It used to take a week to travel from Girardot to Bogotá on the Camino Real. Shortly after the founding of Bogotá on the Sabana de Bogotá in central Colombia, the need to establish a route to the Colombian north coast that was always feasible in order to secure the connection with the motherland Spain via the ports there became apparent. The idea of following the course of the Río Magdalena upstream from the port cities of Cartagena and Barranquilla as far as possible , namely to Girardot , was an obvious one.
The mule track , which is still somewhat original in many parts, leads, sometimes very narrow and steep, along the southern bank of the Río Bogotá via Viotá , Mesitas del Colegio and Santandercito up to the plateau of Bogotá . Shortly before reaching it, you pass the famous Salto del Tequendama , a spectacular waterfall. Further sights: zoological garden in Santandercito, right on the way, Parque Natural Chicaque , southwest of Soacha .