Gastronomic Crawl in Bogotá, Colombia

A food tour in Bogotá that feels like a plan, not a chore. In about 4.5 hours, I love how it strings together classic Colombian flavors with stops that each have a specific specialty, from a proper bistró dinner to a dessert focused entirely on roscones. I also like the cacao experience ending with chocolate tastings that go beyond a random sweet bite. One thing to consider: most of the drinks after the first stop are not included, so bring a little extra cash if you plan to sip along the way.

If you’re arriving in town and want English-speaking help getting oriented, this is a friendly way to do it. The group is capped at 50, it starts at 5:30 pm, and you’ll finish close by in the same Usaquén area, which keeps the evening simple. Also, if the weather is poor, the tour may be moved or refunded since good weather is required.

Key Highlights You Will Feel Fast

• Dinner plus dessert plus tastings in one 4.5-hour route, not just samples that leave you hungry
• Usaquén is the setting, with a start and end that stay in the same neighborhood area
• Legado’s cacao stop focuses on regional Colombian cacao and sustainability-minded production
• Roscón-focused dessert stop where you can pick from traditional stuffed options
• Pedro Mandinga rum bar finish with a 20% discount on what you order there
• Up to 50 people max, so it’s social without turning chaotic

Bogotá’s Usaquén Food Crawl: The Value Pitch (and Who It Fits)

For $75 per person and about 4.5 hours, this tour is built like a meal itinerary first, a tasting route second. You start with a two-course dinner plus an artisanal soda, then you move through a dessert stop and a cacao stop where the portions are clearly meant to be tasted, not just glanced at. You even end with a rum bar where you get 20% off the check, which helps turn the last stop from an optional hangout into a satisfying finale.

This is ideal if you want a guided night out that gives structure. It also works well when you want a taste of Colombian food and sweets without needing to research where to go while you’re tired. It is also a good pick for couples, since the first dinner stop is set up for a shared, two-course menu and the pacing is easy to follow.

One practical note: drinks at the second and third locations are not included, and drinks at the last location are also not included. The included items cover a lot, but if you’re the type who orders extra sodas, juices, or cocktail-style drinks, budgeting ahead is smart.

Getting Oriented: Meeting Point, Timing, and What 4.5 Hours Really Means

You meet at Canasto Picnic Bistró in Usaquén, at Cl. 118 #6-45, and the tour begins at 5:30 pm. You finish at Pedro Mandinga Rum Bar, Cl. 117 #6a-05, also in Usaquén. Since the start and end are in the same neighborhood, you avoid the awkward “what now” feeling that can happen with tours that crisscross the city.

The tour runs about 4 hours 30 minutes, and each of the four stops is roughly one hour. That timing matters. You get enough time to eat and enjoy the explanations, but you’re not stuck in one place so long that the rest of the route loses its fun.

It also helps that the meeting point is described as near public transportation, which makes your arrival easier. You’ll receive confirmation at booking time, and the tour uses a mobile ticket, which is one less thing to manage during the day.

Group size is capped at 50 travelers, so you get a social vibe without the sense that you’re shouting over a crowd. If you prefer quieter meals, the pacing still feels manageable because the stops are different types of venues, not all restaurants packed back-to-back.

Stop 1, Canasto Picnic Bistró: A Two-Course Colombian Dinner Start

The evening kicks off at Canasto Picnic Bistró in Usaquén. This first stop is designed as your meal foundation, with an exclusive menu for the tour that highlights Colombian flavors using local ingredients. You get a two-course meal, plus an artisanal soda.

What I like about starting here is that the dinner is not an afterthought. Many food crawls start with something small and “introductory,” then the schedule gets stingy. Here, the meal structure is clear: you eat, you settle into the evening, and you get a real sense of Colombian flavor before the sweets.

Also, the dinner stop is a social part of the tour. You’re there for about an hour, which gives you time to talk with your group, listen to the guide, and ask questions while you’re eating rather than trying to figure it out between bites.

If you have picky eating habits, this is the point where you’ll want to pay attention. The menu is an exclusive tour menu, and the included items are defined, so you should be comfortable with a standard set of starter and main before you sign up.

Stop 2, The Rosconería: Dessert That’s Basically a Main Character

Next comes The Rosconería, a restaurant built around roscones. This is not a dessert stop where you quickly split something and move on. It’s a focused, specialty experience.

You’ll have a sweet stuffed roscon, and you can choose from six options of traditional flavors. The stop is about an hour, so you get time to pick your style and enjoy the explanation of what makes a roscon special in this context.

Here’s the practical reason I’m into this stop: it forces the tour to be fun. Instead of treating dessert like a small token, it becomes a real tasting moment. And because it’s centered on one iconic Colombian sweet, you learn and taste within a single theme.

As with most food tours, drinks at this second location are not included. If you want a beverage with dessert, plan for it. But even without extra drinks, the included roscon is set up to be satisfying.

Stop 3, Legado: Cacao, Tropical Flavors, and a 70% Bar

After dessert, the route gets smarter and more flavorful at Legado – Cacao Experience. This stop is an artisanal cacao factory and shop, with an emphasis on working with different regional varieties of Colombian cacao in a sustainable way to support local producers.

You’ll get a tasting of:

• two filled chocolate bonbons with tropical flavors
• a small chocolate bar of 70% regional cacao

This is where the tour goes beyond simply feeding you. The value is in the contrast: creamy filled bonbons with tropical notes, then a stronger 70% bar that gives you that more intense cacao character. That combination helps you taste cacao in more than one form.

The stop also matters because it adds a production perspective. You’re not just consuming sweets, you’re seeing how the cacao story gets translated into actual chocolate products.

If you’re the kind of person who likes to buy a souvenir after tasting something you really enjoy, this is typically the best time to browse. The tour time gives you a chance to learn what you like before you decide what to take home.

Stop 4, Pedro Mandinga Rum Bar: The Finale with a 20% Check Discount

The tour finishes at Pedro Mandinga Rum Bar in the same Usaquén area. This is a specialized rum bar that mixes quality rum with ingredients like local fruits and edible plants.

At Pedro Mandinga, you get 20% off the check. That discount is meaningful because drinks are not included at this last stop. So the ending is designed so you can either have one or two items with a deal, or simply use the discount as a nudge to make the final stop feel complete.

This final stop adds variety right after chocolate. Rum, fruit notes, and edible-plant flavors can feel like a different world compared to sweets, which keeps the evening from turning into a single-flavor blur.

Also, the vibe here is often where the group energy is highest because you’ve done the hard part already. You’re done eating included items, and now you can choose what you want to sip or snack from the bar menu.

The Guide Factor: Why People Remember the Host

A strong food tour depends on the guide, not just the menu. This one is led by guides who are described as friendly, chatty, and strong on explaining Colombian gastronomy.

Two names that come up in connection with this experience are Liz and Carolina Navas. Both are highlighted for making the evening feel fun and easy, and for providing good presentation and a solid grasp of the places you visit. That matters because the tour is only 4.5 hours. You want those explanations to land quickly and clearly, especially when you’re eating as you go.

Even better, in some stops you may hear short stories directly from the people behind the counters or owners, which can add a personal layer to what you’re tasting.

Practical Tips So You Enjoy It More

A food crawl is only as enjoyable as your energy level. Since this tour includes a two-course dinner and multiple sweets, I suggest you keep your lunch light.

A few things to plan for:

• Budget a little extra for drinks at the rosconería, cacao stop, and rum bar since they are not included.
• Wear comfortable shoes, because you’ll be moving between venues over several hours.
• Arrive on time. The start is 5:30 pm, and the pacing depends on everyone getting seated and tasting within the hour per stop.
• Come hungry, but don’t overdo it before the tour. The included portions are substantial.

Language is listed as English, so you should be fine if you don’t speak Spanish. Still, knowing a few polite phrases in Spanish can make the experience warmer, since you’ll be dining in small specialty spots.

Price Check: What $75 Buys You (and Why It Feels Fair)

At $75 per person, the value is strongest when you treat it as a full evening meal plus two specialty stops.

Here’s what’s included:

• Dinner: appetizer, main course, and an artisanal soda
• Dessert: a stuffed sweet roscon
• Cacao tastings: two filled bonbons plus a small 70% cacao bar
• Discount: 20% off your check at the rum bar

The drinks you might want at the dessert and cacao stops and at the rum bar are not included, so that’s the one part you might add on yourself. But the included menu already covers the heavy lift: you get the meal, the dessert, and the chocolate tasting.

If you were to do each stop independently, you would still likely spend a similar amount once you add a dinner, a dessert purchase, and at least one tasting. The big advantage here is the structure and guidance, plus the fact that you know you’re getting a set sequence rather than guessing where to go that night.

Weather and Other Reality Checks

This experience requires good weather. If the tour is canceled due to poor weather, you should expect a different date offer or a full refund.

The tour also requires a minimum number of travelers. If it does not meet that minimum, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. If you’re planning around a tight schedule, keep an eye on your booking details close to departure.

Should You Book This Bogotá Gastronomic Crawl?

Yes, if you want a straightforward, food-forward evening in Usaquén that mixes meal, dessert, chocolate tasting, and a rum bar finish. I’d book it when you want structure, when you enjoy Colombian flavors, and when you like the idea of choosing a roscon flavor and tasting cacao in more than one form.

I would think twice if you dislike sweets or if you already know you plan to spend heavily on drinks. Because only the first stop’s soda is included, your evening extras at the second, third, and last locations will be out of pocket.

If you’re new to Bogotá or you just want an efficient way to spend one evening eating well and learning as you go, this route is a strong value.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at Canasto Picnic Bistró (Usaquén) at Cl. 118 #6-45, Usaquén, Bogotá. It ends at Pedro Mandinga Rum Bar at Cl. 117 #6a-05, Usaquén, Bogotá.

What time does the experience begin?

The start time is 5:30 pm.

How long is the tour?

The duration is approximately 4 hours 30 minutes.

Is the tour in English?

Yes, it is offered in English.

What is included in the price?

Included are dinner (appetizer, main course, and an artisanal soda), a stuffed sweet roscon, two filled chocolate bonbons plus a small 70% cacao bar, and 20% off the check at the rum bar.

What is not included?

Drinks at the rosconería and cacao locations are not included, and drinks at the rum bar are also not included.

Is there a group size limit?

Yes. The maximum group size is 50 travelers.

Is the tour near public transportation?

Yes. The start location is listed as near public transportation.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled due to poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance of the experience start time. If you cancel less than 24 hours before, the amount paid is not refunded.