The Convención Latinoamericana de Narcóticos Anónimos (CLANA 2027) is bringing members of Narcotics Anonymous together in Bogotá, Colombia, May 27–30, 2027. The official CLANA site describes the convention as a gathering centered on recovery, service, and Latin American unity. Foro Zonal Latino Americano
For travelers, Bogotá makes CLANA especially interesting. Colombia's capital sits high in the Andes at about 2,640 meters (8,660 feet) above sea level, combining historic neighborhoods, major museums, mountain views, Colombian food, and a large international airport in one destination. Visit Bogotá
If you're traveling to Bogotá for CLANA 2027, you can build quite a bit of sightseeing around convention hours without turning the weekend into an exhausting itinerary.
Getting to Bogotá
Most international visitors will arrive through El Dorado International Airport (BOG), Bogotá's primary airport and one of Colombia's main international gateways. Bogotá's official tourism organization notes that El Dorado connects the city with more than 25 countries as well as numerous domestic destinations. Visit Bogotá
From the airport, travelers have several ground-transportation options. Official airport taxis operate from designated pickup areas, while public transportation connects the airport with Bogotá's TransMilenio system. The airport also sells the rechargeable Tullave card, which can be used on TransMilenio and SITP buses. El Dorado Airport
For a first visit—especially after a long international flight—an authorized airport taxi can be the simpler choice. Once you're settled, Bogotá's transit network becomes much more useful for moving between different parts of the city.
Give Yourself Time to Adjust to Bogotá's Altitude
Bogotá's elevation is one travel detail worth taking seriously. At approximately 2,640 meters above sea level, the city is considerably higher than many visitors are accustomed to. Visit Bogotá
That makes the first day a good time to keep things simple: settle in, eat, hydrate, get some rest, and avoid packing every available hour with sightseeing. If you arrive a day before CLANA begins, consider making that arrival day your easiest day rather than immediately tackling a long walking itinerary.
Bogotá's mountain climate also means temperatures are milder than travelers may expect from a city relatively close to the equator. Official tourism information gives a typical year-round range of roughly 9°C to 20°C (48°F to 68°F). Layers and a light rain jacket are practical additions to your luggage. Visit Bogotá
Explore La Candelaria
If you have only a few hours to explore Bogotá, La Candelaria is one of the easiest places to concentrate your sightseeing.
This is Bogotá's historic center, filled with cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, plazas, museums, cafés, restaurants, churches, bookstores, galleries, and street art. Plaza de Bolívar and several of the city's major historic landmarks are in this part of town. Visit Bogotá
Instead of trying to race across Bogotá between convention sessions, you could devote one open morning or afternoon to La Candelaria and explore on foot.
It's also a useful neighborhood for combining sightseeing with lunch or coffee rather than scheduling separate trips for everything.
Visit the Gold Museum
One of Bogotá's signature cultural attractions is the Museo del Oro — Gold Museum, located near Santander Park in the historic center.
Its collections explore the metalwork, archaeology, beliefs, and traditions of Indigenous societies that inhabited what is now Colombia. The museum is also conveniently located near a TransMilenio station bearing its name, making it a relatively straightforward stop for visitors using public transportation. Visit Bogotá
This is a particularly useful CLANA-weekend option because a museum visit can fit into a limited block of free time without requiring an entire day away from the convention.
Check the museum's current official hours before heading over, particularly if you're planning your visit around Sunday or a Colombian holiday.
See Bogotá From Monserrate
For one of the city's most recognizable views, head toward Monserrate.
The mountain rises above Bogotá's eastern side, with the summit reaching more than 3,000 meters above sea level. Visitors can reach the top by funicular or cable car, and the summit provides sweeping views across Bogotá along with walking areas and the historic sanctuary. Visit Bogotá
Because you're already starting from Bogotá's high elevation, don't feel obligated to turn Monserrate into a strenuous hike. For a convention trip, the funicular or cable car may make much more sense than spending a large part of your available time and energy climbing.
On a clear day, the viewpoint also gives you a sense of just how enormous Bogotá really is.
Combine Monserrate and La Candelaria
If you have a larger block of free time, Monserrate and La Candelaria work particularly well together.
Bogotá's official tourism organization actually features a walking-oriented visitor route combining Monserrate, La Candelaria, Plaza de Bolívar, the Gold Museum, and traditional food in the historic center. Visit Bogotá
You don't need to complete the entire route. For a convention weekend, it may be better to pick two or three stops and leave yourself enough time to return without rushing.
A morning at Monserrate followed by lunch and a walk through La Candelaria, for example, can provide a substantial Bogotá experience without consuming your entire trip.
What to Eat in Bogotá
Bogotá is an excellent place to try traditional Colombian food, and ajiaco santafereño is one of the city's signature dishes.
Ajiaco is a hearty soup traditionally made with chicken, several types of potato, corn, and guascas, usually served with accompaniments such as avocado, rice, cream, and capers. Bogotá's tourism office identifies it as one of the city's emblematic foods. Visit Bogotá
La Candelaria is particularly convenient for traditional food. The neighborhood's dining scene includes ajiaco, tamales, changua, Colombian-style hot chocolate, cafés, and both traditional and contemporary Colombian cooking. Visit Bogotá
For someone traveling primarily for CLANA, this makes food exploration easy: you don't necessarily need a separate culinary itinerary. Pick a neighborhood you're already visiting and make the meal part of the outing.
Getting Around Bogotá During CLANA
Bogotá is a very large city, so it's better to think in terms of neighborhoods than individual attractions scattered across the map.
TransMilenio and SITP provide extensive public transportation, and Bogotá has developed visitor-oriented transit information to help travelers identify routes to tourist destinations. Bogotá.gov
For CLANA weekend, a practical approach is to group activities geographically. Spend one outing around La Candelaria and Monserrate rather than crossing the city several times in one day.
Traffic can also affect travel times, so give yourself extra room when returning for a convention session or heading back to El Dorado for your flight home.
If You Have an Extra Day
An extra day changes the pace of a Bogotá trip considerably.
Rather than squeezing major sights between convention activities, you can give the historic center its own day, spend more time exploring Bogotá's food scene, or simply slow down and enjoy the city without constantly watching the clock.
Bogotá's tourism offerings extend far beyond the handful of places mentioned here, so CLANA can easily become the centerpiece of a longer Colombian trip rather than the only thing you do while you're in town.
For many members, though, the best trip may be the simplest one: arrive early enough to settle in, participate in the convention, choose one or two Bogotá experiences that genuinely interest you, share some meals with friends, and leave enough space to enjoy the reason you traveled in the first place.
Find the Event and Plan Your Visit
View CLANA 2027 in our NA Event Directory
Official CLANA 2027 event information
Convention details can change as the event approaches, so use the official CLANA 2027 source above for the latest information about the convention itself. The official page currently confirms Bogotá and May 27–30, 2027. Foro Zonal Latino Americano
Photo credit: Photo by tommy picone via Pexels.