Rainbow Tourism in Chapinero
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Responder a: adelaida.ardila@gmail.com
Observaciones durante la exposición
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Cómo se maneja el hecho de que los habitantes no sean colombianos. Que
hacen, porqué están aquí, que choques culturales puede haber.
Mencionaron lo ambiental, pero qué opinan los residentes, turistas y
visitantes.
Les faltó análisis acerca de las ventajas y desventajas, que oportunidades clara
puede haber para LGBT.
Falta más profundidad con los atractivos turísticos. Y aún más específicos con
el mercado al que se están enfocando. (hablaron más sobre servicios
turísticos, son importantes, pero el inventario de atractivos es también vital
para entender la dinámica del lugar.
Cómo es la dinámica entre la comunidad LGBT y las demás personas de la
comunidad de la localidad.
Cómo la administración hace que se solucionen esas debilidades,
especialmente en lo referente a la contaminación y las basuras.
Rainbow Tourism in Chapinero
María Adelaida Ardila, María José Parra,
Jessica Johanna Rodríguez, Ángela María Vásquez
March 2013
Rainbow Tourism in Chapinero
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Rainbow Tourism in Chapinero
Chapinero is one of the localities of Bogota, and as such has a great field of study.
It covers an area of almost 4000 hectares, and has many different spots that, by
themselves, could give material of study to a whole project. This is why this paper will
work in a more limited space, that is delimited in the Figure 1 and goes from the 53th
to the 67th street, and from the Caracas Avenue to the Circunvalar Avenue. An
explanation as to how the area has been delimited, at least provisionally, into these
streets, will be found further down this project. Figure 2 is a broad characterization of
the area, where the interest of the group in this sector of the city is explained more in
detail. However, a general analysis of the whole locality will be performed to be able
to get a perspective big enough to see what the culture, the social aspect and the ambient
of the more enclosed area are. Its limits are the following:
 To the north, with the locality of Usaquen (street 100)
 To the south with the locality Santa Fe (Avenue 39)
 To the east with the Oriental Mountains and the municipality of La Calera
 To the west with the localities of Barrios Unidos and Teusaquillo (Northern
Highway y Caracas Avenue)
Almost three percent of the inhabitants of Bogota live in this area of the city: about
166.000 people. Of them, more than half has a higher education degree (50.3% in total;
15,6% have a doctorate or a master) and many of them are foreigners (they come from
other parts of the country [40%] or the world [4%]). The tendency in Chapinero is
reflected in households of one of two persons (56,9% of the total, singles and couples
most possibly).1 It has the highest rate of employment at city and the majority of these
employees are located at the field of services and trade. The majority of enterprises at
the locality are PYMES, followed by big ones.
This social data can be translated in a general characterization of the residents of
Chapinero. With this higher level of education, and the high affluence of foreigners
(both national and international) it is possible to say that the area is multicultural and
1
This data is according to the census done by the DANE (Administrative Department
of National Statistics) in 2005, the last one done in the country.
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probably much more tolerant than one without these details. Education tends to open
the minds of people, to show them, among other things, more sides of the same coin
and to help them understand. Moreover, many of them (7%) have had some kind of
international migratory experience, where they have met and lived with new cultures
(at least to them). The age groups that are stronger are between 20 and 34 years, and
this, combined with the predominant household structure, puts in evidence that, at least
in some ways, Chapinero is a neighborhood that is a given preference among young,
educated people.
That said Chapinero has been a traditional part of Bogota since the beginning of the
XXth century, when the city was living a rapid growth. Now it is the result of numerous
transformations, which have come to make this district known as a living place for the
LGBTI for at least a decade. After the social characterization done in the precedent
paragraphs, it is possible to see why these communities have come to call this place
home: we have interpreted, from official statistics, how the composition of the general
inhabitants of the area would tend to be of an open-minded nature. And, as them
established in the area, numerous businesses opened, focused on catering to its demand.
This also contributes to a bigger interaction and the increase of tolerance between this
community and the rest of the people, and could also lead to make this area a touristic
destination. Some of those organizations are focused at the demand of LGBTI or the
so-called “Pink market”. Slowly they have become a reference point in this territory
that, maybe, translates in a touristic destination.
The history of a place, in this case Chapinero, gives a good idea as to how it has
come to be what it is, and how past events can still have some influence in the daily
life, attitudes of people or different dynamics of the area. A territory, after all, is not
only a piece of land, but something that almost has a life of its own, that absorbs history,
events, culture, and then influences and shapes the different interactions between its
inhabitants- as well as its visitors.
We are going to begin with history and, to understand how this part of the city could
be seen as a touristic destination, we are going to begin with the XIXth century. The
Lourdes Church, and icon of the locality, was built in 1875, with a gothic style that is
almost unique in the city. However, at the time Chapinero did not exist. I it only since
the Municipal Agreement of December 17th of the year 1885, when a group of houses
received the name of Chapinero. That name is owed to chapines, a well-known kind of
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shoe made of wood. These shoes were used to protect feet from mud. A year before the
tramway (first powered by mules, then, after 1910, by electricity) had been opened.
Over the years, it helped to integrate this suburb with the centre of the city until 1948,
when it was destroyed in the Bogotazo.
But, most importantly, if we take an overlook at the locality’s history we can see
that this neighborhood was a place where people went to relax at weekends and to find
entertainment. This activity was a typical familiar plan, and the majority of these
families had high incomes, fact that explains why the presence of estates with colonial
characteristics, museums and well-known churches that rise the cultural wealth.
According to the book Miradas a Chapinero (Ortega et al, 2008) people went to escape
from routine and breathe fresh air. Nowadays it would seem like going to some town
on long weekends with family and friends. This was common until the 1950’s, when
the estates begin to get sold and divided, to cater to a demand for land to continue the
expansion of the city.
This brings us to the architecture. The area is characterized for having a residential,
commercial and business area due to its central location, which is close with the
Oriental Hills. It is important to highlight that at the beginning of the XXth century the
area was not a part of the city, and that some of the villas from the 1920’s and 1930’s
remain until today (now catalogued as Cultural Patrimony). There are also some
“English style”, as is commonly known, houses, and with the school Gimnasio
Moderno (built in 1914), they are also recognized as patrimony. Other than these
historical houses, there is a big presence of modern and post-modern style, typical from
the 1960’s and 1970’s.
To continue with the history, it is necessary to highlight that Chapinero never lost
the characteristic of being a place where people can relax and entertain: these days, it
is one of the most touristic places in Bogota. The most common tourism typology found
in the area is of business tourism, due to the financial centre of the city, located around
the 72th street. However, even if it is important, other groups also need to be catered
to. As with the social characterization done before, it is possible to say that a group that
could be attracted to his area would be the LGBTI community. The local government
has made efforts to include the LGBTI community through the creation of a
Community Centre focused in them in 2006, creating a whole touristic area around
them, that is already recognized by the ZIT of Chapinero Central. It is necessary to note
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that this Centre was created because the Mayor’s office realized that a lot of people
were committing suicide in 2003 because they were bullying victims for being
different. “It is a place that helps to strengthen the LGBT social organizations, gives
specialized services to the members of this community and to their families and
friends”,2 said Daniel Verastegui about the Centre, that, as aforementioned, closed this
February. They are, on top of all, one of the three pillars of the Development Plan of
the local mayor.
This movement has been growing like a snow ball, because each year the number of
places that offers some kind of service focused on catering people of different genders
increases, and with this, the potential to attract a bigger number of tourists of this kind
into the zone. For example, Theatron is a club that is rumoured to be one of the largest
of its kind in Latin America; a detail that attracts more and more people. It has come to
be an icon for the community and reached its tenth anniversary in 2012.
However, not only the history gives a place its identity: the present has a great
influence over it as well, and it is important to identify all the details that could affect
it. The culture is a way in which the character of a territory is manifested, and Chapinero
is characterized for having a wide cultural and artistic offer, owed to the theatres,
museums, emblematic churches and universities with libraries; facts that facilitate the
artistic growth. Additionally, there has been a proposal to name Chapinero as a Cultural
and Creative District.
It has been proved, based on the general characterization, that Chapinero could have
the potential to hold more as a touristic destination than just businesses or gastronomy.
Moreover, it could probably cater to the LGBTI community and even become a
destination for them, as the area has many social aspects that could help this group feel
at ease and has, in the past decade, been recognized for it. There are even popular names
for places frequently visited by members of this community, like Carugay (for Carulla)
and Bodygay (for Bodytech), and in some cases even the name of the neighbourhood is
“Es un sitio que ayuda a fortalecer las organizaciones sociales LGBT, presta servicios
especializados para los miembros de esta comunidad y sus familiares y amigos”,
translation by the authors, from a quote by Mónica Vargas in “En centro comunitario
LGBT más de 20 mil personas han encontrado apoyo”, retrieved from
http://m.eltiempo.com/colombia/bogota/comunidad-lgbt-en-chapinero/10131704
2
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altered (Chapigay). However, it is convenient to start with the touristic aspects that are
already established in the place. One example of them are the ZITs (Touristic Interest
Zones, by its initials in Spanish). Two of them can be found in the area of study, but
the focus of the investigation will not be centred only on them. One refers to the Lourdes
Church and its neighbouring streets, and is catalogued as a destination of religious
tourism, which attracts all kinds of visitors. However, the area has developed beyond
that: the square in front of the church is also a popular meeting place for the gay
community, according to David Martínez, a young leader from the LGBT Community
Centre that was located on the area until this February3. This is another example as to
how this community has been establishing in this area and even has now recognized
meeting spots. The other ZIT, much bigger, is in part our subject of study: Chapinero
Central is centred on the bars, pubs and clubs that are found in the area.
It is necessary to note, however, how the existence of the ZITs is beneficial to the
zone, even when the tourist has not any intention of going in a peregrination to the
Lourdes Church. For example, in the Plan maestro de turismo (Touristic Master Plan
of Bogota) there are several proposals, some of them concerning the development of
the infrastructure4. On the other hand, Chapinero Central has many public space
proposals that are precisely in the streets that will be analysed along the following
pages. The attractive located in the area will be given some attention, even when in
some cases they would not directly interest the circle in which we are focused.
As aforementioned, the LGBTI community has been congregating slowly but surely
in the locality. In fact, the general objective stated in the Plan de desarrollo económico
y social y de obras públicas para la localidad de Chapinero 2013-2016 (Public Works,
Social and Economic Development Plan for the Locality of Chapinero 2013-2016) it
says that “there will be work on the reduction of social, spatial and cultural
segregations, for the effective enjoyment of the rights”5. Of the three strategic axes on
3
It is important to note, however, that the closure of this center is due to its size,
because, even when it had started as a temporary project, in the past years it grew
beyond its capacity. Now it will be found in Teusaquillo and will have bigger premises
that will help to take the activities to a next level.
4
This information can be confirmed in the “Documento técnico de soporte plan maestro
de turismo de Bogotá D.C.”, written by the IDT (District’s Institute for Tourism, by its
initials in Spanish.
5 “Se buscará reducir en la localidad la segregación social, espacial y cultural, para el
goce efectivo de los derechos”, translation by the authors.
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which the entire plan is based, one is centred in the reduction of the discrimination.
However, this investigation is supposed to revolve around tourism, not the rights of the
LGBTI community, so where is the link? Well, as a segment of the market that has
special tastes and is often overlooked, to analyse a territory from its point of view could
bring out all the potential the area has to offer in this aspect, as well as to allow to
identify all the specific components any touristic destination should count with.
Even though a general characterization has already been made about social,
historical, architectural, environmental and cultural aspects of the locality, it is
necessary to focus more on the destination that was delimited at the beginning of this
paper to be able to talk about the infrastructure, the plant and other more specific
aspects. This is important in this analysis, in which we are trying to prove whether or
not Chapinero is a touristic destination. Some questions that are important to define this
are: with what kind of infrastructure does it count? What superstructure is more relevant
for the development of tourism? Among the structure that is present in the area, is there
any that caters tourists of the group that, we are seeing, is commonly found in the area?
And, more importantly, beyond the formal documents and data, what does the people
that work, and live in the area, and that visit it, think? Although just shown in Figure 1,
all these facets are analysed in detail in the Table 1, were the points of view of the
different actors, which include both straight and gay people, tourists and a young leader
of the LGBTI community are compared with each other. However, the more broad
aspects of each of this items is analysed in the following paragraphs.
Due to factors like the localization and the commercial area in Chapinero, some
issues, like pollution and the auditory and visual contamination, have raised. Also, the
important amount of trash owed to the numerous bars, pubs, clubs cafes and restaurants
pollutes even more some of the areas, especially after the changes of the past months
in the enterprises that are in charge of the recollection of the residues.
However, not all the environmental aspects are in bad shape. There are projects
focused on recover water sources in Bogota. Chapinero for being that close to Bogota’s
more important hills counts with the most important wetlands in the city. Right now
there are lots campaigns and projects trying to save this important resources, and this
is because in the past years the intervention of the government has been very poor in
most of the water lands, causing damages to the environment that are irreversible. An
example of this can be the Water land called La Vieja, a very important one in
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Chapinero’s zone. Intervention in this resource is low, but it is one of the most
preserved in the zone due to plantations of pine and eucalyptus, this kind of tree do not
permit construction in that zone, and this is another reason of why it should have more
intervention.
Now, the infrastructure is an aspect that has to be taken into consideration.
Chapinero counts with all the public services: drainage, energy, gas (Gas Natural). Most
of services are responsibility of private enterprises, except for the collection of garbage,
which belongs to the Mayors Office. Chapinero has many routes like 7th Avenue the
Circular Avenue, the 13th street and the 9th, which connect it both to the northern and
southern areas of the city. There is a good connection with public and private transport;
buses, cabs and the Transmilenio, whose stations are located at the Caracas Avenue and
are the following: Calle 57, Calle 63 and Flores.
The public and private lighting is the responsibility of Codensa In 2012 the Mayor
fixed some lampposts to decrease insecurity at the Caracas Avenue from the 40th street
until 70th street, but there is still some insecurity. To fight this perception, and improve
the general being in the area, in the studied area are located three centres of citizen
attention or as in Spanish CAI (Immediate Attention Centres, due to its initials in
Spanish); those are placed in the intersections of the 60 street with 9th, 64 street with
10th and 64th street with 3th streets.
The area has various kinds of attractives. For example, there are several theatres,
some of which have national or in some cases (thanks to the Theatre Festival of Bogotá)
even international appeal. This could be the case of the Teatro Libre, that is close to its
40th anniversary. Other attractives include, but are not limited to, the Lourdes Church,
the square it has in front, where some storytellers tend to go on the weekends and the
Hippie’s Park. There are even some immaterial attractives in the area, like the
empanadas from Las Margaritas, a restaurant that has been opened for over a century.
There are several hotels and restaurants in the delimited area, that cover a great range
of tastes and services. Most of them are not focused on people of any gender in
particular. Among them can be found hotels as BH Tempo and the Bogota Royal Suite,
and restaurants as Astrid y Gastón and Pozzeto. Travel agencies, lodging at Chapinero
goes from the most luxurious until the cheapest categories. Inside the offer focused in
the LGBTI community at the studied area are found the next premises: Hotel Boutique
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San Sebastian, Pink Hostel, Hotel High Park, and travel agencies as Ruta Gay Colombia
and Duo Travel. There are also other services present in the area, like bars, clubs and
restaurants, many of them focusing in this objective group.
In the Figure 1 it is possible to see the proportion of the establishments that cater to
the LGBTI community, as well as the one focused on a more general audience. Taking
this into account, it is possible to determine that between the streets 53th and 67th, and
above the Caracas Avenue, there is a tendency that clearly shows the importance of this
community in the area. Almost one in four places are specially focused on catering
members of different genders. The average of the LGBTI population is of 10% of the
total, so this abundance of services for them clearly shows that they have a preference
in the area and that the territory has been slowly adapting to host them.
After all the analysis that has been done on both general and specific aspects, some
conclusions could be extracted, that would allow seeing what strengths and weaknesses
the location has. To begin with, the locality of Chapinero is one of the wealthiest of
Bogota. Due to being an essentially residential area, the State interference in it is
important, as the locality is the one with the best quality of life in Bogota. This means
than the number of people that has their need satisfied is much bigger that those who
does not. For most of the area this is true, but the places that will be our object of study
aren’t situated in the best zones. The stratums found in the area are primarily four and
three, which translates in middle class. The commercial activity in our area is very
strong, and because of this, is one of those that generates the most jobs and the city, and
holds most of its capital. In 2008 they had already more than 19.000 business, many of
them “with potential to articulate to one of the ten values chains with more potential of
the city”6.
Another strength of the area is the quantity of higher education institutes, such as
universities. They invest in culture and investigations that have the capacity to analyse
and bring up the different potentials the locality has to offer. For example, they have
many theatres, and one of them proposed Chapinero to be a cultural and creative district
“con potencial para articularse a una de las diez cadenas de mayor potencial de la
ciudad”
6
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in the city7, which would give enormous benefits to the area, adding it to the touristic
potential it already has. The security in the delimited place is sustained by three CAIs
(Immediate Attention Centres, by its initials in Spanish), but it can sometimes be a big
issue for its community. The health is provided, in the locality, by more than six healthcare centres. Robbery increases not only affecting pedestrians, but also houses, and
commercial premises. Finally, for five years (ending this February) there was a
Community Centre for the LGBTI, which focused on raising awareness in the area.
Now it is being relocated in Teusaquillo, because the house where it was situated was
already too small to meet the needs of the community.
Another aspect could be environmental problems in the zone. Traffic in big avenue
s produces CO2 in big quantities, which leads to atmospheric contamination. Also rub
bish on the streets left there by waste pickers is all around the locality, and this produc
es the sewage system to overflow, in addition to the hygienic problems it entails. As w
ell visual contamination is consider a problem, because of the graffiti showing some k
ind of nonconformity by citizens and publicity on walls and public space.
For Chapinero, tourism focused in the LGBTI community has a great potential. As
aforesaid, the locality has in its agenda to be a more inclusive place, especially for those
of other genders that can sometimes feel discriminated in other areas. Moreover, the
social composition of the area indicates that the people who live there tend to be openminded. However, in some isolated cases, however, the community or workers in the
area do not accept them. For example, there is a club that has gained bad reputation
among the transsexual community for not letting its members in.
But, to understand more deeply how an area works, the history, the geography, or
even the weaknesses or strengths of the area are not enough. It is important to
understand its people, how they interact with each other and react when such a sensitive
theme (at least in some other areas of the city) is touched. This is why there will be a
more in-depth analysis of the area, from the point of view of the people that live in
Chapinero and the social skills they exert with each other.
As it is already known, this suburb is known for its diversity of people; this is in part
because in this neighbourhood there are around 15 universities and lots of stores, bars,
7
Herrera, E.; Mujica, M.P. & Molina, L.F (2012). Proposal to nominate Chapinero
as creative and cultural district in Bogota.
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etc. Additionally, the area is known for being a multicultural zone, where there is
tolerance for all kinds of gender expressions. This has been accepted and respected both
by residents, visitors and workers in the area. In the dynamics of the place, people
constantly interact with each other. As the years have passed, this part of Chapinero
started to welcome the LGBTI community more and more in its various expressions,
and began opening bars, restaurants, clubs, hotels and other welcoming services where
they can give free reign to their personalities.
Other than these businesses, there is also an effort from the local government to
increase the awareness and communication between the LGBTI community and the
heterosexuals. To obtain this goal, they included it in the Development Plan for the
area, and to additionally they opened a Community Centre for the community around
2006. They have done workshops, conferences and other activities, and have become a
meeting place for young people. The Centre, other than this, offered psychological
support both for families and other people. All this wasn’t done expressly for the
tourism, but it has helped to improve the area to the point where tourists of different
genders wouldn’t feel out of place or unwelcomed. Some of the clubs have even
reached international recognition among its intended public.
But not everything is good in the area. For example, one of the parks has become
attractive to some of its visitors for being a place with almost no rules or vigilance.
There are some specific places in Chapinero (such a this park, known as the Park of the
Hippies) where drugs and excess are not uncommon. Sometimes lack of assertiveness
(due to psychological issues from childhood) can lead to a high rate of addiction and
bad habits, which can possibly not help to the reputation of the zone nor the interactions
between the consumers, the dealers, and the rest of the local community.
Chapinero's POT says that by 2016 with the alliances between universities,
organizations and local administrations, the locality will become a cultural zone where
solidarity, respect, responsibility and freedom will be the basic structure of a society.
This means that it will allow tourists of all inclinations to express themselves; moreover
this might seem attractive for some of them. These alliances show how organizations
interacting can build a better community. But in able to do so communication must be
a principal factor between them, otherwise it won’t be possible.
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To sum up, the general objective of the government is to create a place where all
kinds of people, including LGBTI community feel that their rights are protected; and
also a place where discrimination won't be a problem. Social skills are a fundamental
tool for a suitable coexistence between populations; and they are an ever-increasing
instrument in the Chapinero’s (both for the residents, the visitors and the tourists) dayto-day life. But, as we have explained and exposed all along this chapter, there is a high
potential for this area to be known as a destination for this community.
We have talked about the attractives the area has in many aspects: it may not have
museums but has other places that bring life to the place. Additional to this, there is a
high density of welcoming services that make Chapinero known among this
community; some of them have become icons after many years of receiving guests of
distinct genders. This is the case we described before with Theatron, that is now
recognized beyond Bogota and even Colombia, almost behaving like an attractive in
the destination. People go there because of it; many of the services surrounding it have
appeared because of it, to cater to tourists. It is a motive for a trip.
Finally, according to Argyle (quoted in Amat & Ramón, 2004, p. 19), the free time
is “all the collection of activities that a person realizes in its free time, because she
wants to do them, without external pressures, with the objective of having fun, amuse
herself, develop herself, or any other objective that does not imply material benefices”8.
This quotation sums up the time for leisure that is this intangible activity done in the
free time. As the times have changed, especially during the past century, the free time
has started to have many more connotations that were not present before. With the
appearance of paid free time, it has become a place were the individuals can, among
other things, develop their personalities, immerse themselves in the culture: all in all,
to have a better quality of life, which has become an ideal of this time. After all, this
has sometimes been called the “civilization of leisure” (Amat & Ramón, 2004).
In the destination that has been studied so far in this project, both the leisure and the
development of the personality are of vital importance: after all, a tourist of the LGBTI
Translation by the authors, from “todo el conjunto de actividades que una persona
realiza en su tiempo libre, porque desea hacerlas, sin presiones externas, con el objeto
de divertirse, entretenerse, desarrollarse a sí mismo, o cualquier otro objetivo que no
implique beneficios materiales”.
8
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community would find in this place an environment in which he (or she) would be able
to express himself, with all the leisure and welcome services in the same place. It is a
place where respect can be felt from the straight waiter in a restaurant and as far as the
bars and locals, and where all the characteristics of an individual are respected (or at
least, expected to be respected).
This alone would constitute a motivation big enough to invite tourists to travel to
this destination, and could be classified (in this particular case, and as of the
classification made by Amat & Ramón, who based themselves on the theory developed
by Maslow) as being mainly motivations of entertainment and enjoyment, and social
and communication motivations. The first group relates to the impossibility to have
dedicated leisure time during working week: because of this, a big motivation for
travelling would be the one relating to taking part in different kinds of amusing and
playful activities, that could range from performances and shows to partying.
Chapinero, or at least the area of study, has many clubs and bars that are focused on
this part of life, on the pleasure and recreation. The second group of incentives, related
to social and cultural part of life, focuses on the need to strengthen the relationships (or
generate new ones) during the times of leisure. This may have the same origin as the
stimulus mentioned before: the lack of free time in the daily life. The tolerance
environment that can be felt in the area of study could attract not only people with a
stable couple, but also persons that want to meet new people that have more or less the
same interests and tastes.
If it is thought with this public (the LGBTI community) in mind, it is finally possible
to say, that Chapinero as a destination is one that could have a lot of potential, but is
still very unknown among this objective group. This is true not only for the
heterosexuals, but also for the members of the community that do not know anyone in
Bogota that could show them the best places to go, with the exception of some icons
that have already been mentioned. As David Mosquera, a young leader of the
Community Centre, thinks, the place has a big potential but almost no promotion of
anything more elaborate than mouth-to-mouth and some Facebook adds and pages.
There are still plenty of things to be done, but the basis is already there.
References
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Alcaldía Mayor de Bogotá D.C. (2004). Recorriendo Chapinero. Bogotá: Author.
Amat P. & Ramón F. (2004). Curso de sociología del turismo y del ocio. Valencia,
Spain: Tirant Lo Blanch
Castillo, E., Grato, E., Martínez, C. & Ortega, D. (2004) Miradas a Chapinero.
Bogotá: Planeta
Chapinero turístico, gourmet. Recovered from:
http://www.chapineroturistico.com/categoria.php?categoria=4&idioma=es (23/02/13)
DANE (2005). Boletín censo general 2005, Perfil Localidad Chapinero - Bogotá.
Recovered from:
http://www.dane.gov.co/files/censo2005/perfiles/bogota/chapinero.pdf
Directorio LGBT, Duo Travel. Recovered from:
http://www.colombialgbt.com/directorio/turismo/duo-travel.html (23/02/13)
Google. (n.d.). Mapa Chapinero- Google Maps. Retrieved May 3, 2013, from
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=safari&q=mapa+chapinero&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=0x8e3f909e88bf0583:0xcee402e0b005bc73,Chapinero,+Bogotá,+Bog
ota,+Colombia&ei=O4w1Ubn6PILc8wSPhIFA&ved=0CCwQ8gEwAA
Herrera, E., Molina, F. & Mujica, M. (2012). Proposal to nominate Chapinero as
creative and cultural district in Bogota. Bogota: Revista Nodo
Historia de cocina. Artículos. Recovered from:
http://www.historiacocina.com/paises/articulos/colombia/margaritas.htm (24/02/13)
Instituto Distrital de Turismo, Plaza de Lourdes. Recovered from:
http://www.bogotaturismo.gov.co/plaza-de-lourdes (24/02/13)
Instituto Distrital de Turismo (2011). Documento técnico de soporte plan maestro
de turismo de Bogotá D.C.
Junta Administradora Local de Chapinero (2012). Acuerdo local número 005 de
2012.
Ramírez, C. (2006). Visión integral del turismo. México: Trillas
Teatro Astor Plaza. Una alternativa para actividades culturales. Recovered from:
http://www.astorplaza.com/qsomos.php (24/02/13)
Teatro Libre. Nosotros. Recovered from: http://teatrolibre.org/nosotros/ (24/02/13)
Rainbow Tourism in Chapinero
15
Secretaría Distrital de Cultura, Recreación y Deportes Vatorio de culturas (2008).
Localidad de Chapinero, ficha básica. Recovered from:
http://www.culturarecreacionydeporte.gov.co/observatorio/documentos/localidades/ch
apinero.pdf (23/02/13)
Rainbow Tourism in Chapinero
Figure 1
Map of the destination with references
Figure 1. Map of the destination with references
1. Hotel High Park: Carrera 4 58-58
2. Theatron: http://www.theatrondepelicula.com/ Calle 58 10-34
3. Vinacure: Carrera 13 63-32
4. Bianca: Calle 60 9-43
5. Gayina: Calle 64 14-69
6. Gia: Calle 60 9A-11
7. Colour House: Carrera 9a 60-74
8. Brokeback Mountain: 9a 60-25
9. Village: Calle 64 8-29
10. Las Margaritas restaurante: calle 62 7-77
16
Rainbow Tourism in Chapinero
11. Hotel Boutique San Sebastián: Calle 62 9-49
12. Hotel Bogotá Royal Suite: Calle 53 # 10-78
13. Juan Valdez Café: Calle 53 #7-21
14. Pizzería Puebla: Cra 6 53-09
15. Teatro La Baranda: Calle 6 #54-04
16. Hotel Viaggio parque 54: Carrera 4 # 54A-24
17. Restaurante Cava Vieja : transversal 9 calle 56
18. Abitare 56 Hotel: calle 56 #7-79
19. Treffen : Carrera 7 No. 56 - 17
20. Hotel Alma Boutique: Carrera 5 # 57-79
21. Café Dolce Mini-mal: Calle 57 # 4 - 09
22. Juliette Apartasuites: Carrera 3A # 58-52
23. Juliette Maison: Carrera 3ª # 58-52
24. Rocka Bar Café: Carrera 9 #59 -13
25. Kaldivia Café: Calle 59 #10-31
26. Centro Comercial Aquarium: calle 59 con cra 13
27. Restaurante el Pozzeto: carrera 7 # 61-24
29. Viaggio 6.1.7: Calle 61 #7-18
30. Estelar Suite Jones Bogotá: Calle 61#5-39
31. Aquí en Santa fé: Carrera 7 No 62 - 63
32. Restaurante Chambaku: calle 63 #7 -64
33. Hotel Nación: Carrera 8 No 65-29
34. Hoteles América: Calle 66 #8 -23
35. Astrid y Gastón: 7 # 67-64
36. Hotel bh Tempo: Carrera 7 No. 65 - 01.
38. Hotel la Pinta: Calle 65 # 5-67
39. Antique 65 Hotel + decoration : Calle 65 No 5 - 50
Attractives of the area:
A. Hippie’s Park
B. Antiques stores
C. Teatro Libre: Calle 62 9-65
D. Teatro La Mama: Calle 63 9-60
E. Square of Lourdes
17
Rainbow Tourism in Chapinero
F. Lourdes Church
G. Astor Plaza: Calle 67 11-58
Security:
a. CAI Chapinero - Chapinero: Calle 60 Cr 9
b. CAI Chapinero – Lourdes: Calle 64 Carrera 10
c. CAI Chapinero- Granada: Calle 64 Carrera 3 B
Universities
1.
SENA: Carrera 8 #57
2.
Universidad de la Salle: Carrera. 5 No. 59A-44
3.
Fundación universitaria Konrad Lorenz: Carrera 9 Bis No. 62-43
4.
Los Libertadores. Sede hotelería: calle 65 carrera 8
5.
Institución Universitaria Iberoamericana: Calle 67 N 5-27
6.
SENA: Calle 65 Nro. 11 – 70
Figure 2
18
Rainbow Tourism in Chapinero
19
Format of the destination
Figure 2. Format of the destination
Table 1
Matrix of the visitors, the tourists and the residents
Architecture
Visitors
The visitors sometimes know
that
there
are
some
architectural
patrimony
houses, but usually they do
not think much about the
design of the buildings of
Chapinero.
Tourists
Most of the entire zone of
Chapinero is characterized for
having traditional english
architecture represented in big
houses all around the locality.
This aspect is the most
appealing for tourist in terms of
architecture. They notice the
difference between other places
of Bogota such as La Candelaria
or Palermo, and also describe
how original and fascinating
this kind of architecture is.
Residents
Chapinero residents say that
architecture has changed
over years very much. They
say those houses that were
part of the place before, have
gone and as a replacement
people have built new
buildings, and the houses that
still exist have been used for
restaurants or businesses,
especially
neighborhood
shops and designer stores,
and very few have been
Rainbow Tourism in Chapinero
Environment:
They think there is a high
index of pollution around the
city in general, but in
Chapinero this is especially
evident around the 7 and 13
streets, and around the
Caracas Avenue.
Cultural aspects:
Social
characterization:
Plant:
The visitors know that this
area of Chapinero is a
Tolerance Zone, and the
LGBTI
feels
very
comfortable in the area. The
Community Center acted a
reunion point for years, but
as it is being transferred to a
larger
premise
in
Teusaquillo, David Martínez
thinks that the dynamics of
the area will change a little.
Another reunion point is the
Square of Lourdes.
A young leader of the
LGBTI community, David
Martínez (who is a frequent
visitor in the area) thinks
that, even when there is an
offer of touristic services and
a possible market, there is an
almost
nonexistent
promotion; so most foreign
20
Moreover, one of the most
recognized attractives is the
Lourdes Church, which right
now is in a process of recovery,
but has a gothic style in the
entire structure.
Finnally, some modern buildings
are in the zone, also making
tourists interested in the variety
of architecture they can find in
Chapinero.
Tourists find Chapinero a
normally clean zone, but they
notice the lack of cleaning in
some parts where people usually
walk. Also they are disturbed by
the
graffiti
showing
inappropriate phrases, or just
draws that are in places very
visible for them. Tourist also
realize of the inequality in the
zone, because for example they
can see very rich parts, but also
very poor ones.
Even though tourists go to
Chapinero
looking
for
entertainment, they are also
interest in more cultural events,
such as plays, maybe some
events. Additionally, they say
that if those events exist, they do
not
count
with
enough
information, which means that
publicity of the zone, especially
for LGBTI community is scarce,
that it might be a good option to
improve in this aspect.
Tourist find Chapinero very
insecure sometimes, mostly at
nights. There is not enough lights
on the streets, and at the exits of
bars or clubs, robbery is very
common. This means that more
security is needed in the zone;
more police is needed in the
entire zone and not only in CAIs
or that kind of places. But in
general, not many tourists think
that is dangerous, they only
notice how aware they might
have to be when they are there.
Tourists usually find in
Chapinero a place where they
can find entertainment.
However, the offer of hotels,
restaurants and other touristic
services is significant. They find
in Chapinero a place where
they can enjoy a good night,
however they insist that services
restored but even today there
are people that still live there.
There’s too much, visual,
auditory and air pollution.
Buses create too much
pollution and dog owners do
not clean when they take
their dogs out.
They know the zone is
focused on the LGBTI, but
they do not feel it is as
evident as other people
usually think. They do not
mind them. There are also
many
students
and
universities in the area.
According to residents it is
not an area that attracts many
tourists. There are some
people that go to Chapinero
for businesss. They know
that there are some hotels and
a couple of attractives in the
Rainbow Tourism in Chapinero
people do not know that
these places exist. He thinks
that Theatron is very
attractive, because it has
gained a big reputation as
one of the largest and best
gay and lesbian oriented
clubs in all South America.
Infrastructure:
They think that there is some
garbage around the place and
think that this may be
because the recyclers open
the bags and then there is
some waste that ends up in
the street.
Additionally, they think that
the area, especially late at
night, is very insecure. Some
of them, who go in the night
to some of the clubs, know
that there are some block
with a private security
service. They think that the
darkness of some of the areas
(especially around the 13
street) is one of the causes of
insecurity in the area.
Concerning the parking
places, they think that there
are few, but that they are
enough for the amount of
vehicles that go to the area.
Moreover, many people do
not take the car, but public
transport, which they think is
very efficient in this part of
Chapinero.
Tabla 1. Matrix of the visitors, the tourists and the residents
21
of hotels and restaurant is very
good too. They can find many
places where they can talk in a
very calm environment, and also
places to dance at nights. The
variety that Chapinero offers is
very important for the tourist.
An LGBTI tourist always looks
for places where he can feel
identified, and chapinero has all
those
places.
Having
establishement where this tourist
can find what they need is very
attractive for many of them.
tourists think that infrastructure
is okay but not is the best, is
necessary to still improving on
highways, sidewalks and street
lights,
because
it
cause
insecurity perception
area, but they are not really
conscious about them.
From one street to another
the security perspective
changes. Some of them think
that down the 7th street it is
very insecure; but still, there
are a lot of students that live
in that area. Additionally,
they think they have the
“bad”
garbage
pick-up
service in the city, that does
not go all the time.