La Mesa offers several specific points of interest for a stay: views from the Mirador Los Naranjos, architectural history at the Templo Santa Bárbara, and a local market held on two days of the week. The municipality also has natural attractions and an educational program focused on native bees. When looking for a hotel, you can first consider whether culture, views, the market or nature should be your main focus.
A viewpoint with several sights
From the Mirador Los Naranjos, you can see parts of the Río Bogotá basin, the Distrito de Manejo Integrado de la Cuchilla de Peñas Blancas, Salto del Tequendama and Cerro Manjui with its communication towers. The view therefore encompasses several named landscape areas and individual landmarks. If you would like to take in different sights from one viewpoint, the mirador offers a specific selection, from the basin to Cerro Manjui and its towers.
The two names containing “Salto” refer to different places: Salto del Tequendama is one of the sights visible from the mirador. Salto de Las Monjas, by contrast, is a natural attraction in the municipality. This distinction helps set apart the view from the mirador and the forest destination.
Culture, market and environmental education
The Templo Santa Bárbara was built in the republican style. Construction began around 1900 and was completed in 1910. Its style and construction history make the temple a specific cultural highlight for anyone who would also like to include architecture in their trip.
The local market in La Mesa takes place on Sundays and Wednesdays. If you would like to plan your stay around a market day, schedule your visit for one of these weekdays and check the days locally. The day of the week is therefore a specific planning factor; for the temple, the focus is instead on its architectural style and history.
The Santuario de Abejas Ayni is located in the Inspección de La Esperanza, in the Vereda La Pesquera in the municipality of La Mesa. The Santuario de Abejas Ayni is dedicated to ecotourism and environmental education about native bee species. For travelers interested in these topics, its focus is clearly distinct from that of the viewpoint and architecture.
Natural attractions in the municipality
Laguna de Pedro Palo lies between the municipalities of Tena and La Mesa, in the Vereda Payacal of the Inspección de La Esperanza. The location details distinguish the lagoon from the sanctuary: it is in the Vereda Payacal, while the sanctuary is in the Vereda La Pesquera; both are in the Inspección de La Esperanza.
Salto de Las Monjas is a natural attraction in the municipality, set in a forest where locals and visitors can experience the flora and fauna. At Salto de Las Monjas, the forest setting is the main draw, whereas Mirador Los Naranjos offers views of several named areas and places. Views and experiencing nature are therefore different themes to consider when choosing where to go. Views and experiencing nature are therefore different themes to consider when choosing where to go.
Discover more destinations: Choachí, El Boqueron, Guaduas, La Florida, Bojaca, La Concepcion, La Verbena, Camargo.
For the broader travel overview: Cundinamarca.
