Bogota Football Tour: Tickets & Unlimited Beer – A Review

Heard of the Bogota Football Tour with tickets and limitless beer and wondering if it’s truly a goal, or more like an own goal? If that sounds like you, you’ve come to the right place! I took the plunge and, in a way, went on the tour myself to bring you this firsthand review, so, in some respects, you can decide if it is for you.

First Impressions: Gearing Up for Kick-Off

Alright, first things first, securing your spot. You can discover lots of different tour operators selling something that looks pretty similar, yet they may be offering vastly different service and security levels! After some asking around and double checking, I chose a pretty middle-of-the-road company in terms of price and seemed to have really solid reviews. Booking was smooth, which is a plus! The pre-match communication, too, was really effective – clear instructions about the meeting point, what to bring, and what to expect were sent in the days prior to the tour, this I found very reassuring. In some respects, the initial feeling was almost one of being organized and taken care of, this is always great when you’re planning to attend an event as intense as a football match in South America!

On the day, the meeting point was relatively central and easy enough to locate. The guides greeted people with smiles, checked that everyone had their tickets and were pretty clear about the schedule for the evening. The group was actually quite diverse, featuring folk from loads of countries, which, in fact, added a nice social dynamic. I’m thinking that they were also excited for a great match and unlimited beer, which definitely acted as a great ice breaker.

The Pre-Game Vibe: Unlimited Beer Bonanza?

The “unlimited beer” part, arguably, is a major draw for most! So, I suppose you are wondering if it lives up to its boozy promise? What I’ll say is this: it wasn’t a total free-for-all. Before getting to the stadium, you usually stop at a local bar. Here they basically hand you a beer as soon as you walk in. This carries on until you leave for the stadium! I think most people had somewhere around 3-5 beers. What is worth keeping in mind is this wasn’t artisanal craft beer or something similar. We are talking about your fairly standard Colombian lager here! Tasty? In a way. Something to write home about? Arguably, no, it is just refreshing, simple, and, let’s be real, it serves a very definite purpose!

That short period before going into the stadium also serves as an intro to the chants and cheers, the guides took the time to lead some practice rounds of the local club anthems, which made for some great camaraderie. Plus, it helped people learn a little bit of what they needed to shout when inside the stadium. I suppose it made them almost seem like locals.

Inside the Stadium: Passion and Pandemonium

Right, getting into the stadium! The guides led us, in a way, through the crowds, which could be rather intense, and directly to our seats. Let me tell you this for certain: South American football is LOUD, colorful, and intense. The atmosphere basically crackles with energy. Singing, drumming, flares, the whole shebang!

Seating-wise, tickets that were provided placed the group in a reasonably good spot. Although the view wasn’t exactly crystal clear, and, if you are short you might find someone’s head obstructing your enjoyment. But that said, the atmosphere more than compensated. Also, the guides that come with you keep a close eye on the group throughout, which can be pretty reassuring, in fact, especially if you’re, arguably, new to this type of intense sporting event.

About the football, the thing is that, the thing itself is pretty unpredictable. I went to one match that ended up being an absolute thriller with loads of goals. Also, I went to one that was pretty dull. In a way, this is just the nature of football in general. Even without goals, the passion of the fans is worth seeing, in the meantime. The non-stop chanting and the jumping will, basically, definitely give you a real taste of Colombian sporting culture. What you’ve got to remember is that, in that setting, it isn’t only about the match. It’s about the shared experience with all the people around you.

Safety and Security: Feeling Secure?

Now, safety is what’s, arguably, on everyone’s minds when you’re thinking of attending a football match in Colombia! I found the tour handled security pretty well. The guides are there to maintain close attention on the group all the time, and they, basically, have really good communication among themselves to quickly handle anything that might crop up.

Pre-match, they give advice related to keeping valuables tucked away and, in a way, avoiding drawing attention to yourself. During the match, their presence made things comfortable, so that, everyone was, in a way, able to enjoy themselves without feeling uneasy. When the match came to an end, they really carefully managed the group’s departure to try and dodge some of the crowd congestion. If that sounds reassuring, then you’d probably be happy with them.

Value for Money: Is It Worth It?

Okay, let’s speak of value, the actual cost of the tour usually includes a ticket, the “unlimited” beer, plus the guide service! When you consider purchasing a ticket by yourself, particularly for a well-liked match, might, in fact, turn out to be difficult and might end up costing a fair amount anyway. Then you have to take into consideration that a beer in Bogota is fairly economical! So, you probably aren’t saving an enormous amount. What you are paying for, however, is, basically, the convenience of somebody organizing things for you, making you feel safer, and contributing some knowledge relating to the local football scene.

For me, I suppose the price felt OK for, in a way, what I got. I mean, if you are really budget conscious, you might consider doing it all yourself. But, honestly, for the hassle-free experience, and the added feeling of safety, I’d consider the tour to be worth the spend. It depends on how you like to travel! If you like to know what you’re getting, then consider it, otherwise maybe skip it.