Parque Jaime Duque

Jaime Duque Grisales was a commercial pilot who bought land north of Bogota and opened the park in 1983, transferring it to a foundation whose income supports care homes and social work - the park exists to fund that rather than to make money for anyone. The centrepiece is a scaled replica of the Taj Mahal housing a small museum, built because Duque had seen the original and wanted Colombians who would never travel to see something of it. There is also a large relief map of Colombia, a monument to God, a zoo section that has moved towards larger enclosures and rescue animals, and standard rides. The mix is eccentric and unlike a commercial theme park, which is the point of visiting.

History

The park opened on 27 February 1983, founded by Jaime Duque Grisales (1917-2007), a figure of Colombian civil aviation and the first Colombian chief of Avianca's pilots, who wanted a cultural and recreational space for the whole family that would earn money to help institutions serving families. It holds the Jaime Duque Zoo, the Museum of Mankind and replicas of famous buildings from around the world, linked by a monorail, now a panoramic train (Wikipedia, Jaime Duque Park).

The main sights

• A Taj Mahal replica - housing a museum, built for people who would not travel.
• A large relief map of Colombia - showing the country's terrain.
• A park funding a foundation - income goes to care homes and social work.
• An eccentric mix - rides, monuments and a zoo section.

When to go

Year round; weekends are busiest. A full day.

Things to know

It is dated in places and the tone is unusual to visitors expecting a modern park. Animal enclosures have improved but the zoo element divides opinion. Weekends and holidays are very busy. It is over an hour from central Bogota.

Nearby

Zipaquira is west; Bogota is south.

Key facts