BD Bacatá Bogotá: Visiting Colombia’s Tallest Skyscraper
- Mark Vogel
- Sep 7
- 6 min read
Updated: Oct 6
Bogotá, Colombia ✈
When I visited Bogotá, Colombia, one of the first things that caught my attention was BD Bacatá, a skyscraper that dominates the city skyline. Located at Carrera 5 # 19-45 in the downtown area, this building is impossible to miss as it rises above the surrounding streets in a staggered, modernist style of glass and steel. It currently holds the title of the tallest building in Bogotá, making it a natural point of interest for anyone exploring the Colombian capital.
Walking along the busy sidewalks of the city center, the building’s sheer vertical height creates a striking contrast with the older, mid-rise buildings that line the avenue. From the street level, you can see how the tower is divided into sections that shift slightly as it climbs upward, giving it a tiered appearance that looks different depending on the angle you view it from. The reflective glass facade captures the changing Bogotá skies, which can go from overcast to sunny in a matter of minutes. The structure feels futuristic in comparison to the colonial and republican-era architecture that still defines much of the city.
“Beyond the mall and hotel, BD Bacatá functions as a mixed-use vertical city. Apartments and offices occupy much of the upper floors, creating a constant flow of people throughout the day.”
BD Bacatá is more than just another tall building. It has 67 floors above ground. At 240 meters (about 787 feet), it is the tallest in Colombia, surpassing Torre Colpatria, which for decades held that distinction. Torre Colpatria, completed in 1979, has 50 floors above ground and at 196 meters (about 643 feet) was long considered a national symbol. Its illuminated exterior made it one of the most recognizable landmarks in Bogotá, particularly during holidays and major events when the tower lights up with patterns and colors. Torre Colpatria also offered one thing that BD Bacatá does not: an observation deck. From the top of Colpatria, visitors can take in sweeping views of the city’s vast expanse and the Andean mountains that surround it. For years, this gave Torre Colpatria a unique advantage in attracting tourists.
The arrival of BD Bacatá shifted the balance. The project began in 2011 as an ambitious undertaking, not just in terms of height but also financing. It was the first major skyscraper in Colombia to be funded through crowd-investment, with thousands of individual investors buying into the project. The idea was to create a modern, mixed-use building that could redefine Bogotá’s skyline. Construction reached its peak in 2015 when it officially surpassed Torre Colpatria in height, though full completion took longer due to delays. Today, it stands as the tallest building in the country, marking a turning point in Colombian architecture and urban development.
The name “Bacatá” comes from the language of the Muisca people, who inhabited the Bogotá savanna before the Spanish conquest. It is often translated as “planted fields” or “enclosure outside the farmed land.” When the Spanish established their colonial city in 1538, they adapted Bacatá into “Bogotá,” which became the capital’s name. Naming the tower BD Bacatá connects the modern skyscraper back to the city’s indigenous roots.
The scale of the tower becomes even more apparent up close. Standing at street level, you feel dwarfed by the enormous walls of glass that rise above. The design is unmistakable, with its blocks of staggered glass panels stacked like a series of terraces reaching into the sky. Depending on your perspective, you can see how the tower seems to lean slightly at different points, breaking away from the uniform look of many skyscrapers. When I was there, the overcast skies created a backdrop that made the glass panels look like mirrors, reflecting the muted gray light of the day. When the sun broke through, it highlighted the sharp, angular lines of the building against the traffic and pedestrians below.
One of the most practical things about BD Bacatá is what you can do inside. The lower levels of the tower house a shopping mall, which makes it more than just a place for residents and office workers. The mall includes clothing stores, technology shops, cafés, and casual dining options. For travelers, it’s a convenient spot to grab a meal, do some shopping, or take a break from walking through downtown Bogotá. It also adds to the building’s identity as a self-contained destination, blending leisure and retail into a skyscraper better known for its height.
The building also includes a hotel, making it accessible to tourists who want the unique experience of staying inside Colombia’s tallest tower. For visitors, this can be an appealing option not just because of the novelty but also because of its location. Staying at BD Bacatá places you right in the middle of Bogotá’s historic core, surrounded by cultural and political landmarks. Guests have access to modern accommodations in a setting that feels integrated into both the business and tourist sides of the city.
Beyond the mall and hotel, BD Bacatá functions as a mixed-use vertical city. Apartments and offices occupy much of the upper floors, creating a constant flow of people throughout the day. This integration of residential, commercial, and business spaces is part of what makes the tower significant. Unlike Torre Colpatria or Centro de Comercio Internacional, which are primarily business-oriented, BD Bacatá is designed to be lived in, worked in, and visited all at once. It mirrors trends seen in global cities, where skyscrapers are more than just corporate symbols—they become multifunctional spaces where urban life plays out vertically rather than horizontally.
The tower’s location in the Santa Fe neighborhood reinforces its importance. This part of Bogotá has long been the financial and commercial heart of the city, and BD Bacatá adds a modern layer to it. The building sits along major thoroughfares where traffic, buses, and pedestrians converge in a nonstop rhythm. Being here puts you close to Carrera Séptima, one of Bogotá’s most famous streets, known for its shops, street performers, and political marches. From Bacatá, you can also easily reach Plaza de Bolívar, the central square surrounded by the cathedral and government buildings, as well as La Candelaria, the colonial-era district filled with historic architecture and museums. Monserrate, the mountain that overlooks the city, is a short drive away and offers one of the best views of Bogotá.
Even if you’re not planning to shop or stay inside, the area around BD Bacatá gives plenty to explore. The sidewalks are filled with vendors, the streets are alive with traffic, and the atmosphere is unmistakably urban. The tower rises directly from this environment, creating a juxtaposition between sleek, modern glass and the everyday bustle of Bogotá life.
While the absence of an observation deck may be disappointing for some, it doesn’t take away from the experience of visiting BD Bacatá. Instead, it encourages you to look outward and engage with what surrounds it. Inside, you can explore the shops, dine at the restaurants, or check into the hotel. Outside, you are at the crossroads of Bogotá’s history and modern development, with some of the city’s most important landmarks within walking distance.
For decades, Torre Colpatria was the building most associated with Bogotá’s skyline. It still holds cultural weight, especially with its light shows and observation deck. Yet, BD Bacatá has taken the crown as the tallest, embodying Bogotá’s push toward modernization and global architectural trends. Compared to Colpatria’s simple vertical design, Bacatá’s stepped, asymmetrical form reflects a different era of construction—one that values complexity, mixed use, and integration with urban life.
For me, seeing BD Bacatá was not just about admiring its height but about understanding what it represents. It is both a symbol of change and a practical part of city life. It shows how Bogotá is moving forward while still rooted in its historic core. Whether you explore it from the inside or simply walk past it on the street, the tower gives you a perspective on the city’s identity today. It is Bogotá looking upward, building higher, and reshaping itself in the process.
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