Boating Bogotá: Embalse de Tominé

You can sail, boat and row on a beautiful lake close to Bogotá, the Embalse de Tominé. Here are some photos, contacts and instructions on how to get there. Posted February 2020.

*Sailing on a Caprii 22 yacht onEmbalse de Tominé*

Sailing might not come to mind when you think of the landlocked city of Bogotá, but a navigable 72-square.kilometre dam lake close to the city offers a chance for boating. Most of the activities are based around private clubs – ‘Club Nauticas‘ – which require expensive membership. However, non-members can attend sailing schools for a reasonable price (US$15 for 2 hours including boat, safety gear etc), hire boats and take part in activities like rowing. The yachts on the lake are sometimes hired out for personal tuition (from US$40/hour) and can be booked for family or corporate events. Some clubs also have excellent restaurants and cabins for hire, which non-club members can use. I’ve put details at the end of the post how to contact the clubs.

Optimus dinghies at CLub Nautica Muña, see below for details — **Optimus dinghies at Club Nautica Muña, see below for details**

Once a month yachts from different clubs gather on the Embalse de Tominé for a regatta.

**The Club Nautica Muña runs sailing classes on weekends, with Optimus dinghies for kids up to 12 years, and Sunfish for older kids and adults.**

**At Club Nautica Muña, classes involve theory, and lots of practice!**

The Bogota Rowing Club has its base at Club Nautica Muña, with practices early on Sundays. Novices can do a five-session 'taster' course. The club has singles, 2s, 4s and 8s, and holds fun races on the lake. Some more serious rowers actually attend international events. See below for contacts. — The Bogota Rowing Club has its base at Club Nautica Muña, with practices early on Sundays. Novices can do a five-session ‘taster’ course. The club has singles, 2s, 4s and 8s, and holds fun races on the lake. Some more serious rowers actually attend international events. See below for contacts.

**Sunny sailing, although the weather is highly changeable on Tominé, so be prepared to rain and shine.**

**Dinghy classes on Tominé come with safety gear and a rescue boat.**

PRACTICAL STUFF

**How to get from Bogotá to Embalse de Tominé**

How to get to Embalse de Tominé

The boat clubs (‘Club Nautica’) are on the north-east side of the Embalse de Tominé, between the scenic towns of Guatativa and Sesquilé. There are two routes, each around 65kms,
– take the the main highway ‘Auotpista Norte’, get off at Sesquilé, head through the town and south towards Guatavita. The clubs are along the lake.
– the other more scenic but windy mountainous route via La Calera and Guatavita town.
Allow 2 hours because of traffic getting out of Bogotá. Small buses also take this route, you may need to change in Guatavita or Sesquilé. Catch the bus at the Terminal de Norte in Bogotá, ask around for one that takes you closest to the yacht club you want to visit.

Contacts for boat clubs….

Club Nautica Muña , , telephone 311 211 9443 , which is at the Sesquilé end of the lake, has a sailing school, yacht racing, restaurant, cabins for hire, and other water sports such as water skiing. See the link for details. You can email the sailing school direct or email escueladevela@clubnauticomuna.org
–The Bogota Rowing Club is based at the Club Nautica Muña and can be emailed at info@bogotarowing.com
– Club Nautica El Portillo which is closer to Guatavita, also has restaurant, gym, sailing school, and yacht racing. It can be contacted on info@clubnauticoelportillo.com General information: cel. 311 592 05 71 Sailing school cel. 311 279 39 39

There are other small ‘nautical’ clubs along the reservoir shore with entrances on the road from Guatavita to Sesquilé, though some are purely for social events. There are also pop-up windsurfing schools too.