Book online or call: (888) 651-9785(888) 651-9785
Are you interested in?

Zipaquira Salt Cathedral (Catedral de Sal) Tours
104 Tours & Activities

Cultural Tours
291 Tours & Activities

Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises
587 Tours & Activities
8 hours (Approx.)
Hotel pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English and 4 more
Good for avoiding crowds
Keeping you safe during COVID-19
Overview
Experience the natural wonders of Colombia on this combined day trip to the subterranean Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral and Lake Guatavita (Laguna de Guatavita). This fun-filled day of outdoor activity offers an opportunity to discover an amazing cathedral built into the walls of a former mine before checking out a lake considered by many to be the source of the famous “El Dorado” legend. Your tour includes round-trip transportation from your Bogotá hotel plus a guide, lunch, and all entrance fees.
- Day trip to the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral and Laguna de Guatavita
- Venture underground with your expert guide and see the magnificent salt cathedral of Zipaquirá
- Visit the picturesque Laguna de Guatavita and admire the scenic landscape
- Enjoy a delicious Colombian lunch
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Bogotá included
Saved to wishlist!
Get a taste for the natural, scenic, and cultural beauty of the area surrounding Bogotá on this day trip blending the best attractions near Bogotá during a visit to the town of Zipaquirá.
Start the day with morning pickup from your hotel in Bogotá, continuing for 31 miles (50km) on a beautiful drive towards Zipaquirá to visit the town’s famous Salt Cathedral. First opened in 1954 inside a 246-foot (75m) long salt mine, this impressive subterranean church is big enough to accommodate several thousand visitors. After closing in 1991 for reconstruction, the salt cathedral was rebuilt in grand style, culminating in the removal of an additional 250,000 tons (226,000 metric tons) of salt from the space.
Take a brief break after the cathedral for lunch and enjoy a selection of authentic Colombian specialties, then move onwards to Laguna de Guatavita, just north of Bogotá. This picturesque mountain lake was once an important religious site for the indigenous Muisca tribe. The lake achieved further prominence during the Colonial era, when a group of Spaniards and foreigners believed a treasure trove of gold objects was hidden beneath its waters, earning it the nickname of “El Dorado.”
Return to Bogotá for drop-off at your hotel.
Start the day with morning pickup from your hotel in Bogotá, continuing for 31 miles (50km) on a beautiful drive towards Zipaquirá to visit the town’s famous Salt Cathedral. First opened in 1954 inside a 246-foot (75m) long salt mine, this impressive subterranean church is big enough to accommodate several thousand visitors. After closing in 1991 for reconstruction, the salt cathedral was rebuilt in grand style, culminating in the removal of an additional 250,000 tons (226,000 metric tons) of salt from the space.
Take a brief break after the cathedral for lunch and enjoy a selection of authentic Colombian specialties, then move onwards to Laguna de Guatavita, just north of Bogotá. This picturesque mountain lake was once an important religious site for the indigenous Muisca tribe. The lake achieved further prominence during the Colonial era, when a group of Spaniards and foreigners believed a treasure trove of gold objects was hidden beneath its waters, earning it the nickname of “El Dorado.”
Return to Bogotá for drop-off at your hotel.
Itinerary
This full-day tour will take you to two places of interest located within Bogotá's savannah. Zipaquirá's Salt Cathedral; a majestic cathedral built inside of the largest salt-rock deposit on earth. Here you'll see the how Catholic symbology and contemporary engineering converged in the construction of this gigantic temple.
With materials from this former salt mine and using lighting effects, sculptors created innovative interpretations of the Catholic Via Crucis that you will be able to see throughout the cathedral. Here you will learn about the creative process and the symbology behind the sculptures.
Duration: 2 hours
Admission Ticket Included
The second stop, Guatavita Lagoon, a mystical and sacred place for the Muiscas, will give you a glimpse of what Paramo ecosystem looks like while you learn about the famous legend of El Dorado, Muisca cosmology and its relation to the lagoon.
After a stop for lunch, you will be driven through a countryside road to Guatavita where the sacred lake hides among mountains and mist. Inside this natural reserve, you will learn about the connection that the ancient Muiscas had with nature. Moreover, you will understand the symbolism behind the gold offerings that awoke the gold rush of Spanish treasure hunters.
Finally, after returning to Bogotá, you will be taken to your hotel or to any other point of your convenience.
Duration: 3 hours
Admission Ticket Included
Traveler Photos
Reviews
Questions?
Product code: 5549ZIPGUA
Explore Similar Things to Do
Bus ToursNature and WildlifeWalking ToursFull-day ToursWalking & Biking ToursCultural & Theme ToursDay Trips & ExcursionsLuxury & Special OccasionsOutdoor ActivitiesTours & SightseeingBogotáBus Tours - ArmeniaNature and Wildlife - ArmeniaWalking Tours - ArmeniaFull-day Tours - ArmeniaBus Tours - MedellínNature and Wildlife - MedellínWalking Tours - MedellínFull-day Tours - MedellínBus Tours - CaliNature and Wildlife - CaliWalking Tours - CaliFull-day Tours - CaliCategory
Nemocón Salt Mines (Mina de Sal Nemocón)Bioparque Los OcarrosOstrich Farm (Granja de Avestruces)Mirador Torre ColpatriaInternational Emerald Museum (Museo Internacional de la Esmeralda)Salitre MágicoLa Reserva Biopark (Bioparque La Reserva)Bogotá Museum of Modern Art (MAMBO)Bogotá Mint Museum (Museo Casa de la Moneda)Children's Museum of Bogota (Museo de los Niños)La Catedral PrimadaTerracotta House (Casa Terracota)Colombian National Museum (Museo Nacional de Colombia)National Capitol (Capitolio Nacional)Mundo Aventura Theme Park (Parque Mundo Aventura)93 Park (Parque 93)Maloka MuseumNariño Palace (Casa de Nariño)Plaza de BolivarManoa Parque