Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá & Lake Guatavita: tickets included
Description
On the outskirts of Bogotá, there are two beautiful old towns that are worth visiting: Zipaquira and Guatavita. Come with us and explore its treasures with this two-in-one day trip. First, explore the halls of the Salt Cathedral, the only underground catholic church in the world. Then, venture into Guatavita’s natural park to learn about its cultural significance, as well as the legend of El Dorado. Choose a private or shared option. • A full-day adventure outside Bogota city • A guided tour at the salt mine and the lake (private options) • A history lesson on indigenous cultures and its transition to Catholicism through salt • Retelling of local legends, ancestral myths and indigenous folklore
Tour Options
Itinerary
Explore the depth of an amazing cathedral carved out of an enormous salt mine!
Learn about the legend of El Dorado and enjoy the amazing landscapes of Lake Guatavita.
Guided visti to New Guatavita town
Zipaquira Town is home to the Salt Cathedral where our adventure takes place
Guatavita Town is home to the Lake where our adventure takes place
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick-up our clients anywhere within Bogota city - hotels, hostels, Airbnb, vacation rentals, points of interest, and also at El Dorado International airport.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The Tour Guide will contact you the day before in case you have any questions or assist you with any requirements.
- This tour offers a shared option without lunch and guide. It includes pick-up and drop-off at your lodging, entrance to the Cathedral and Guatavita Lake, and risk insurance. A minimum of 2 people is required for the tour to operate. If only one person books and the minimum is not met, the customer will be offered either a change of date or a 100% refund
Reviews(99)
This includes a moderately aggressive climb up a rugged but well maintained rock path. Good hiking shoes are a plus. There is a lot of driving time, some highway but some on poor mountain roads. Unless you are an adventurous eater pack your own lunch. The Salt Cathedral is stunning. Be prepared to walk in a fairly low light environment. Bring a reusable water bottle - the National Parks frown on disposable plastic because, sadly, tourists are slobs and will litter the magnificent mountainside with trash!
**Traducción al español:** Este tour incluye una subida moderadamente exigente por un sendero rocoso, aunque bien mantenido. Se recomienda llevar buen calzado para caminar. Hay bastante tiempo de traslado, tanto por carretera principal como por caminos de montaña en condiciones más difíciles. Si no eres muy aventurero con la comida, es recomendable llevar tu propio almuerzo. La Catedral de Sal es impresionante. Ten en cuenta que allí caminarás en un ambiente con poca iluminación. También es recomendable llevar una botella de agua reutilizable, ya que en los Parques Nacionales se busca reducir el uso de plásticos desechables y evitar residuos en estos hermosos entornos naturales. **Respuesta en español:** ¡Muchas gracias por compartir tu experiencia y estos consejos tan útiles! Nos alegra saber que la Catedral de Sal fue uno de los puntos destacados de tu recorrido. Tus recomendaciones sobre el calzado, el agua y las condiciones del camino serán muy útiles para futuros viajeros. ¡Gracias por acompañarnos! 😊 **Response in English (under 400 characters):** Thank you for sharing your experience and these helpful tips! We're glad the stunning Salt Cathedral was a highlight of your day. Your advice about hiking shoes, reusable water bottles, and being prepared for the road and trail conditions will be very useful for future travelers. Thank you for joining us! 😊
Super trip helped by excellent guide Conselo who was knowledgeable and helpful. Guatavita was beautiful and the history incredible. Salt Cathedral met every superlative description.
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you had such a fantastic experience exploring Guatavita and the Salt Cathedral. It’s wonderful to know that Conselo’s knowledge and helpfulness made your day even more enjoyable. We’re especially happy that the beauty of Guatavita and the impressive Salt Cathedral lived up to your expectations. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with Conselo. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure in Colombia!
Jorge was an awesome, chill, smart, and helpful guide and was a pleasure to talk and hang with.
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that Jorge’s friendly personality, knowledge, and helpfulness made your experience so enjoyable. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with him. Thank you for choosing us, and we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure in Colombia!
The logistics of everything went very well. The guide and driver were both excellent and very professional. I admit to being a bit of a well seasoned jaded traveler. This trip is a very long day and in the end it serves to hike around a lake and visit a salt mine. Having visited previous salt mines, this was honestly not that big of a deal (and a pretty expensive attraction), so in retrospect I don't think this was worth the time or expense. Maybe if you've never visited a salt mine, but otherwise I don't think I would do this tour again. Lots of time spent in traffic, big crowds at the lake the day we went (holiday weekend), and we didn't even get lunch until 3PM.
We loved the tour! The lagoon is beautiful, a unique landscape! The cathedral exceeded our expectations! Our guide was Jorge and he was super attentive!
Thank you so much for this review, we love hearing that you had such a great time exploring Guatavita and the Salt Cathedral. It’s wonderful to know Jorge’s attention and care helped make the experience even more memorable. Thanks for spending part of your trip with us
Great experience - doable and nice climb in guatavita, and the salt cathedral was very impressive. We highly recommend camilo - he was an excellent guide. He was very knowledgeable, accommodating, and generally a great vibe!
Great experience - doable and nice climb in Guatavita, and the salt cathedral was very impressive. We highly recommend Camilo - he was an excellent guide. He was very knowledgeable, accommodating, and generally a great vibe!
Thank you very much for the excellent experience. I enjoyed the tour to the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá and the Guatavita Lagoon immensely. Everything was very well organized, and Gustavo was excellent: very kind, attentive, and knowledgeable throughout the tour. I would definitely recommend Gran Colombia Tours!
Muchísimas gracias por esta reseña; nos encanta saber que disfrutaste tanto de Zipaquirá como de Guatavita. Es fantástico saber que Gustavo contribuyó a que el día fuera aún mejor con sus conocimientos y su atención durante todo el recorrido. ¡Gracias por pasar parte de tu viaje con nosotros!
Excellent tour! Wonderful landscapes. Our guide Camilo super attentive and friendly was also super punctual. Super recommended!
Nos alegra mucho saber que tuviste una excelente experiencia y que disfrutaste de los paisajes. Es genial saber que la atención y puntualidad de Camilo hicieron el recorrido aún más especial. Gracias por tu recomendación y por elegir Gran Colombia Tours, esperamos recibirte nuevamente pronto.
Very punctual and comfortable transfer
Thank you very much for your excellent review! We're delighted to hear you had a great experience and that our team was kind, punctual, and provided a comfortable transfer. It’s wonderful to know you were so pleased with the service. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back to Colombia with Gran Colombia Tours very soon! ¡Muchas gracias por tu excelente reseña! Nos alegra mucho saber que tuviste una gran experiencia y que nuestro equipo fue amable, puntual y te brindó un traslado cómodo. Nos encanta saber que quedaste encantada con el servicio. Agradecemos mucho tus comentarios y esperamos darte la bienvenida nuevamente en Colombia con Gran Colombia Tours muy pronto.
What a wonderful and moving experience. I was unprepared for the scope and beauty of the Cathedral. Our guide, Sarai, was incredible. She was the Colombian friend I didn’t know I needed. Her knowledge was immersive and expansive. I felt this tour was tailor made for us.
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're truly delighted to hear how meaningful and memorable your experience was, and that the Cathedral left such a strong impression. It’s especially heartwarming to know Sarai made you feel so welcomed and created such a personalized, immersive experience. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back to Colombia with Gran Colombia Tours soon!
