Guatavita Lagoon & Nemocón Salt Mines from Bogotá

You descend 60 meters below ground into an active salt mine where the brine pools reflect the cavern walls like mirrors.

This day trip from Bogotá combines two half-days in the highlands: a guided walk around the crater rim of Guatavita Lagoon with a Muisca park guide explaining the El Dorado legend and indigenous history, lunch in the town of Guatavita, and then a descent into the Nemocón Salt Mines to experience what working miners do. The route passes the 9-kilometer Tominé reservoir on the way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Lake Guatavita3h · entry included
2. Nemocón Salt Mines2h · entry included

Visit Guatavita Lagoon and Nemocón Salt Mines

• Walk to Guatavita Lagoon edge
• Listen to Muisca culture and El Dorado legend
• Explore Guatavita town and architecture
• Enjoy typical regional lunch
• See Tominé reservoir en route
• Descend 60 meters into Nemocón Salt Mine
• Discover Colombian salt industry history

The experience

If you have a free afternoon in Bogotá and want to leave the city, this tour takes you northeast into the highlands where the two stops sit roughly an hour apart. The day starts at Guatavita Lagoon, a crater lake inside a protected natural reserve where a Muisca guide joins the group for about 75 minutes. You walk a path to the crater's edge, roughly 30 minutes on foot, while the guide explains the culture of the Muisca indigenous community and the legend of El Dorado, the mythical city of gold that drew Spanish conquistadors to this lake. The lagoon itself sits at the bottom of the crater, and the walk gives you the vantage to see it from above.

After the lagoon, you spend time in the town of Guatavita exploring its architecture and layout, then sit down for a typical regional lunch. On the drive between the two main stops, you'll pass the Tominé reservoir, a long body of water that stretches 9 kilometers across the landscape. Then you arrive at Nemocón, where the second half of the day begins. You descend 60 meters below the surface into an active salt mine, the kind where miners still work, and walk through tunnels to see the brine mirrors, the pools of salt water that reflect the cavern ceiling. The operator calls this section "living like a real miner," and it gives you a direct look at how Colombian salt has been extracted from this site.

The tour runs seven hours total and includes an air-conditioned vehicle, a bilingual guide in English and Spanish, bottled water, and lunch. Pickup from your Bogotá hotel is part of the booking. The physical demands are moderate: the walk around the lagoon is about 30 minutes and the descent into the mine is straightforward, but the operator notes the tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, cardiovascular concerns, or pregnancy. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a light layer, as the highlands are cooler than Bogotá.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• bilingual guide in English and Spanish.
• lunch in Guatavita.
• all fees and taxes.
• air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup from Bogotá.

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday to SundayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 12 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by transfers & tours Colombia

Is this one for you?This tour works best for small groups or families with a moderate level of physical fitness who want to combine indigenous history and natural landscape in a single day. The fixed route and timing fit a free afternoon or morning from Bogotá without needing to arrange separate transport or book multiple sites independently.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

1 verified traveler review

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What is the legend of El Dorado and why does it connect to Guatavita Lagoon?

El Dorado is the mythical city of gold that Spanish conquistadors believed existed in the highlands of Colombia. Guatavita Lagoon became central to the legend because the Muisca indigenous people performed rituals there, and Spanish explorers misinterpreted accounts of gold offerings thrown into the water as proof of a hidden treasure city. Your Muisca guide explains this history and the actual cultural significance of the lake to the indigenous community during the 75-minute stop at the lagoon.

How far down do you go into the Nemocón Salt Mines and what do you see there?

You descend 60 meters below the surface into the Nemocón Salt Mines, an active site where miners still work. Inside, you walk through tunnels and see the brine mirrors: pools of salt water that reflect the cavern walls and ceiling, creating striking underground landscapes. The operator describes these as the "heart of Colombia" in terms of salt production, and the walk lets you observe the scale and method of extraction firsthand.

How long is the walk around Guatavita Lagoon and how difficult is it?

The walk to the crater rim and back takes about 30 minutes. The path is straightforward and the operator rates the overall physical demand as moderate, though the tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy. Comfortable walking shoes are advisable.

What do you see on the drive between Guatavita and Nemocón?

On the way between the two main stops, you pass the Tominé reservoir, a large body of water that stretches 9 kilometers across the landscape. The drive gives you a sense of the highland terrain and the geography of the region.