Guatavita Lake Tour: El Dorado Legend & Muisca Culture

Walk into the sacred lake where the El Dorado legend began

This day tour from Bogotá takes you to Lake Guatavita in the high Andes, where a Muisca descendant guide explains the indigenous ceremony behind the El Dorado legend. You climb 130 meters through changing vegetation to reach the lake viewpoint, then descend to the colonial town of Guatavita for lunch and local handicrafts. The tour runs 7 to 9 hours with hotel pickup, water, traditional food and waterproof ponchos included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Guatavita Lake and Town

• Walk into Guatavita natural reservation
• Meet guide from Muisca culture
• Listen to native culture explanation
• Relax and climb 130 meters stairs
• View lake from first viewpoint
• Observe birds and lake colors
• Walk through Andean cold weather to Paramo vegetation
• Exit lake after 90 minutes walk
• Eat traditional Muisca corn cob
• Enjoy views of Tominé reservoir
• Stop to watch Andean mountains
• Visit Guatavita town for handicrafts shopping
• Have lunch and taste local dessert

The experience

You start in Bogotá and drive into the Guatavita natural reservation, where a guide descended from the Muisca people, the original inhabitants of the valley, meets you at the lake. He speaks about his native culture and the ceremony that inspired the El Dorado legend. Your guide translates and adds context. After a rest, you begin climbing the stone steps: roughly 130 meters up, but the path stops several times so you can catch your breath. The stairs lead to the first viewpoint, where the lake opens below you, its water catching the light, and you can hear birds moving through the trees.

The walk continues for about 90 minutes as the landscape shifts. The Andean cold weather around Bogotá gives way to páramo: high moorland where thick-leaved frailejon plants grow, the kind you find only in Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. You pass the Tominé reservoir, an important water source for the region, and stop to look out at the Andean mountains. By the time you reach Guatavita town, founded in 1967, you've earned lunch: traditional Muisca food, including corn cob, and a local dessert. The afternoon leaves time to browse Colombian handicrafts before the drive back to Bogotá.

What’s included

• Entrance to Lake Guatavita.
• air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup from Bogotá.
• a Muisca guide who speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• bottled water.
• traditional Muisca food.
• waterproof ponchos.

Before you book

Days and timesSaturday and SundayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 3

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Imagine your Bogota

Is this one for you?This tour suits a first visit to the region or a free afternoon from Bogotá: the 7 to 9 hours fit a single day, and pickup from your hotel means no transport planning. The climb is steady but manageable with rest stops, so it works for anyone with moderate fitness who wants to move at a measured pace rather than rush between sites.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (5 to 11 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What is the El Dorado legend and why is Lake Guatavita connected to it?

The El Dorado legend grew from a Muisca ceremony performed at Lake Guatavita. The Muisca people would make ritual offerings at the lake, and Spanish conquistadors heard stories of gold being thrown into the water, which sparked the myth of a lost city of gold. Your guide, a Muisca descendant, explains the actual meaning of this ceremony and how it became one of history's most famous legends.

How steep is the climb to the lake viewpoint?

The climb is approximately 130 meters (426 feet) up stone steps, but the path includes several stops so you can rest and take in the views. The walk to the viewpoint takes roughly 90 minutes total, including the rest periods and time to observe the landscape and wildlife.

What kind of vegetation will I see on the walk?

The landscape changes as you climb. You start in Andean cold weather similar to Bogotá's climate, then enter páramo: high moorland with distinctive plants like the frailejon, which has thick, soft leaves resembling rabbit ears. These plants grow only in Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela, so the walk shows you a rare ecosystem.

Is lunch included, and what will we eat?

Lunch is not included in the tour price, but you'll have time to eat in Guatavita town. The tour provides traditional Muisca food like corn cob and a local dessert as part of the experience, and you can purchase additional meals in the town.

What should I bring or wear for this tour?

Wear comfortable hiking shoes and layers, since the weather is cool at altitude and changes as you climb. The tour provides waterproof ponchos in case of rain, and bottled water is included. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy. You should have at least moderate fitness to manage the 130-meter climb.