Laguna de Guatavita from Bogotá: El Dorado legend tour

The Muiscas performed their El Dorado ritual at this high-altitude lake, and the guide explains what it meant.

A guided tour from Bogotá to Laguna de Guatavita, the legendary site of El Dorado, where you walk through Andean forest to reach the sacred lake and learn its significance to the Muisca people. After the 2-hour park tour, you'll have lunch in the town of Guatavita and see the nearby Tominé reservoir before returning to the city. Choose a shared departure from the historic center or a private pickup from your hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Guatavita Lagoon and Town

• Travel from Bogotá to Guatavita Lagoon
• Explore fauna and flora in the park
• Walk up to Guatavita Lake
• Learn about Muisca El Dorado ritual
• Travel to Guatavita town
• Have lunch in Guatavita town
• Take a short walk in Guatavita town
• Visit Tominé reservoir
• Return to Bogotá

The experience

The lagoon sits 2 hours from Bogotá, high enough that the landscape shifts as you climb. A live guide leads you through the Andean forest, pointing out the fauna and flora along the way, before the path opens onto the lake itself. This is where the Muiscas performed their ritual of El Dorado (throwing gold into the water as an offering), and the guide walks you through what that ceremony meant to the indigenous people who inhabited these lands, not as a legend but as a practice rooted in their culture and belief.

The 2-hour tour of the park is the core of the day, but there's more after. Once you leave the lagoon, you head down to the town of Guatavita for lunch, then take a short walk to see the Tominé reservoir before the drive back to Bogotá. The whole outing runs 7 to 8 hours from start to finish. You can book a shared tour with a meeting point in Bogotá's historic center, or arrange a private tour with pickup and drop-off at your hotel. The guide speaks English or Spanish either way.

What’s included

• A live guide in English or Spanish.
• entrance to Laguna de Guatavita park.
• lunch in the town of Guatavita (on some options).
• hotel pickup and drop-off (on private tour option).

Options for this experience

3 options

Shared TourGuide in English or Spanish · 08:00Shared tour where you join other travelers for this experience. Not included: entrance fee, meal, and pickup. Lasts 6 hours. Private-shared format: we begin at the meeting point in the historic center, in front of the Starbucks City U building.

Shared, with entrance and lunchGuide in English or Spanish · 08:00Shared tour where you join other travelers for this experience. Includes entrance, lunch, and transportation. Lasts 7 hours. Lunch includes a homemade meal. Private option: we start from the meeting point.

Exclusive, with entrance and lunchGuide in English or Spanish · 08:00, 09:00 and 10:00Private option lasting 7 hours; lunch is included, along with pickup and drop-off services

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00, 09:00 and 10:00

Book up to14h before

AgesAdult (5 to 72 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 11.10

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Local Tours Colombia

Is this one for you?Book the shared tour if you're comfortable meeting in Bogotá's historic center and want to travel with other visitors. Choose the private option if you prefer pickup from your hotel and the flexibility of a dedicated guide for your group.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What is the legend of El Dorado, and why does it connect to Laguna de Guatavita?

El Dorado was a ritual performed by the Muisca people at Laguna de Guatavita, in which they threw gold and other offerings into the sacred lake. The guide explains the true cultural and spiritual meaning of this practice, moving beyond the myth of a lost city of gold to the actual beliefs and ceremonies of the indigenous people who lived in these highlands.

How much walking and climbing is involved in reaching the lagoon?

The tour includes a walk through the Andean forest to reach the lake, with fauna and flora visible along the path. The operator recommends at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy.

What happens after the lagoon tour ends?

After the 2-hour guided tour in the park, you travel to the town of Guatavita for lunch, then take a short walk to view the Tominé reservoir before returning to Bogotá.

Can I book a private tour with hotel pickup, or do I have to meet in the city?

You can choose between a shared tour with a meeting point in Bogotá's historic center, or a private tour with pickup and drop-off at your hotel. Both options include a live guide in English or Spanish.

How long is the entire tour from Bogotá?

The full day runs 7 to 8 hours, including the 2-hour park tour, lunch in Guatavita, the walk to the Tominé reservoir, and travel time to and from the city.