Lake Guatavita tour from Bogotá: El Dorado legend and hike

Seven hours, two towns, one legend: the lake where El Dorado was born

A full-day guided tour from Bogotá to Lake Guatavita and New Guatavita town, with hotel pickup, entry to the lake and an expert guide who tells the history of why the original town was flooded and rebuilt. The tour includes a traditional lunch option and covers the hike around the lake while explaining the ancestral myths and local legends tied to the El Dorado story. All-risk insurance is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Guatavita and Lake Guatavita

• Visit Guatavita Town
• Hike to Lake Guatavita
• Learn El Dorado legend
• Enjoy lunch at Tominé Reservoir

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Bogotá hotel and a drive out of the city toward the highlands where Lake Guatavita sits. Your guide meets you and walks you through the story of El Dorado (the legend of a sacred ritual and a lake that held gold) as you approach the water. The landscape shifts from urban to mountain as you climb, and the guide explains why the original Guatavita town was submerged when a new reservoir was built, forcing the community to relocate to New Guatavita higher up the slope.

Once at the lake, you hike the trail that circles the water, taking in views of the highlands and the town below. The guide points out the geography and the cultural significance of the site, grounding the El Dorado myth in the actual history of the Muisca people and their ceremonies. The hike is manageable for all fitness levels, and the path stays close enough to the water that you can see why this place mattered so deeply to the people who lived here.

Lunch happens at a restaurant in town with views of the Tominé Reservoir and the villages along the route: a traditional menu of the day, included if you chose that option at checkout. The guide can answer questions about what you've seen, and you have time to walk around New Guatavita if you want. The return to Bogotá takes the afternoon, and the guide drops you back at your hotel by evening.

What’s included

• Entry to Lake Guatavita.
• all-risk insurance.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Bogotá (or airport pickup for layovers).
• expert guide in English or Spanish.
• traditional lunch at a restaurant in town with reservoir views (if you choose it at checkout).

Options for this experience

2 options

Guatavita Lake, lunch not includedGuide in English or Spanish · 5 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 11:00Private tour without lunch: a Gran Colombia Tours guide, entry to Guatavita Lake, a visit to Guatavita Town, and all-risk insurance. Pickup is included.

Guatavita Lake, including lunchGuide in English or Spanish · 5 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 11:00Private tour with a Gran Colombia Tours guide, including entry to Guatavita Lake, a visit to Guatavita Town, lunch, and all-risk insurance. Pickup is included.

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 timesTuesday to Sunday5 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 11:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (5 to 85 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Gran Colombia Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want the story behind the lake, not just the view: the guide ties the landscape to the Muisca history and the El Dorado legend, so the hike becomes a walk through myth and real history at once. The full day and the included lunch mean you are not rushing between stops or eating on your own schedule.

Traveler reviews

4.88★★★★★★★★★★

52 verified traveler reviews

5 ★48

4 ★3

3 ★0

2 ★1

1 ★0

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: Infant (under 5).

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

El Dorado was a sacred ritual performed by the Muisca people at Lake Guatavita, where gold and treasures were offered to the gods. Your guide explains the ancestral myths and the real history behind the legend during the tour, grounding the story in the actual ceremonies and beliefs of the people who lived there.

Why was the original Guatavita town flooded?

The original town of Guatavita was submerged when a new reservoir was built. The community was relocated to New Guatavita, which sits higher on the slope, and your guide walks you through this history and shows you both the lake and the rebuilt town during the day.

How long is the hike around Lake Guatavita?

The hike circles the lake and is part of the full-day tour. It is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and the trail stays close enough to the water that you can see the landscape and the town below without needing mountaineering experience.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch is optional. You can choose to include a traditional menu of the day at a restaurant in town with views of the Tominé Reservoir, or book the tour without it and arrange your own meal.

Does the tour include hotel pickup from Bogotá?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off in Bogotá are included. If you have a layover at the airport, you can select the airport as your pickup point instead.