lake guatavita tour with local guide & lunch from bogota

Summary

Private day trip to lake guatavita with stories and local food

You’ll leave Bogotá behind for a day exploring Lake Guatavita’s legendary waters and the rebuilt town nearby. With a local guide sharing stories (and maybe a few laughs), you’ll hike gentle trails, taste traditional Colombian lunch by the reservoir if you want, and catch glimpses of history that stick with you long after you’re back in the city.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect the air around Lake Guatavita to feel so cool and sharp — almost like it was holding its breath. Our guide, Andrés, met us in Bogotá (right at our hotel, which honestly saved us some morning confusion) and started telling stories before we’d even left the city. He had this way of making the legend of El Dorado sound less like a myth and more like something that could’ve happened just last week. I tried repeating “Guatavita” the way he did, but my accent made him laugh — in a nice way.

The drive out was longer than I thought, but watching the city fade into green hills felt good after days of Bogotá’s noise. We stopped in New Guatavita, which looks oddly neat compared to most Colombian towns — turns out they rebuilt it after flooding the old one for a reservoir. There’s something strange about walking streets that weren’t meant to exist, you know? The locals waved as we passed; one old man selling arepas gave us a nod like he’d seen every kind of tourist come through.

The hike up to Lake Guatavita wasn’t hard, but I still got winded (altitude is no joke). The path smelled faintly of wet earth and eucalyptus. At the top, there was this hush — not silence exactly, just softer sounds: birds somewhere far off, Andrés’ voice low as he pointed out where gold offerings were thrown into the water centuries ago. I touched the rough bark of a tree while he talked about rituals; for a second it felt like time folded in on itself. Lunch by Tominé Reservoir afterwards tasted better than it probably should have — maybe because I was hungry or maybe because it was just simple food done right.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Lake Guatavita and Guatavita Town

• Explore Lake Guatavita and learn El Dorado legend
• Lunch at Tominé Reservoir with scenic views
• Visit Guatavita Town

Top questions

How long is the day trip to Lake Guatavita from Bogotá?

It’s a full-day tour including travel time from Bogotá to Lake Guatavita and back.

Is lunch included in the Lake Guatavita tour?

Lunch is optional; you can choose to include it when booking.

Does this tour include hotel pickup?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included in Bogotá.

Will there be a guide during the tour?

Yes, an expert local guide leads the entire experience.

What will we see besides Lake Guatavita?

You’ll also visit New Guatavita town and have lunch by Tominé Reservoir.

Is this tour suitable for all fitness levels?

Yes, it’s suitable for all physical fitness levels.

If I have a layover in Bogotá can I join?

Yes, select airport pickup when booking for layover tours.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Bogotá, entry fees for Lake Guatavita, guidance from a knowledgeable local throughout your journey, all-risk insurance coverage during activities, and—if you want—a traditional Colombian lunch by Tominé Reservoir before heading back to the city.