Private Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral Tour from Bogotá

Descend 200 meters into an underground cathedral carved from salt.

A private half-day tour from Bogotá takes you north to Zipaquirá, where you descend over 650 feet into an ancient salt mine to explore a cathedral carved from 250,000 tons of rock. Your bilingual guide leads you through the underground structure, explains its history and architecture, and then gives you time to walk the colonial main square before returning to your hotel. Hotel pickup and entrance are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral from Bogotá

• Pickup from Bogotá hotel
• Travel to Zipaquirá
• Descend into salt mine cathedral
• Learn cathedral history from guide
• Explore Zipaquirá colonial village
• Return to Bogotá hotel

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your Bogotá hotel and a drive north toward Zipaquirá, passing Tequendama Falls along the way. Once you arrive at the salt mine, your guide leads you underground to the cathedral, which sits 200 meters below the surface. The scale of the space becomes clear as you walk through it: the entire structure was carved by hand from the surrounding salt rock, a feat that took decades and transformed a working mine into a sacred site.

Your guide walks you through the cathedral's layout and history, explaining how it was built and what makes it architecturally unusual. After the underground portion, you have time to explore the colonial village of Zipaquirá on the surface, where the main square and local bakeries give you a sense of the region beyond the mine. Then it's the drive back to Bogotá, with your guide dropping you at your hotel to end the half-day.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from your Bogotá accommodation.
• bilingual guide in your choice of English, Spanish, Portuguese, French or German.
• entrance ticket to the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 14:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (2 to 12 years) · Infant (under 2)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German 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.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Impulse Travel

Is this one for you?Book this private tour if you want to explore the cathedral without sharing the experience with other travelers, and if a half-day timeframe fits your schedule in Bogotá.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 12 years); Infant (under 2).

How deep underground is the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral?

The cathedral sits over 200 meters (656 feet) below the earth's surface inside the salt mine. You descend into this depth to walk through the entire structure.

Does the tour include the entrance fee to the cathedral?

Yes, entrance to the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral is included in the tour price, along with hotel pickup and drop-off from Bogotá.

How much walking is involved on this tour?

You'll walk on uneven terrain both underground in the cathedral and through the colonial village of Zipaquirá, so comfortable shoes are recommended. The tour suits all fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.

What happens during the time in Zipaquirá village?

After the cathedral, you have free time to stroll through the picturesque main square and try regional baked goods before heading back to Bogotá.