Villa de Leyva & Zipaquira Salt Cathedral tour from Bogotá
Walk colonial plazas and descend into a cathedral carved from salt
A 13-hour tour from Bogotá visits the whitewashed colonial town of Villa de Leyva in Boyacá, the chocolate museum where you taste Colombian chocolate, the small town of Raquira, and the Zipaquira Salt Cathedral: a First Wonder of Colombia carved underground with illuminated chambers. Private transportation, lunch and entrance fees are included. A live guide in English or Spanish leads the route.
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Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Villa de Leyva and Zipaquira
- Visit Battle of Boyacá historical sites
- Tour Villa de Leyva colonial town
- Visit Chocolate Museum and taste chocolate
- Visit Ain Karim vineyard and wine tasting
- Explore Zipaquira Salt Cathedral
The experience
The tour leaves Bogotá and heads into Boyacá, a region tied to Colombian independence through the Battle of Boyacá, fought in a small valley around the Teatinos River. Villa de Leyva itself is the draw: a city of whitewashed colonial buildings and cobblestone streets built around the great Plaza Mayor, where the 17th-century Church of Our Lady of the Rosary still stands. The House of the First Congress of the United Provinces sits on the same square. The place where new laws were drafted after independence in 1812.
Inside Villa de Leyva, you visit the chocolate museum, where you taste a cup of Colombian chocolate made from organic cocoa crops grown in Pauna and Villa de Leyva itself. The museum expanded from a small exhibition in 2015 to include a hotel-spa, boutique and bakery, all built around the chocolate-making process. After that stop, the route takes you to Raquira, a small and colorful town where you eat a typical regional lunch, or a vegetarian option if you prefer.
The final destination is the Zipaquira Salt Cathedral, declared the First Wonder of Colombia. You explore the beautifully illuminated underground cavern, where a guide explains the history of this architectural achievement carved from salt. The cathedral sits beneath the colonial town of Zipaquira, and the tour includes time in the main squares above ground as well. Private transportation covers the full route, and water is provided for hydration throughout the day.
What’s included
- Private transportation from your hotel or accommodation.
- a live guide in English or Spanish.
- entrance to the Zipaquira Salt Cathedral and Villa de Leyva sites.
- lunch at a regional restaurant.
- chocolate tasting at the museum.
- water for hydration throughout the day.
Before you book
Prices and times updated 8 days ago
Operated by transfers & tours Colombia
Is this one for you?Choose this if you're ready for 13 hours of walking uneven colonial plazas and descending into the salt cathedral. The private pickup means you start fresh rather than navigating to a meeting point yourself.
Traveler reviews
Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Spanish.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.
What is the Zipaquira Salt Cathedral actually like inside?
The Salt Cathedral is an underground cavern carved entirely from salt deposits, with beautifully illuminated chambers. A guide explains the construction history and architectural details as you walk through the main spaces of this underground structure.
How much walking is involved in this tour?
The itinerary includes walking over grassy, unpaved and uneven terrain, particularly in Villa de Leyva's cobblestone streets and around the colonial plazas. Comfortable walking shoes are essential, and the pace is manageable for all fitness levels.
What does the chocolate museum experience include?
At the chocolate museum in Villa de Leyva, you taste a cup of Colombian chocolate made from the museum's own organic cocoa crops. The museum explains the cultivation, fermentation and processing of cacao, and you learn about the chocolate-making process before tasting.
Will this tour run if the weather is bad?
The activity works in most weather conditions, so the tour typically operates rain or shine. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring layers if needed for the mountain climate of Boyacá.
Villa de Leyva & Zipaquira Salt Cathedral tour from Bogotá
13h · EN · ES · at your hotel
from US$ 374 per person
4.5034 reviewsVerified traveler reviews via our booking provider