Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral & Guatavita Lagoon tour from Bogotá

A salt cathedral carved inside a working mine, and the lagoon that sparked the El Dorado legend.

This full-day guided tour from Bogotá visits the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá and Lake Guatavita, two of Colombia's most culturally and historically significant sites, with hotel pickup, expert guide commentary in English or Spanish, and a walk around the lagoon's natural trails. The tour includes travel insurance, a panoramic walk through both towns, free time for lunch, and an audio guide in your language. Entrance to Guatavita Lagoon is included in some options. The Salt Cathedral ticket is purchased separately at the site.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Lake Guatavita3h
2. Zipaquira Salt Cathedral2h

Visit Guatavita and Zipaquirá highlights

• Pickup in Bogotá
• Walk around Guatavita Lagoon
• Stop to purchase Salt Cathedral tickets
• Explore Zipaquirá town and main square
• Free time for lunch in Zipaquirá
• Visit Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá
• Relax at local restaurant
• Drop-off in Bogotá

The experience

You're picked up at your Bogotá hotel and driven north toward Zipaquirá and Guatavita. The day unfolds across five main stops: the towns themselves, the lagoon, the cathedral, and the surrounding landscape. Your guide provides context and stories throughout: the mythology behind El Dorado, the engineering of the cathedral, the spiritual significance of the Muisca sacred site. The route takes 12 hours total, including travel time, walking, exploration, and a lunch break.

At Guatavita Lagoon, you walk the natural trails that circle the water at an easy to moderate pace, with some uphill sections and stairs. The walk takes 40 to 90 minutes depending on how far you go, and the views across the mountain landscape are part of what makes the site matter. You're not just looking at the water, you're standing where the Muisca people made offerings and where Spanish conquistadors searched for gold. Afterward, you move on to Zipaquirá town itself, a colonial settlement with a main square, local shops, and restaurants where you can eat at your own pace.

The Salt Cathedral is the final stop. Built inside an old salt mine, it's a working religious space carved entirely from salt: chambers, altars, sculptures, and passages all shaped from the mineral itself. Your guide walks you through the stations and explains the construction and meaning. It's a singular thing to stand inside: the scale, the material, the fact that it's still in use. You return to Bogotá in the late afternoon.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Bogotá.
• guided tour inside Guatavita Lagoon with expert commentary in English and Spanish.
• panoramic walks through Guatavita and Zipaquirá towns.
• travel insurance.
• audio guide in your language.
• free time for lunch in Zipaquirá.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDeparts at 07:00

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (1 to 17 years)

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Audio guideSpanish, French and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 49

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Beyond Colombia Free, Group & Private Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you're spending a full day in Bogotá and want to see both the Guatavita lagoon and Salt Cathedral in one trip rather than splitting them across separate days.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 17 years).

What is the Guatavita Lagoon walk like?

The walk around Lake Guatavita follows natural trails at an easy to moderate pace, lasting 40 to 90 minutes depending on how far you explore. You'll encounter some uphill sections and stairs, but the route is designed to let you move at a relaxed speed while taking in mountain views and the landscape surrounding this sacred Muisca site.

Is the Salt Cathedral entrance ticket included?

The Salt Cathedral ticket is purchased separately at the site and is not included in the tour price. Your guide will stop to help you buy it, and then you'll explore the underground cathedral with the group.

How long is the full tour?

The tour runs 12 hours total, including hotel pickup and drop-off in Bogotá, travel between sites, walking at each stop, and a lunch break in Zipaquirá town.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is not included in the base tour price, but there is free time in Zipaquirá town where you can eat at local restaurants at your own cost and explore at your own pace.