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Salt Cathedral and Guatavita Lake: Explore Muisca Culture, Colombian Wonders, and Local Cuisine
4.9
54 Ratings
Bogotá
Immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of Colombia with a visit to the Salt Cathedral and Guatavita Lake. Explore the Muisca culture, indulge in local cuisine, and marvel at the stunning landscapes and architecture of the Cundinamarca region.
Immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of Colombia with a visit to the Salt Cathedral and Guatavita Lake. Explore the Muisca culture, indulge in local cuisine, and marvel at the stunning landscapes and architecture of the Cundinamarca region.
Duration:
11 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Guatavita - We are going to stop for breakfast and also walk in one of the most beautiful towns in the Cundinamarca region. the white and magical town of Guatavita.
- Laguna de Guatavita - We will make the tour in the sacred Muisca territory of the Guatavita lagoon, with a local native guide who will share with us the pre-Columbian history and…
- Guatavita - We are going to stop for breakfast and also walk in one of the most beautiful towns in the Cundinamarca region. the white and magical town of Guatavita.
- Laguna de Guatavita - We will make the tour in the sacred Muisca territory of the Guatavita lagoon, with a local native guide who will share with us the pre-Columbian history and the indigenous cosmovision of the center of the Andes; We will visit the sacred lagoon of Guatavita.
- Plaza Sesquile - We will pass through the colonial town of Sesquile and take photos of the beautiful main square and continue to the first Colombian wonder in the town of Zipaquira.
- Zipaquira - We are going to have lunch in one of the most traditional restaurants in the city of Zipaquira; Then we will visit the viewpoint of the Virgin and the colonial town to reach the wonderful statue of the last Zipa Muisca Tisquesusa right in front of the Zipaquira train station and from there we go directly to the Salt Cathedral.
- Catedral de Sal de Zipaquira - We are going to enjoy a tour of the first wonder of Colombia, the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira; We will discover all the magical corners of the mine and we will know its history and secrets.
What's Included
- Private transportation
- Private tour guide all the way
- Lunch
- Breakfast
- All fees and/or taxes
- Tea and coffee
- Snacks
- Private transportation
- Private tour guide all the way
- Lunch
- Breakfast
- All fees and/or taxes
- Tea and coffee
- Snacks
What's Not Included
- Everything that is not included
- Everything that is not included
Additional Information
We are set to experience an ideal blend of the pre-Columbian era, encompassing the ancestral history of the elder brothers - the Muiscas, at the divine lagoon of Guatavita and Colombia’s first wonder - the Salt Cathedral. This journey connects diverse aspects of culture including indigenous, colonial, and republican. We would be exploring the ancient…
We are set to experience an ideal blend of the pre-Columbian era, encompassing the ancestral history of the elder brothers - the Muiscas, at the divine lagoon of Guatavita and Colombia’s first wonder - the Salt Cathedral. This journey connects diverse aspects of culture including indigenous, colonial, and republican. We would be exploring the ancient territory’s world and cosmovision right up to the current times. Also, a gastronomical delight awaits us with traditional breakfasts, lunch and few treats on the way. Our visit will extend to towns in the Cundinamarca region where we can appreciate the encompassing nature, stunning landscapes, and architectural marvels from different eras. It’s a tour filled with history and culture.
Location
The Cranky Croc Hostel
Calle 12d
We will meet at... The Cranky Croc Hostel Cl. 12d #3-56, Bogotá, Colombia
***Once you arrive inside of the hostel, go to the reception desk and say that you are here for the tour.***
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(54 Ratings)
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1 star
Jose
Oct 6, 2024
Amazon service and timing - It was great. Diego (guide) and James (driver) were fully dedicated to assure us a wonderful experience. And certainly we did. The Salt Cathedral was epic. We certainly recommend this service and tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anneke
Sep 29, 2024
Wonderful Day Out - This was a fantastic tour, Andrea was a fun and knowledgeable guide. I learned so much about the history of the region and the indigenous community. Hiking up the the lagoon was challenging due to the elevation but it was well worth it. The salt mine was cooler than I was anticipating. Overall great tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sergio
Sep 23, 2024
INCROYABLE - This time we only made the lagoon of Guatavita, but it was an incredible experience because my wife, my mother-in-law, my wife's father-in-law and I had a great time, Guide Lorena was an excellent Guide, the tour is very interesting, breakfast, lunch, absolutely everything was beautiful. The road to the Guatavita lagoon is stone but not difficult. The True Colombian Experience, thank you very much for this pleasant time with my French family. And the view is BEAUTIFUL.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Martinstutensee
Sep 20, 2024
Colombias first wonder. - We took our tour to the Salt Cathedral and Guatavita Town and Lake in early September. After an on time pickup at our meeting point by our guide Andrea and our driver Omar we were on our way to Guatavita, a colonial style town which was build for residents after the original town was flooded by the artificial lake of Guatavita. The whole town is build in the same style which reminds us of architecture used on the island of Teneriffe. Andrea explained the legends of the local Muisca people in connection to the Laguna de Guatavita and the regular sacrifices of golden objects which led to the creation of the legend of Eldorado. After breakfast in town a steady rain convinced us not to visit the Laguna since it required a 1,5 hr. hike and spent more time at the Salt Cathedral. This is an experience not to be missed. It is simply spectacular and the history very interesting. A relative quiet day with only small groups of people made this experience even more enjoyable. Besides the religious parts there are also shops and restaurants underground. The mine next door is still active and it is hard to believe that you are not surrounded by stone but by salt. The Cathedral is next to the town of Zipaquaria where we had a great lunch of barbecued meats. After a relaxed drive back to Bogota we were dropped off at our hotel. Thank's to our guide Andrea and Omar who made this day a day truly to remember and a tour we highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
John
Sep 8, 2024
A full and pleasant day. - Everything went smoothly and is expected. Elizabeth our tour guide was very pleasant and informative. Our driver Steven was very capable driver. We first had a simple breakfast with a few options and I chose the beef rib soup which was very pleasant. We then went to the salt cathedral, which was also a nice experience with our tour guide. After that, we proceeded to the lake, which includes a considerable hike, therefore, would not recommend this trip for anyone with significant orthotic problems, such as knee and back pain. I would not recommend this for anybody that does not have good exercise tolerance. there is significant climbing to get to the lake. This was then followed by simple dinner, which included a pork chop with a sweet-and-sour sauce. This was a very nice experience overall. The tour did last a majority of the day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
An396
Aug 17, 2024
Salt cathedral and guanavita lagoon - It is a full day trip. Starts at 7 am since the place is far about an hour and a half away in traffic and got home at 7 pm.
Very interesting trip. We had breakfast and a delicious lunch included. Elizabeth our tour guide was good. Gave us a lot of information. The lagoon is beautiful and well worth the visit. Be prepared for an uphill climb and wear comfortable shoes. The salt cathedral was also very interesting. Great day. Well planned.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Janessa_t
Aug 2, 2024
Fantastic! - A must do when visiting Bogota. Make sure to wear comfortable footwear as you will be hiking. The wobbling knees going up to the lagoon was worth it. Ou guide Andrea was very informative & was very attentive. My husband & I really had a wonderful time.
Review provided by Viator
Mikesullivan
Jul 3, 2024
Absolutely Do This Tour! - This tour was outstanding! My guide was Diego who was extremely knowledgeable about the places we visited and their history. He spoke English fluently and had a great demeanor. The views of the lake was stunning and the history is fascinating. The Cathedral de Sal was more beautiful than I imagined. You must see it to know. Breakfast and lunch were included and were very good at local restaurants with excellent choices. Lastly I want to compliment our driver Harvey who did an excellent job keeping us safe on the busy roads in Bogota and the tight country roads outside the city. I highly recommend this tour!
Review provided by Viator
Gonzalorq9487bh
Jul 2, 2024
Maravillosa. Interesting. Unique. - We visited the Cathedral of Sal de Zipaquirá. Diego was our agonizing guide. Super attentive, interested in us taking a nice experience of both the excursion and our stay in Colombia.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anonymous49463
Sep 21, 2024
It was really a great place to visit but be prepared - This is an amazing place to visit for any age group. The number of carvings of the Cross, how they organized them in each area, the naming of different events (Christians would understand and appreciate better I assume), the lighting, the ability to touch salt and rock salt -- A must see if you are in Colombia.
I was the only person that this organization had so it was the driver, guide and me in a car. It was disappointing that I was not part of a group as I expected that. Do not plan anything after this trip and I will share my experience -- We left at 7 AM and were to come back by 4 PM but somewhere the time calculation was incorrect and we hit traffic and I was in the car 4:10 to 7:20 PM. I missed going to Monserrate during sun set time and was there in the night when It's already very dark.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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