Private Zipaquirá and Salt Cathedral Tour Benefit from pick-up at your hotel in Bogotá at 09:00 AM or a time to suit you, and then journey to the colonial town of Zipaquirá, famous for its Salt Cathedral. Relax on the 60 to 90-minute trip to the cathedral, where on arrival you will be accompanied to the entrance of the mine for a 2-hour guided tour in English or Spanish.  Located inside the depths of the world's biggest salt rock reserve, Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral was adapted from an old salt mine to function as a place of worship. Marvel at the icons, ornaments and architectural details hand-carved in the halite rock. Surface the mine to enjoy a typical Colombian lunch in one of Zipaquirá's best restaurants. Choose from fish or vegetarian options, or savor different plates of meat prepared in the traditional way on fire. Then, explore the main sights of the town, including Independence Square and the colonial center. Admire one of the oldest churches in Colombia. Drive back to Bogotá for drop-off at your accommodation, or book one of the following options to continue exploring. Salt Cathedral and Lake Guatavitá Tour with Lunch After visiting the Salt Cathedral and enjoying a typical Colombian meal, go to the colonial town of Guatavitá. Take a short guided hike, admire the scenic landscape and discover the birthplace of the El Dorado legend. On the return trip to Bogotá stop at La Calera viewpoint for panoramic views of the city. Salt Cathedral and Nemocón Mine Tour with Lunch Once you have visited the Salt Cathedral and enjoyed a traditional Colombian lunch, discover the salt mine tunnels of Nemocón. Experience what it felt like to work 60 meters below ground. Be dropped off back in Bogotá at the end of the tour. Salt Cathedral & Villa de Levya Tour without Lunch Go from the Salt Cathedral to Villa de Leyva, famous for its cobblestone square Plaza Mayor, which at 150,695 square feet is the largest in Colombia. Learn about the history of this charming town before returning to your accommodation in Bogotá.

Begin your day with convenient hotel pickup to comfortably start your journey toward the town of Zipaquirá. This will be a somewhat long drive of about 2 hours, so feel free to take a nap, watch the Bogotá savanna through the window, or make small talk to your driver about anything in Colombia. Upon arrival, the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá will be the first stop. Skip the ticket lines and go directly to the entrance to pick up an audio guide. Then, begin discovering an incredible monument of faith that’s a unique architectural marvel. When booking, you can choose a personal live guide instead of an audio guide, if you prefer.  Once inside, you’ll be guided through the stations that represent the Via Crucis (Stations of the Cross). Understand the details in each corner of the works of art, and visit famous sights inside the halls such as the water mirrors, the virtual reality theater with its 3D movie, the dome, and a balcony where you can observe the world's largest underground cross. You will also have the opportunity to visit the Miner's Route and take part in a salt workshop if you select the option. The route is a 45-minute tour where you become a salt miner for a day, whereas the workshop consists of an explanation about salt mining and carving. To top off your experience, carve your own piece of salt to take home as a souvenir. After your visit, your driver will be waiting outside to take you back to Zipaquirá village. Here, enjoy some time to take a look around and have lunch in one of the local restaurants. From there, you will be taken back to Bogotá and dropped off at your hotel.

A staff member from the company will meet you at the hotel at your choice of either in the morning or the afternoon. From here you will be taken on a tour through La Sabana de Bogota to the town of Zipaquira, whose name means "City of our Father" in the language of the Chibcha. Back in pre-Columbian times, salt around the area was the most important commodity and the "salt cakes" were the only currency for trading. Throughout time, technology improved and the "Muiscas" began to extract larger amounts of salt. As a result, an underground salt deposit was formed and it is where the Salt Cathedral was built, 180 meters below the surface. Inside you will discover a chapel titled “capilla de los mineros”, which was built as a tribute to the Virgin “Our Lady of the Rosary of Guasá”. At the conclusion of your tour, you will return safely back to Bogotá.

The day begins with pickup from your hotel in Bogota and travels north into the savanna. Arrive at Zipaquira, a vibrant town with a history dating back to the 1600s. Visit Zipaquia's famous Salt Cathedral, an impressive subterranean building that stands on an old salt mine. Wander through the halls and marvel at the cathedral's stunning architecture while you learn about its rich-history. Once you’ve worked up a bit of an appetite, enjoy lunch overlooking the Tomine Reservoir, before continuing onto the spectacular Guatavita National Park. Upon arrival, learn about the cultural significance of Lake Guatavitá, as well as the characteristics of this peculiar ecosystem. After the park, make one final stop at a nearby village, and soak up the quaint and charming atmosphere of this traditional location. At the end of an unforgettable day, sit back and relax on the return journey to Bogota.

Learn about Colombia's salt trade dating back to the pre-Hispanic period. Take a tour of some villages outside of Bogotá, and explore the subterranean Salt Cathedral. Try a traditional Colombian lunch followed by a visit to Lake Guatavita, a sacred place for the native Muisca people.   A staff member will pick you up at your hotel in Bogotá. Your tour begins by traveling in an air-conditioned van or bus through some of the villages from the pre-Hispanic period. Learn the history of the exploitation and trade of salt and gold manufacturing in the area.   Travel north along the Bogotá savanna to the city of Zipaquirá. There you will visit the renowned Salt Cathedral, a Roman Catholic church built in the ancient hollows of a salt mine, 180 meters below ground. Marvel at the cathedral’s architecture built within the mine’s remaining caverns and tunnels.     After touring the cathedral, enjoy a typical Colombian lunch with boiled potatoes soaked in brine (salt water from the mine) and ajiaco (chicken soup). Then head to Lake Guatavita, a small crater lake surrounded by forest. Learn about this sacred site of the indigenous Muisca people, where the legend of El Dorado was born.   Relax on the ride back to Bogotá where you will be dropped off at your hotel.