A Guide to Guatavita and Salt Cathedral Daily Group Tour in Bogotá

Are you planning a trip to Bogotá, Colombia, and looking for the very best tour to take it? Whether you’re traveling alone or with family or friends, the Guatavita and Salt Cathedral Daily Group Tour could be the ultimate choice. This excursion combines a little bit of nature and culture together, making it a fantastic day trip from Bogotá.

In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss everything you need to know about this tour; where it takes you, what you will find on the way and at each stop, and how to book the tour. Let’s jump straight in!

What Is the Guatavita & Salt Cathedral Daily Group Tour?

As the name suggests, this day tour is a combination of two attractions; Guatavita and the Salt Cathedral. Guatavita is a small crater located Northeast of Bogotá, in the mountain range of the same name. This legend inspired the El Dorado myth, and the lake is still popular with both local and international travelers.

On the other hand, the Salt Cathedral is located nearby the town of Zipaquirá, roughly 60 kilometers north of Bogotá. This soaring underground church was carved inside a salt mine, making it a unique place to visit. Both are popular tourist attractions, but can be time consuming to get around to without a local guide.

What Does the Tour Include?

The Guatavita & Salt Cathedral daily group tour from Bogotá is designed to make a trip to both of these places convenient and enjoyable. It lasts approximately 11 hours from start to finish, departing from Bogotá at 8:00 am in the morning and returning at 7:00 pm that same evening.

The first stop on the tour is Guatavita. Here, you’ll experience spectacular views of the surrounding nature, including a hike to the edge of the lagoon. After approximately three hours in Guatavita and a quick break, it’s time to move on to the Salt Cathedral.

Once you arrive in Zipaquirá, you’ll have roughly 3 hours to explore this incredible underground structure. This includes admiring ornate sculptures surrounding the main nave, listening to buried echoes as you walk around and even taking a ride through an impressive salt lake.

Lastly, you’ll make your way back to Bogotá around 7:00 pm with plenty of memories and photos to share with your friends and family.

What Is Included in the Price?

The total price for this day-long excursion is generally around $63 USD per person (price is subject to change depending on operator). This is usually much more cost effective than taking two individual trips on your own, saving both time and money.

Within the package price participants get:
* Free round trip transport from the nearest departure point
* Professional English speaking local guide
* Access to all attractions listed
* Ticket entrance fee to Guatavita
* Ticket entrance fee to Salt Cathedral
* Lunch at Zipaquirá
* Travel insurance

What Is The Best Time To Go?

The best time of year to visit Bogotá and other cities in Colombia is during the dry, sunny season from December to March. Not only will you enjoy sunny skies during your tour, but travellers should also look out for festivals such as Carnival de Río Magdalena or Easter celebrations (Semana Santa). Although these festivities take place year round, they’re usually most vibrant during these months.

What Should I Bring?

As with all outdoor excursions, it’s important to come prepared when going on this tour. Make sure that you bring hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and suitable clothing for the weather. Other essentials include snacks or light meals and plenty of water. As this tour includes a visit to a salt mine, it’s recommendable to bring ear plugs as well in order to protect your ears from getting overloaded with loud noises. Plus, don’t forget your camera!

How Do I Book The Tour?

There are several tour operators offering this excursion from Bogotá or its surrounding towns such as Zipaquirá. You can access tour information, prices and availability on their websites or via online travel agents such as GetYourGuide. This can usually be done within minutes, just make sure you read all relevant information prior to booking the tour or use a trusted tour operator like GetYourGuide with verified reviews from past travellers.

All in all, we strongly recommend taking advantage of this fantastic opportunity while visiting Bogotá and making sure you experience its history and nature at its finest with these amazing destinations.

What are you waiting for? Book your Guatavita and Salt Cathedral daily group tour today!