El Dorado & Salt Cathedral: Unforgettable Bogotá Day Trip
Price From $80.00 per person
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This is undoubtedly one of the best combinations of tourist attractions near Bogotá; The day begins with a visit to the Guatavita Lagoon, famous for being the place where the Muiscas performed the ritual that gave rise to the legend of El Dorado; This place has an overwhelming beauty that can only be understood by visiting it. Then, we cross the savannah to reach the municipality of Zipaquirá; You will know the First Wonder of Colombia, the Salt Cathedral, one of those places that you do not want to miss when you come to Colombia. We recommend that you wear comfortable clothing for the hike up to the Guatavita lagoon, which includes 152 steps. Important information: *Verify what option is selected by you. (one is not included the ticket for Zipa) *This tour begins and ends in Parque de la 93. *The arrival times of this tour depend on the traffic. *Seats are assigned in order of arrival *At the moment (2021+) Guatavita does not have guides in English, you can take the tour in Spanish.
Reviews
Reviews and Rating (Tripadvisor)
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Reviews by Tripadvisor travelers
Sightseer51863031834, 2/14/2026 7:57:11 PM
Esteban is a 10/10 tour guide, he translated everything for us, was really kind, helpful and clear with the itinerary information provided. The views were stunning and we learned so much about the Muisca culture and wisdom. Worth every penny! Thank you, Esteban!
Rafael C, 1/25/2026 7:19:05 PM
Tour was amazing! Nesto y Juan were incredible tour guides! They were very attentive and make sure everyone was alright in every step of the tour. 10/10 recommend Even thought it a long tour, it is 100% worth it. I will say just be prepared for the high elevations and the long walks! Bring water!
Francesca_T, 1/17/2026 8:47:48 AM
Very nice Trip and well organized! Mateo, our tour guide explained in Spanish and English everything about the places, the history and the culture. We really enjoyed it
Jim_C, 12/15/2025 12:13:27 PM
It is a long day, but very informative and interesting. Our guide, Esteban, did a great job educating us about the lagoon. I would caution if you buy food or drinks at the small cafés coming down the hill, be careful because I got a 200% + up charge for the same items over what another tourist in my group bought. The salt cathedral was amazing. That was worth the trip itself. I would definitely recommend this, but it is a long day.
Tianyu_Z, 12/2/2025 4:51:08 PM
Exceeded expectations. Our tour guide Emilio was passionate and knowledgeable about Muisca culture and the impact of colonialism. I also learned a lot about the local medicinal plants and paramo ecosystem. The salt cathedral / mine was also something to behold.
jackiemui, 11/29/2025 8:42:19 PM
Use restroom before hopping on the tour bus at pickup point as the ride was about 2 hours long. 1) Town of Guatavita - this was our first stop where we got to hear a bit of the area and a chance to walk around on our for about 15 min. 2) Lagoon - tickets were included in this tour. Washrooms are available and waited for our scheduled time before entering the park. We learned about the plants and Muisca civilization, this is the flat walk before going up the lagoon up 3100m (highest point). The steps are well defined, but you can really feel the thin air going up (maybe 30min) this was the most strenuous, not difficult, just take your time. We had plenty of time walking around and even time for a snack break at the Yellow house before boarding the bus. 3. Drive to lunch was an hour to Zipaquirá at Toro Salvaje, a traditional Colombian restaurant serving grilled meat along with live musicians playing. Estimating we were there for 2hrs around 3-5pm. 4. Short drive to Salt Cathedral. We bought tickets together, otherwise it was about $30 USD at the door. The mine was closed, so we had the audio tour, walked through the 14 chambers and the different cathedrals inside. The audio tour was fairly boring, but it was cool to see such an amazing underground cathedral with such high ceilings. 5. Drive back to pick up sites. Overall, the tour delivered what it shared. Timing could be improved to meet their window of return of around 7:30/8:30, but reality we came back around 9pm at Parque 93. We had a lot of long breaks in between, so while we were not rushed, be aware of a long day.
K9869GBbarbaraf, 11/3/2025 7:50:23 AM
Diego was a wonderful tour guide! His English was excellent and he switched effortlessly between languages to accommodate the American/British/Latin American and Spaniards on our tour! I wish I could do more tours with him while I am here, but alas, I am attending a conference.
Kingbelmonte, 10/18/2025 10:11:32 AM
Nestor our guide was good. He did the tour both in English & Spanish. The Salt Cathedral was amazing and is truly a must see. Going back to Bogota after the tour was tiring since it was rush hour and the traffic is horrible.
mtrach1, 10/13/2025 8:31:36 AM
The tour was great! Pickup location was easy to find, our tour guide Nestor was friendly and prompt. The ride up to Guatativa was scenic and enjoyable. The town itself was quaint, and the lagoon was stunning. The coca tea was helpful in combating elevation sickness. The Salt Cathedral was absolutely stunning, overall the trip was well paced and the sights were breathtaking. The one complaint I have was that the tour did not come with a complementary lunch, but overall, Nestor was great.
G4561WQjeremyf, 10/9/2025 1:50:41 PM
You get a lot for your money with this tour. The guide on the bus, Esteban, and the guides in both locations were knowledgeable and personable. We stopped at a restaurant for lunch (food not included in the tour) with a lot of personality. Tours were arranged so we didn’t have to wait. The only down time was the way back home. It was a great day.
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
- Wear comfortable clothes, for cold and rain and walking shoes
Departure point
8:00 am - Parque de la 93, Carrera 11a # 93a - 10. Frente a Juan Valdez Café. Find a driver with a red jacket and the City Bus Logo.Return details
This is undoubtedly one of the best combinations of tourist attractions near Bogotá; The day begins with a visit to the Guatavita Lagoon, famous for being the place where the Muiscas performed the ritual that gave rise to the legend of El Dorado; This place has an overwhelming beauty that can only be understood by visiting it. Then, we cross the savannah to reach the municipality of Zipaquirá; You will know the First Wonder of Colombia, the Salt Cathedral, one of those places that you do not want to miss when you come to Colombia. We recommend that you wear comfortable clothing for the hike up to the Guatavita lagoon, which includes 152 steps. Important information: *Verify what option is selected by you. (one is not included the ticket for Zipa) *This tour begins and ends in Parque de la 93. *The arrival times of this tour depend on the traffic. *Seats are assigned in order of arrival *At the moment (2021+) Guatavita does not have guides in English, you can take the tour in Spanish.No redemption information available
24 hours before travel date - 100% refund
Less than 24 hours before travel date - 0% refund















