Guatavita & Zipaquirá: Discover El Dorado Legend

Embark on a historic journey through Colombia’s past with the Guatavita and Salt Cathedral Tour. Explore the myth of El Dorado at the stunning Guatavita Lagoon, followed by a visit to the awe-inspiring Salt Cathedral in Zipaquirá. Wear comfortable clothing for the hike to the lagoon. Book now!

Duration: 13 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Journalists’ Park Gabriel García Márquez - Meeting point #1 Candelaria
    Calle 16 #4-23 In front of Juan Valdez Coffee
    At each meeting point you will see a guide with red Jacket.
  • Cra. 11a #93a-10 - Meeting point #1 Parque de la 93
    Carrera 11 A # 93A -10 In front of Juan Valdez Coffee
    At each meeting point you will see the van with the name of…
What's Included
  • Audio guide (ES/EN) Salt Cathedral (bring your own headphones with audio jack)
  • Spanish local guide in Lagoon Guatativa
  • Hotel pick-up if on route
  • Roundtrip transportation (Spanish driver)
  • Insurance and lunch time
  • Entrance Fee Guatavita Lagoon (optional Salt Cathedral)
  • Tour coordinator (English/Spanish)
What's Not Included
  • Lunch & Snacks
  • Tips
  • If the hotel is outside the route, must arrive at the meeting point
Additional Information

This is truly one of the finest combinations of tourist attractions near Bogotá. The day starts with a visit to the Guatavita Lagoon, renowned as the site where the Muiscas conducted the ritual that inspired the legend of El Dorado. This location boasts an awe-inspiring beauty that can only be fully appreciated in person. Next, the journey continues…

Location
Cra. 11a #93a-10
Carrera 11a
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.6
(448 Ratings)
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Melanie_l
Mar 6, 2026
Esteban was a great... - Esteban was a great guide. He was very knowledgeable about the history of the indigenous people of Guatavita. The Salt Cathedral was a wonderful architectural site to be seen.
Review provided by Viator
Sightseer51863031834
Feb 14, 2026
10/10 - 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!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rafael
Jan 25, 2026
A Must Do in Bogota - 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!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Francesca_t
Jan 17, 2026
Very interesting and great explanation - 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
Review provided by Viator
Santiago
Jan 10, 2026
Journey alone but perfect - Excellent tour, good service and amazing places. Recommended to go with partner, family or loner without any problems
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Brunofp6899te
Dec 17, 2025
Amazing experience! - Amazing experience! The guide Esteban was great, very helpful and always super worried about our well being! I highly recommend it to everyone! The 2 places are magical, hard to say which is better!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jim_c
Dec 15, 2025
Great way to spend the day. - 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.
Review provided by Viator
Tianyu_z
Dec 2, 2025
Exceeded expectations.... - 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.
Review provided by Viator
Juanito
Nov 8, 2025
A magical place, unforgettable experience - Excellent region, the white city is spectacular, the people are wonderful, the view is amazing, a magical place, the food is economical
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jackiemui
Nov 29, 2025
Guatavita and Salt Cathedral - 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.
Review provided by Viator
From $79
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).