Guatavita Lake and Salt Cathedral: Journey Through Indigenous Economy, Art and Religion in Bogotá
5.0
35 Ratings
Tierra Negra
Embark on a journey through indigenous economy, art, and religion in Bogotá. Explore Guatavita Lake and the Salt Cathedral to discover the rich cultural heritage of the Muiscas and their influence on Colombian society.
Duration: 11 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Laguna de Guatavita - We begin to walk into Guatavita natural reservation. We will meet a guide of the lake that speaks about the native culture, I do the translation and add some information, then we begin to climb steps, it is aprox 130 meters (426 feet). But do not worry we will stop several times.

As soon as we finish the stairs, we arrive to the first lake viewpoint, we can appreciate the lake, the water and her colors, also we can listen and see some birds. We continue walking and the vegetation begin to change from Andean cold weather (same weather than Bogotá) to Paramo (Andean moor) with its special plants like the frailejon (plants with their thick, soft leaves like the ears of a rabbit), you can find that plants only in Ecuador, Perú and Venezuela. After walking for 90 minutes we exit the lake and we can eat some muisca food like the corn cob. There are three viewpoints

What's Included
  • Private transportation
  • Entrance to the Guatavita Lake
  • Bottled water
  • Loan of binoculars and raincoats during the tour
  • Snacks
  • Entrance to the Salt Cathedral with Audioguide
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
  • Breakfast
  • Carbonated beverages
Additional Information

The location of Spanish settlements and the establishment of Bogotá were largely influenced by indigenous economic, religious, and artistic activities. On this journey, you’ll grasp the connection between nature, salt, the Legend of El Dorado, the Salt Cathedral, Gold Museum, gold, copper, and the inhabitants of Bogotá.

From the moment our acquaintance, I’ve started to share overall specifics about Bogotá. As we depart the city, I’ll talk about the valley that surrounds it, giving details on the original indigenous dwellers named “Muiscas”, their traditions, some of their vocabulary and how this legacy is incorporated in our present society and our cuisine.

At the lake, we’ll link up with a guide who is well-versed in local culture and can explain why the El Dorado Legend is so renowned. We’ll ponder on the significance of this ritual and sense the mystique of the locale, its vitality, and the interconnection between nature and this setting.

In the town of Guatavita, we’ll delight in architecture, food, desserts, and also engage in some handicraft shopping.

Moving on to Zipaquira, I will share particulars of the Salt Cathedral and guide the traveler to the subterranean Cathedral. This edifice stands out for its grandeur, the meaning embedded in every sculpture, the depiction of the journey to the cross, and the cross itself.

  • Guatavita lake does not have access to wheel chairs and strollers
  • Salta Cathedral has access to wheel chairs and strollers
  • Please use comfortable clothes and shoes
Location
Laguna de Guatavita
Km 15, Via Guatavita-Sesquile
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
5.0
(35 Ratings)
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Greggboston
Sep 4, 2023
Worth seeing this amazing wonder. A bit too Religious though. - High recommend this tour. We took this tour as part of an all day trip to visit the sacred lake and salt cathedral. Both trips were amazing. The cathedral is a very large catholic cathedral built by salt miners and designed by an architect who won the design contest. There are beautiful carvings in salt and sandstone reflecting the 14 stations of the cross. These were amazing, but the significance was lost on me. The central cathedral is large and contains beautiful art leveraging the natural beauty of the salt mine. There is a video display area that was very striking. The acoustics of the cathedral were well thought out and it would have been lovely to hear the choir. A tape of the choir showed off the well designed acoustics. Our guide was amazing and understood all the history of the cathedral, it’s construction, and the motivations. The cathedral is amazing and large with lots of sections that were related to Christ’s crucifixion (meaningless to me). The audio guide focused on the journey of Christ and spent almost no time on the architecture or design. While the cathedral is worth the trip, the audio guide was too religious and a waste of time. As our guide suggested, we skipped over the religious parts. There is an amazing commercial area at the end to buy local art and souvenirs and coffee. We bought a magnet, but after all the religious discussion of the tour, we really weren’t up for shopping.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Karen_e
Jun 25, 2023
Best Full-Day Tour - This full day trip hits all the best spots and Javier was the best tour guide ever! Javier was friendly, knowledgeable, and prepared. He knows all the tips and tricks when visiting the spots and treats you to authentic snacks along the way. The pick up and drop off at the hotel was super convenient as well! We loved this tour and highly recommend booking it again!!
Review provided by Viator
Voyage51350889174
Jan 17, 2023
Amazing day trip with Javier. - Had a great day trip with Javier. 10x better than a large organized tour. We got a personal experience and Javier provided us with a lot of history and good information. Best part of the trip was getting to know Javier and seeing a whole new side of Colombia. Beautiful places, all worth the long day. Javier even helped us with our Spanish!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Susan_r
Nov 22, 2022
Stellar service, scenery, food--highly recommend! - This trip far surpassed my expectations. The tour leader, Javier, created a very nice mood for the trip, with informative explanations along the drive. He was good at going with the flow, modifying plans to accommodate individual travelers. He's friendly and kind, a very good driver, even in challenging conditions. I didn't expect to learn so much, or to feel so connected to the other travelers. Everything was stellar---Javier's guidance, the food, the guides, the scenery, the timing (even though we ran late because of a flooded road), the conversation. I feel so lucky that I signed up for this tour. I would totally recommend Javier for anything!!!
Review provided by Viator
Pumpking853
Nov 20, 2022
Jojo - Very worth & high recommended day tour, if I can give six stars, I will give six. Small groups, so more freedom and flexibility. The places we travel are also very interesting. A very fulfilling and pleasant day, with our Tour Guide, Javier, and other group members. Javier is very helpful, especially with my booking issue, patience and talkative gentleman. 非常值得&推薦的行程,如果可以給六星,我會給六星。 小團體,所以比較自由,彈性。行程去的地方亦非常好玩。 和我們的導遊 Javier 以及其他團友過了非常充實愉快的一天。 Javier 非常幫忙, 尤其在我預訂上有問題的時候. 人隨和, 健談與友善。
Review provided by Tripadvisor
V531ubyasminf
Oct 30, 2022
Wonderful day in Columbia! - I had a such a great time in this tour. My guide Javier Yhama was patient; knowledge; and has a great personality! We had a small group and I felt like I was on a road trip with friend. The hike to the lake was scenic and peaceful. The energy was amazing. The salt cathedral was a grand display of mining and worship at the same time. We got there juts in time to see the colorful procession. Wonderful and full day 👏🏾👏🏾. I highly recommend this tour
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jjj8115
Oct 1, 2022
Must Do! - Javier was fantastic! I felt like I got such a localized experience that I wouldn’t have gotten with a bigger group or big tour company. He knew the best food stands to stop at and was very knowledgeable about the area and attractions. I had a wonderful time and would 10/10 recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
608megk
Jun 12, 2022
A truly heartfelt tour - I dont know where to start. I originally chose this tour over others because it was described so well, and I was not disappointed and don't think I will ever forget the hospitality that Javier provided on our tour. Not only did we get to experience the sites, but we also able of really experiencing Colombia in a heartfelt way. Excellent translations, planning, and company. All the little stops and tidbits of information was really capturing. Would highly recommend this tour to anyone!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Monishab107
Jun 12, 2022
Excellent tour!! - We had an amazing day on this tour! The day was well planned and organized, starting with a stop in Guatavita town, then Lake Guatavita, then a traditional Colombian lunch, and the Salt Cathedral. Javier was a fantastic guide--he was very friendly, knowledgeable about the history and Bogota, and prepared. He even provided some snacks, water, and tea. His English was excellent, which was very helpful to us as we did not know any Spanish. The hotel pickup provided was very convenient, and Javier was a great and safe driver. We would recommend this tour to anyone hoping to see Lake Guatavita and/or the Salt Cathedral!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Andreamf2310
May 22, 2022
Best tour ever - I loved this tour!! It was a unique experience and if you dont have much time in Bogota like me, you can take advantage and do this tour in one day. Javier was a great guide and he also surprised us with treats like coca tea and sugar cane candies. He also made it feel like he was a friend walking us around.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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