Bogota Tours
Guatavita Lake - Salt Cathedral
5

Guatavita Lake - Salt Cathedral

By Imagine your Bogota
Recommended by 100% of travelers
100% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Indigenous economy activities, religious, art, and other determined the settlement of the Spanish and the foundation of Bogotá. In this tour you will understand the relation between the nature, the salt, the Dorado Legend, the Salt Cathedral, Gold Museum, the gold, the cooper and the Bogota population. Since we met, I began to explain some general details about Bogotá, then when we leave the city I will speak about the valley around the city, I will provide information about the original indigenous habitants called “ Muiscas” , their customs, some of their words and how all this heritage is included now in our society and in our food. We will meet a guide of the lake that speaks about the native culture and will explain why is so popular the Dorado Legend?, we will discuss the meaning of this ceremony. We will feel the mystic of the place, its energy and the relationship between nature and this space. In Guatavita town we will enjoy architecture, food, deserts and also handicrafts shopping. In Zipaquira I will speak some details of the Salt Cathedral and I will conduct the traveler to the underground Cathedral, this construction is unique because of its magnificence, the content of every sculpture, the representation of the way to the cross and the cross.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 5-80, max of 4 per group
Duration: 10–11 hours
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: Portuguese, English, Spanish
More


  • Private transportation
  • During the tour I lend binoculars and raincoats
  • Entrance to the Guatavita Lake
  • Entrance to the Salt Cathedral, Audioguide included only for this attraction
  • Colombian candies of different regions like Santander, Boyacá.
  • Bottled water
  • Entry/Admission - Laguna de Guatavita
  • Entry/Admission - Catedral De Sal
What's not included
  • Lunch
  • Breakfast
  • Soda/Pop


Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
    Pickup details
    • I will pick up in any place in Bogotá
    Hotel pickup offered
    During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.
      End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

        • Not wheelchair accessible
        If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 198407P3

        • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
        • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
        • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
        • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
        • Most travelers can participate
        • 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
        • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
        • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 4 travelers

        • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

        If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 198407P3

        From
        $118.00
        per adult
        Select date and travelers

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        About the operator
        Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
        • Imagine your Bogota
          58
          Bogota, Colombia
          Joined in October 2019
        • G2300NOpennyb
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Guatavita Lake
          Javier was a fantastic guide- so knowledgeable about the history of Bogotá and Guatavita Lake. He was easy to talk to, and had thought of all the little touches which made the tour even more enjoyable- freshly made snacks, tea, umbrellas etc. We'd recommend this tour to anyone who wants a peaceful day out from the city!
          Written April 30, 2023
        • 432reggiem
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Superb!
          We visited Monserrate, the Gold Museum and a Colombian coffee cafe that has coffee from all the coffee growing regions of Columbia. The agenda was developed in conjunction with our tour guide, Javier Yhama. Javier was a terrific guide. First, Javier is fluent in both English and Spanish, and I believe he speaks quite a bit of Portuguese as well. We had a very busy schedule, but still had time to enjoy a relaxing lunch at the Columbian restaurant on Monserrate. Javier is very knowledgable of Columbian history and culture and can relate interesting stories when questioned or queried. The tram ride up to Monserrate was breathtaking; over 3000 meters / 10,000 feet. The view from Monserrate is nothing short of fantastic. The gold museum is spectacular. It is hard to believe the Spanish left so much gold behind! The museum does a wonderful job of explaining the anthropological development of metallurgy in Columbia, and is segmented into historical and regional developments. The coffee cafe is just off the Simon Bolivar plaza, and has coffee from every growing region in Columbia. The baristas are really knowledgable and can tune the available coffee products to your taste. To summarize, Javier was most helpful in assisting us with our travels throughout Columbia. He was prompt on our tour day in Bogota, took many photographs agreeably, and was a lot of fun to have as a guide.
          Written April 26, 2023
        • Passport642052
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Great experience!
          Javier was a great guide from start to end. I learned a lot about Lake Guatavita and Javier patiently answered all of our questions. I loved the small, personalized feel and felt like I got a lot more out of this experience than if I had gone through a large tour group. Overall, he is a great guide. He made the experience all the more memorable and I would recommend touring with him to anyone traveling to Bogota.
          Written March 27, 2023
        • elserxxo
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          History with new friends
          Prior to going on the tour, I had very little knowledge about Gautavita and the Legend of El Dorado. Javi was very accommodating and knowledgeable! He provided additional insights into the history of the lagoon, which made the story that much more amazing! The lagoon is a beautiful site with an enlightening history and philosophy. The entire experience itself is a breath of fresh air and perspective. 100% recommend visiting this wonderful landscape and learning more about its history. Book time on Javi's calendar, as he is the best guide. Great food recommendations as well! Make sure you try the arrepas de choclo, you won't want to miss out! Thank you Javi!
          Written February 13, 2023
        • Explore777546
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Amazing experience!!
          We had an amazing experience and wonderful 10 hours. Javier is an awesome guide, as promised he picked us from our place and we had a great time. Javier translated the Lake tour for us in English. Post visit to Guatavita lake, Javier took us to an authentic Colombian restaurant to try the local cuisine. Herbal tea before the hike to lake was a great surprise. Javier had all the travel essentials in his car i.e. hot water, tea bags, sugar, umbrella, cap etc. Overall awesome experience!!
          Written April 12, 2022
        • cristinacA1755IU
          0 contributions
          3.0 of 5 bubbles
          Beautiful but uncomfortable
          Always espectacular! Incredible view of Bogotá!! However the services are not the best, they don’t have enough bathrooms, and places to have seat
          Written March 20, 2022
        • esterahb
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          great day trip outside of the city
          a great day trip outside of bogota — the lake and the town were highlights. javier was very friendly and a great guide
          Written February 27, 2022
        • Z1018FQnatalias
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          highly recommended! we met imagine your bogota at the head of its leader javier yhama. Looking for a different, safe and
          highly recommended! we met imagine your bogota at the head of its leader javier yhama. Looking for a different, safe and pleasant experience in the city, for some friends and family who were visiting Colombia for the first time, without a doubt Javier and his team exceeded our expectations due to their kindness, patience, compliance, attention and accompaniment, making our guests feel They were happy, grateful and eager to return!
          Written February 25, 2022
        • see1508
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Fascinating!
          A wonderful insight into the history of the Zipaquirá Cathedral and how it was formed. I'm glad I did the tour in the morning (Saturday) as the site got rather busy in the afternoon with long queues. Due to the traffic, the journey seemed quite long but nevertheless, I enjoyed the day. As a tip, you may wish to bring your own headphones so you can listen to the audio without holding and putting the device to your ear. As a tour guide, Javier was very polite, courteous and knowledgeable in the history of Bogotá and I would most certainly use him again if I ever returned to this city.
          Written November 30, 2021
        • V1992DLdanielm
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Just great!
          Amazing landscapes. Me and my girlfriend visited yhw lagoon with Javier six months ago and the trip was very memorable. Javier is experienced, warm and very patience. Service and plan highly recommended.
          Written February 13, 2021
        • Trek261749
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Amazing Ecological Experience
          While visiting Bogota with my 10 month old baby, I had to choose plans that could be of benefit for her. Sometimes even if you have relatives in the city is hard for them to spend enough time and/or share with you the ideal plans for Babies. I found Imagine your Bogota website and saw the plan they had to visit Simon Bolivar Park. The plan originally was to do it by bike but they managed to adapt their time and transportation so we could also visit the Virgilio Barco Park. We walked everywhere and thanks to Javier’s amazing guidance, we arrived to the right spots for my baby such as the sandy area and the park with fun attractions. We really enjoy the experience! Highly recommended!
          Written February 6, 2021
        • Andres C
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Nice little Andean town
          A pleasant visit to a nice Colombian small town. The tour guide is friendly and full of tips about the local culture.
          Written January 26, 2021
        • sandraaL8097YK
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Exceptional
          My favorite part was all. Eveything was beautiful, the architecture, the history, the culture, the food, the people, etc. I highy recommend this trip for anyone visiting Bogota, specially if it is your first time. A lot of things to see and to learn in a short time... It was great!
          Written January 23, 2021
        • Geraroidin
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Guatavita lagoon
          This was a great trip to Guatavita lagoon. Javier is an excellent tour guide. He is very polite, friendly, and knowledgeable of Colombian history and culture. He is also a very safe and careful driver and his car was extremely comfortable and clean. Javier made sure I fully enjoyed the day and provided tea and snacks for the altitude of Guatavita lagoon. He has excellent English also which really benefitted me as he translated the information the guide provided at lake Guatavita. Javier was very obliging and took photos of the trip which was a great advantage when you are traveling alone. Overall this was a great trip, well priced and Javier made it very enjoyable. He has great people skills and I wish him the very best in his enterprise. I have no doubt he will be very successful in his work. Thank you Javier and wishing you all the very best for the future!
          Written March 17, 2020
        See all 58 reviews
        These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

        Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

        Popular mentions

        5.0
        5.0 of 5 bubbles27 reviews
        Excellent
        27
        Very good
        0
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        GreggBoston
        Brookline, MA30 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Aug 2023 • Family
        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.
        Written September 4, 2023
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Monisha B
        3 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Jun 2022
        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!
        Written June 12, 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        It was a pleasure to meet you and your brother. We had a great day!. Thanks for the comments, and all the fun!. Remember you are the new Colombian ambassadors!. :)
        Written June 13, 2022
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Yasmin F
        8 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Oct 2022 • Solo
        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
        Written October 30, 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thanks for joining the tour, and for the great day
        Written October 31, 2022
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Meg K
        3 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        May 2022 • Friends
        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!
        Written June 12, 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        It was great to meet you, thanks for coming to Colombia and for booking the tour. We had a great day with you and your friend. I was happy to provide you with the best information!.
        Written June 13, 2022
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Jess
        2 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Sep 2022 • Solo
        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!
        Written October 1, 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thanks for joining the tour!. It was great to share that day with you!
        Written October 3, 2022
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Andrea M
        Barranquilla, Colombia8 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        May 2022 • Friends
        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.
        Written May 22, 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thanks for joining the tour, it was a pleasure!.
        Written May 25, 2022
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Emily F
        2 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Mar 2020 • Solo
        This tour was great! I enjoyed my tour with Javier a ton! He was very punctual, picking me up right at 8 to head out to the wonderful Lake Guatavita. We stopped along the way for some traditional Colombian drinks and food, which were amazing. The tours of the lake and the salt cave were great as well. I’d definitely recommend this tour as a way to spend a day outside of the city!
        Written March 12, 2020
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thank you Emily, for me is very important that you learnt about lots of things of Colombia, Bogotá and the indigenous inhabitants. Thank you for the great day.
        Written March 13, 2020
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        PumpkinG
        1 contribution
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Nov 2022
        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。
        Written November 20, 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thanks Jojo for being on the tour!. Wish you a great trip!.
        Written November 21, 2022
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Jeff
        1 contribution
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        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!
        Written January 17, 2023
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thanks for joining the tour. It was great to meet you!
        Written February 8, 2023
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Stephen R
        3 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Sep 2021
        Javier is a great friendly guide that is easy to talk with. He knows all the history and is a safe driver too! :)
        Written September 23, 2021
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thanks, it was a great day. Great that you like it a lot.
        Written October 1, 2021
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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        *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

        Guatavita Lake - Salt Cathedral provided by Imagine your Bogota

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