Travel to Zipaquirá from Bogotá was easy and took about an hour by car. If you want to save some money, you can go by bus, which will take longer. Purchasing tickets online for the Catedral de Sal was a good idea, to avoid queues on the day. However, be aware that you have to book tickets for a certain date. The underground cathedral is definitely the main reason to travel to Zipaquirá. It’s very extensive and can take some time to walk around. Additionally, there is a sculpture exhibit and an Egyptian museum within the complex. Outside, there is a small town to look around with shops and the Liberation square.
Highlights
- Catedral de Sal (Salt Cathedral)
- Watch the light show in the main nave
- Enjoy the 14 different smaller chapels
- Look at the dome of the cupola
- Hanging salt chandeliers
- Carved salt sculptures
- Underground snack bar
- Extensive gift shops that are surprisingly reasonable
- Sculpture museum
- Tutankhamun Egyptian museum
- Independence Square in the city
Before you go
- Beware of websites that mark up the prices. The official website to buy tickets is here.
- The salt mines are made of halite
- The Salt Cathedral was inaugurated on 15th August 1954
- Dogs are allowed inside the caves and tunnels in small carts
- You’ll need to do a lot of walking in dim lighting so wear comfortable shoes and watch your step
Transport
- There are public transport options to get from Bogotá to Zipaquirá by bus. I did not use these, but you can ask your hotel for the latest information
- I had a private driver from Encanto Colombia via Get Your Guide for the day, which was not too expensive. He was very helpful and also was able to stop at a supermarket, and drop me off where I wanted to be in Bogotá
Accommodation
- Since this was an easy half day trip from Bogotá, I did not need to stay in this area. However, it looks like a nice, small town and there were some hotels available.
- As usual I recommend checking reviews on Google Reviews or using AirBnB
Food
I was very surprised to find that there was food available deep inside the caves of Zipaquirá. Incredibly, there is a miniature town underground in the rock caves including snack shops and cafes.
Although I didn’t eat at any of them, plenty of people were ordering coffee, soft drinks pastries, arepas and even some hot snacks. The place is huge and you can spend hours there, so I guess it is easy to work up an appetite!
FAQs
Q: Do I need a tour guide?
A: Yes, a tour guide is required to visit the Salt Cathedral, and is included with the ticket. You’ll enter with a group depending on language.
Q: Do people speak English?
A: Yes, the guides speak English and you need to choose the correct group by language
Q: Is it a walkable?
A: Yes, it is walkable but there is a lot of walking
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