Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá: How to Visit It from Bogotá

The Salt Cathedral is carved 180 metres underground, inside a salt mine that has been worked since before the Spanish arrived. It's the most popular day trip from Bogotá, and the only one that leaves almost everyone speechless when they step into the main nave.

It sits in Zipaquirá, about 50 kilometres north of Bogotá. You can get there in just over an hour, and see it comfortably in half a day.

What it actually is

Muisca miners were extracting salt from these mountains long before the conquest. Over time, the men working inside built a small sanctuary in the tunnels, where they prayed before going down for their shift.

That grew into the first cathedral, opened in 1954. It closed in 1992 because of structural problems, and the current one, built on a deeper level, opened in 1995. The mine, meanwhile, is still in operation.

What you'll see inside

• The Stations of the Cross: fourteen stations cut directly into the salt rock, each with its own lighting. You walk them in near-darkness, and it's the part that makes the strongest impression.
• The dome and naves: the descent opens suddenly into an enormous space.
• The main cross: carved in relief at the end of the nave and lit so that it appears to float. It's the image everyone remembers.
• The reflecting pool and side galleries, where you get a sense of how the mine was worked.

The route is guided and takes about an hour and a half, plus however long you want to linger afterwards. The temperature inside is steady, between 12 and 15 °C, so bring a layer even if it's sunny outside.

Tickets and opening hours

The cathedral opens every day. The guided visit is included in the basic ticket, so there's nothing extra to arrange.

• Foreign adult (Basic ticket): around 125,000 COP.
• Colombian adult: around 75,000 COP.
• Children and seniors: between 60,000 and 110,000 COP depending on nationality.

There are also Standard and Premium tickets that add attractions inside the mine. For most visitors the basic ticket is more than enough: what impresses is the cathedral itself, not the extras.

Prices are indicative and change each year; it's worth confirming them before you go.

Getting there from Bogotá

By public transport

Take the TransMilenio to Portal del Norte and change to an intercity bus to Zipaquirá. The journey takes one to one and a half hours depending on traffic, which on Bogotá's northern exit can be heavy. From Zipaquirá bus terminal it's about a fifteen-minute walk uphill to the mine.

Buses run very frequently, roughly every 10 to 20 minutes during the day, and the fare is between 7,000 and 10,000 COP depending on the company. No need to book: you buy on the spot.

On the Tren de la Sabana

A tourist steam train that runs on weekends and some public holidays. It's far slower than the bus, but the journey is part of the experience, with live music on board. A good option if you're travelling with children.

It leaves Gran Estación at 8:45 am and makes a second stop at Usaquén, around 9:05–9:15 am. Adult tickets cost between 80,000 and 100,000 COP depending on the date and class, and children's tickets between 55,000 and 70,000 COP.

Bear in mind the train drops you in Zipaquirá but admission to the mine is paid separately.

On an organised tour

This is what most of our travellers choose, especially those short on time. Transport is door to door, there's no worrying about bus timetables or finding the right entrance, and the guide provides the historical context that isn't signposted inside the mine.

When to go

This is the single most useful tip in this guide: go early, and go on a weekday.

On Sundays and public holidays the cathedral fills with Colombian families, and the Stations of the Cross lose a lot when you shuffle through them in a queue. On a Tuesday morning the difference is enormous — in some stretches you'll have the place practically to yourself.

What to bring

• A light jacket: it's cool inside all year round.
• Comfortable shoes with grip; the floor can be damp.
• Cash in small notes for the town.
• Your camera: the lighting is spectacular, though tripods aren't always allowed.

What else to do in Zipaquirá

Almost everyone visits the mine and heads straight back, which is a shame. Zipaquirá is a colonial town with a handsome main square, the Diocesan Cathedral, and several pedestrian streets full of restaurants.

It's a good place for lunch before returning. If you want something local, look for fritanga or a puchero santafereño in one of the restaurants on the square.

Can you combine it with Lake Guatavita?

Yes, and it works very well. Both are north of Bogotá and can be seen in a single day: the mine in the morning and the lake in the afternoon, or the other way round.

It's a long day, around ten hours door to door, but it pairs the most impressive human structure on the plateau with the landscape that gave rise to the El Dorado legend. If you're only doing one trip out of Bogotá, this is the one we recommend.

Frequently asked questions

Is it suitable if you're claustrophobic?

The tunnels are wide and high, well lit and ventilated; it's nothing like a narrow cave. Even so, if your claustrophobia is severe, it's worth knowing you are 180 metres underground for about an hour.

Can you go with children?

Yes, and they usually love it. The route is easy and much of it has ramps.

Is it still a working church?

It is. Mass is held on Sundays and the cathedral is in active use, which surprises many visitors.