Guatavita Lagoon and Salt Cathedral (includes entrance fees)
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 41 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Guatavita Lagoon and Salt Cathedral (includes entrance fees) worth booking?
Guatavita Lagoon and Salt Cathedral (includes entrance fees) is a 10-hour experience in Bogotá, Colombia, from $138 per person. It scores 76 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 41 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 76 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (41)
- Duration
- 10 hours
- From
- $138 per person
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.
What you get
About this experience
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.
What's included
Included
- Private transportation
- Entrance to the Guatavita Lake
- Bottled water
- During the tour I lend binoculars and raincoats
- Snacks
- Entrance to the Salt Cathedral, Audioguide included only for this attraction
Not included
- Lunch
- Breakfast
- Carbonated beverages
What you'll see and do
Guatavita
You will get to know one of the most beautiful towns in Colombia, founded in 1967, with colonial architecture, large squares, gastronomy, and places to buy handicrafts.
30 minutes here
Laguna de Guatavita
We started a hike towards the Laguna nature reserve. We know a complementary guide at the attraction who accompanies us along the way and mentions stories of the region's indigenous people, native words, among others. We know a replica house and begin an ascent up stairs with a railing. This climb is 130 meters. We rested several times. We arrived at the viewpoints, where the lagoon, its water, its colors can be seen; its fauna can be heard. Furthermore, the flora changes to páramo, where the frailejón (succulent leaves) is found, which is only found in Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Venezuela. In the nature reserve there are three viewpoints that allow you to appreciate the lagoon from different perspectives. Then we proceed to leave the reserve.
120 minutes here · Admission included
Catedral De Sal
The traveler will pick up an audio guide and enter the underground cathedral built by miners, will walk through the entrance tunnel and reach the representation of the way to the cross (representation of the Jesus moments experienced by Jesus before the crucifixion) then the tourist will find a dome and access to the main Cathedral when will find the cross, holy Mary and other works made by miners. You will find a water mirror and can buy salt figures, emeralds, coffee and more. I will wail the travelers at the entrance of the touristic attraction.
120 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 30 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- de, pt, cmn, en, it, fr, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Sat, Sun
- Group size
- Up to 4 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Imagine your Bogota
Know before you go
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- 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
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 41 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
7 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
The guide
6 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Photo opportunities
2 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Value for money
2 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Organization
2 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Food and drink
2 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Traveler reviews
41 verified traveler reviews for Guatavita Lagoon and Salt Cathedral (includes entrance fees). Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Javier is the best
I had a fantastic time on my salt lake excursion with Javier. He was extremely knowledgeable and shared so much interesting information throughout the tour, which made the experience even more meaningful. The private tour setup made everything feel relaxed and personalized, and we were able to go at a comfortable pace. Javier went above and beyond by including extra local stops, adding unique touches that you wouldn’t get on a typical tour. On top of that, he was super friendly and easy to talk to, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable. You can tell he genuinely cares about making sure his guests have a great time. I would absolutely recommend this experience to anyone looking for a fun, informative, and memorable excursion
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your wonderful review! It was a true pleasure spending the day with you and showing you one of Colombia's most unique destinations. I'm so happy to hear that you enjoyed the personalized experience, the local stops, and learning more about our history and culture along the way. My goal is always to create a relaxed, authentic, and memorable experience for every guest, so your kind words truly mean a lot. Thank you for your recommendation and for choosing Imagine Your Bogotá. I hope to welcome you back to Colombia for another adventure in the future. Safe travels!
via Tripadvisor
Insightful
Great insights and knowledge share from Javier about history, culture and the way of living of Colombian! Highly recommend!
Response from the operator: Thanks for joining the tour, and for sharing all your stories.
via Tripadvisor
10 out of 10
The experience with Javier was great. He was on time, his car was comfortable and clean, he provided great communication, he is a safe and cautious driver, very respectful and professional. We not only got to see the lagoon and salt cathedral but also the beautiful town of Guatavita. Very charming and quaint. The restaurant he picked for our lunch was big and busy but the service was fast and the food amazing plus we got to enjoy live music. Would recommend him to anyone interested in doing these activities!
via Viator
Canceled
Canceled... just 12 hours before... so, i did not have any chance to plan something else. Very disappointed
Response from the operator: Hi Franco, thank you for your message. We received the reservation on August 2nd (Friday afternoon) for August 3rd (Saturday) and immediately canceled it due to an unexpected technical issue with transportation. It was not canceled 12 hours before. We apologize for any inconvenience.
via Viator
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.
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! It was a pleasure showing you Lake Guatavita and the Salt Cathedral. I'm glad you enjoyed learning about the Cathedral's history and architecture, and that I could help make the experience even more meaningful. Thank you for your recommendation, and I hope to welcome you back to Colombia for another adventure.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 10 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Sat, Sun
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 14
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Why this scores 76
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Guatavita Lagoon and Salt Cathedral (includes entrance fees): questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Bogotá.
How much does Guatavita Lagoon and Salt Cathedral (includes entrance fees) cost?
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Prices start at $138 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Bogotá usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Guatavita Lagoon and Salt Cathedral (includes entrance fees) take?
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Plan for about 10 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Bogotá is not rushed.
Is Guatavita Lagoon and Salt Cathedral (includes entrance fees) worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 76 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 41 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Bogotá, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Guatavita Lagoon and Salt Cathedral (includes entrance fees)?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Guatavita Lagoon and Salt Cathedral (includes entrance fees) suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 10-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Guatavita Lagoon and Salt Cathedral (includes entrance fees)?
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Around 14 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Bogotá can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Bogotá and add a light layer if any part of the 10-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Guatavita Lagoon and Salt Cathedral (includes entrance fees) start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Bogotá within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Bogotá?
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On Outty we rank every Bogotá experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Free Graffiti Walking Tour Every Day in Bogota, Bogota Zipaquira Salt Cathedral Private Tour + Lunch, Private City Tour Bogota + Monserrate, Gold, Botero and Candelaria.. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Bogotá?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Bogotá?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Guatavita Lagoon and Salt Cathedral (includes entrance fees)?
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Included: Private transportation; Entrance to the Guatavita Lake; Bottled water; During the tour I lend binoculars and raincoats; and Snacks. Not included: Lunch; Breakfast; and Carbonated beverages. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Guatavita Lagoon and Salt Cathedral (includes entrance fees) include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 56 listed pickup locations in and around Bogotá. Be ready about 30 minutes before the start time.
What languages is Guatavita Lagoon and Salt Cathedral (includes entrance fees) offered in?
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It is offered in German, Portuguese, Chinese, English, Italian, French and Spanish. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Guatavita Lagoon and Salt Cathedral (includes entrance fees)?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Guatavita Lagoon and Salt Cathedral (includes entrance fees) wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Not recommended for pregnant travelers; Guatavita lake does not have access to wheel chairs and strollers; and Salta Cathedral has access to wheel chairs and strollers. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Guatavita Lagoon and Salt Cathedral (includes entrance fees) if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Bogotá. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about Guatavita Lagoon and Salt Cathedral (includes entrance fees)?
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Across 41 reviews averaging 4.9 out of 5, recurring themes include knowledge and storytelling, the guide, photo opportunities. Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
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