How to Visit the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira from Bogota

In this guide you can read about all the different ways to visit the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira from Bogota. We’ll discuss all the pros and cons of visiting this unique attraction on your own or with a tour. There’s also a step by step guide on how to get there by public transport for those of you who’re after a bit of an adventure or are just on a tighter budget.

Colombia’s capital is full of countless things to do and a visit to the Salt Cathedral is considered one of the best, especially if you’re religious or enjoy interesting architecture. However, bear in mind that it’s not actually located in Bogota, but over 50km to the north of the city in a small town called Zipaquira.

If you’d like to see our visit to the Salt Cathedral, then make sure to watch our Bogota video on our YouTube channel. For more Colombia videos check out our Colombia Series.

About the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira in Bogota

Located in the town of Zipaquira, about 55km to the north of La Candelaria in Bogota, you’ll find the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira (Catedral de Sal de Zipaquirá).

As the name suggests, the Salt Cathedral is a church built inside the shafts of an abandoned salt mine nearly 200 m underground. If you’re wondering why a cathedral would be built in a salt mine, well, the answer is very simple. Working in the mines is a dangerous job, so the miners carved out a sanctuary which they used for their daily prayers before starting their shifts.

The first Salt Cathedral was constructed in the early 1950s. It was closed for safety reasons, before the one you see today was built in 1995. It’s both a tourist destination and a place of pilgrimage just like Monserrate.

How to Get to the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira from Bogota

There are two main ways that people normally choose to visit the Salt Cathedral. One option is to visit independently, using public transport. The other one is to join an organised tour. They both have their pros and cons. Visiting by bus is definitely more affordable and will give you a little bit more freedom. However, getting there is a long process and requires you to navigate Bogota’s public transport system, which can be a little confusing.

If you don’t feel confident using public transport then joining an organised tour will be a better option for you. It’ll be more expensive and won’t give you as much freedom, but you won’t have anywhere near as much to worry about. You can even pick a tour that includes visits to additional places.

Below is a step-by-step guide on how to get to the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira from Bogota by bus and a few popular tour options.

By Bus

To reach the Salt Cathedral from Bogota by bus you’ll first have to get to the town of Zipaquira. You’ll need to take the TransMilenio bus to Terminal del Norte. We accidentally got off a stop earlier at Portal del Norte but from there you can just hop onto another bus that goes to Terminal del Norte. Based on our research you can flag down a bus to Zipaquira along the main road at Portal del Norte too.

You can use this bus map to find the nearest bus stop to where you’re staying in Bogota. Maps with all the bus services on them are also available at every station.

In order to use Bogota’s bus rapid transport system (BRT) you’ll need to purchase a bus card (7,000 COP / $1.75 USD) first. Then you can top that up with enough credit to cover your bus rides across the city. A one-way journey is normally 2,950 COP ($0.75 USD). Bogota is a big place and it can sometimes take around an hour to reach Terminal del Norte from the city centre.

Once at Terminal del Norte you’ll need to leave the station and walk to the main road where you can flag down a bus that has ‘Zipa’ (short for Zipaquira) written on it. The bus driver’s helper will also be shouting out the destinations that the bus is going to. When you get on, make sure to tell this person where you’re heading. A one-way journey to Zipaquira is around 5,000 COP ($1.50 USD). The bus journey can take around an hour or so depending on traffic.

On your way back just wait for a bus back to Bogota along Carrera 16 at the corner of Plaza de Esperanza, located here on Google Maps.

By Tour

If the above journey sounds too time consuming or confusing for you, then you can join an organised tour from Bogota. Depending on how much time you have, we recommend booking a tour that also visits additional places. Some people might find the Salt Cathedral underwhelming, so it’s a good way to make the most out of your day trip.

You can book this dedicated Salt Cathedral tour or one that also includes a visit to Guatavita Lagoon.

How to Get from Zipaquira to the Salt Cathedral

If you’ve arrived to Zipaquira by public transport, then you’ll need to either walk to the Salt Cathedral or take a short taxi ride. It’s a good 25 minute walk from the town centre, but this also gives you the opportunity to look around Zipaquira.

The walk is mainly uphill, so bear in mind that the town sits at 2,650 m (8,690 ft) above sea level, which is slightly higher than Bogota. There will be some general signs pointing towards the Salt Cathedral, however you can always just follow Google Maps for the exact directions. If you want to use data during your stay in Colombia, then we recommend getting an eSIM or a local SIM which allows you to stay connected at all times when using public transport or getting from A to B.

Opening Times and Entry Fees to the Salt Cathedral

Opening Times: Every day from 9AM to 5:30PM.

Entry Fee: There are three different packages you can choose from: basic, standard and premium.

The basic entry fee, which includes an audio guide, is 98,000 COP ($25 USD). The audio guide is very useful in explaining the history and significance of the place. This package also includes a fun train ride out of the cathedral, access to WI-FI and a short movie. For us, this was enough but you can also buy one of the other two packages which include entries to additional museums, the Miner’s Route and a city tour.

For more information about the different packages check out the official website.

Facilities at the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira

The Salt Cathedral is a very religious site and is considered a site of pilgrimage. However, you’ll quickly notice that there is much more on offer here than the underground cathedral itself. There are several jewellery shops, general gift shops, and cafes, as well as an underground cinema where you can watch a short film about the Salt Cathedral.

You can also visit a few different museums such as the Archaeological Museum, Brine Museum and Tutankhamun Museum. Probably the coolest activity is the Miner’s Route, where you’ll get the chance to walk through a few of the shafts.

For some, the Salt Cathedral could feel a bit too commercialised. Whilst it’s a religious site, sometimes we had the feeling that we were walking through an underground theme park. The crowd is also very mixed, with many people visiting for deep religious reasons and others just there for fun or out of curiosity. Nevertheless, it’s still a pretty impressive place to visit.

Final Thoughts on Visiting the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira from Bogota

Although visiting the Salt Cathedral wasn’t our favourite activity in Bogota, we don’t regret venturing out of the city to see it. For us, it felt a bit too commercialised and we found the food prices to be very expensive. On the other hand, seeing such a structure constructed underground was pretty impressive. All in all, if you go on your own, we recommend spending some time in Zipaquira too to make the most of your day, or sign up for an organised tour that also includes some other stops.

Did you visit the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira during your time in Bogota? If so, how did you get there? What was your experience? If not, would you add this day trip to your Bogota itinerary? Let us know in the comments below.