Day 4: Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá from Bogotá
The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira It is our goal today, with which we will also say goodbye to the capital of Colombia after a couple of days ago take the flight to Bogotá and make the routes of Bogotá in one day and Bogotá in two days, which have allowed us to know this Amazing city, which we have to confess, we liked much more than we expected.
And with this destination in mind, when it's 8 in the morning and after breakfast, we leave The Grace Hotel, which was our accommodation in Bogotá the first days of the trip to Colombia in 46 days, to ask for a taxi that 160000COP will take us to our accommodation in Zipaquirá, where we will know the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira.
Before continuing, we have to say that the ideal is to make the journey from Bogotá to Zipaquirá by public transport, but just today is a day of unemployment (strike), so to avoid this day that seems to be a bit complicated, we have decided to take a taxi early in the morning and thus avoid the problems that are expected, begin to emerge on the road as the day progresses.
Another option is to opt for an Uber, something cheaper than the taxi that as far as we know disappears from Colombia shortly, but that we have also had to rule out since the application has stopped working and after trying several times and see that we could not solve it, we had to opt for the change to the taxi.
How to go from Bogotá to the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá
There are several ways to go to Bogotá to Zipaquirá:
- Intermunicipal bus: In this case you must go to the Transportation Terminal of the city of Bogotá, located at Diagonal 23, number 69-55 - Sector Salitre, and go to Module 3, where you must take the Intermunicipal bus to Zipaquirá. The journey is approximately 2 hours and they leave every 45 minutes from 5am to 22:50 pm and has a price of 5000COP.
- Transmilenio bus: This is another way you can choose to make the route from Bogotá to Zipaquirá and for us, the most recommended if you want to go by public transport. You must go to the North Terminal of Bogotá, where you must go to the Intermunicipales module to Zipaquirá, which is Platform 2, South zone, where you will see the buses marked with "Zipa".
The journey is approximately 5 minutes and leaves every 10-15 minutes from 5am to 22:50 pm and the price is 5500COP.
It is important to notify the driver that you want to stop in the center or in the Salt Cathedral, depending on your destination. - Tourist train: This is the most famous way to go from Bogotá to the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá. This train, which is like an old steam locomotive, runs through some of the most beautiful landscapes around Bogotá.
The start of the tour is at the Sabana Station, located on Calle 13 with Carrera 18, and passes through Usaquén, La Caro, Cajicá and ends in Zipaquirá.
The train only makes this journey Saturday, Sunday and holiday, leaves at 8:25 am from the Sabana Station and the price is 63000COP per person. - Cab: this is the option that we choose and that is a service door to door. We pay 160000COP for the trip and you have to take into account that if you do, the taxi must fill out a form, which is a documentation that taxis must fill out in a mandatory way with the passenger's name and personal data, and then send it. This document has no cost, but is mandatory for all taxis that perform services outside the city.
- Excursion: This would be the most recommended option if you do not want to worry about transportation and also, you want to know the history of the Salt Cathedral from a guide. You can opt for the following options:
Excursion to the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá
Offer: Guatavita + Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá
Excursion Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá and Villa de Leyva
In addition, these options are perfect if you want to make this visit from Bogotá and return to the city in the evening.
Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira
We leave you a map with the route to go from Bogotá to Zipaquirá and the locations of the different stations and means of transport.
After a journey of just over an hour, in which we find some traffic leaving Bogotá, we arrive at the Cacique Real hotel, our accommodation in Zipaquirá tonight, when it is 9:30 in the morning, taking advantage to do check in and leave our luggage and when it's 10 in the morning go straight to the salt Cathedral, which is one of the essential places to see in Zipaquirá.
Recommended travel cards
If you do not want to pay commissions when withdrawing money from ATMs in Colombia and always have the current exchange, we recommend using the N26 card to pay and the Revolut card and the BNEXT card to get money and save all commissions. All are free and also with Bnext they will give you 5 euros.
You can find much more information in the post of the best cards to travel without commissions.
Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira
The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, is one of the most beautiful places to see in Colombia, as well as being one of the essential places to visit in Bogotá, even if it is on the outskirts of the city.
Although its origin dates back 400 years ago, when an important salt deposit was found in this area of Zipaquirá, it was not until the mid-twentieth century that a small chapel was built in the underground area, where miners prayed every day .
Today we can find the impressive 180 meters underground Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira, which is one of the three that exist in the world, along with those of Poland, and that was opened to the public in 1954 and had to close in 1992 due to security problems, and then for 4 years, to be mired in a restoration work done entirely by miners, in which 25000 tons of salt were extracted to turn this place into the incredible underground sanctuary that we can see today.
Via Crucis of the Salt Cathedral
Along the first route you will pass through 14 chapels that represent the Via Crucis, along almost 400 meters, where you will find different panels with the explanations of each of them to finally reach the last station where you will see an impressive central nave, with an immense cross, considered the largest in the world of an underground church, which is the best known image of the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira.
After this room, you can walk a long corridor with different shops and even a small cafeteria as well as an area with spa service.
salt Cathedral
- Hours: every day from 9am to 18pm
- Price: 59000COP per person
Remember that you can visit the Salt Cathedral with this Excursion to the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá or this Offer: Guatavita + Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá.
Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira
Tips for visiting the Salt Cathedral
We leave you a series of tips to do the visit of the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá.
- To get to the entrance of the Salt Cathedral, you must follow a path marked with a white line, which runs through an initial flat part, then climb some stairs for approximately 10 minutes through which you reach the ticket offices . Keep in mind that Zipaquirá is at an altitude of 2650 meters, so it is important to take things easy.
- Another important thing to know is that within the mine a journey of approximately 2.5 kilometers is made, mostly flat.
- Remember that along much of the underground route you will not find services until the final stretch. In the parking lot there are bathrooms, in the area of the first cafeteria and also in the lockers.
- Inside the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá the temperature is lower than outside, so it does not hurt to wear a thin jacket or a foulard.
- The tour is usually guided, but if there are not many visitors, they let you do it for free.
- The visit lasts about 2 hours, depending on the time you are in the chapels of the Via Crucis and the shopping area.
Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira
After practically two and a half hours we end the visit to the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá With the intention of knowing now the town, which we are sure, will surprise us so much more than the impressive cathedral.
Things to do in Zipaquirá
Although the city is famous for its salt Cathedral, we have to say after the experience, that it is a highly recommended place to spend a few hours since it has several places to visit in addition to a beautiful architecture, which together make a perfect day trip from Bogotá.
Archeological Museum
Located in the Villaveces park in this museum you can see more than 1000 archaeological pieces, through which you can understand a little more the life of some of the fourteen pre-Hispanic cultures shown.
- Hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 9am to 17pm
- Price: free
Archeological Museum
Nobel's house Gabriel García Márquez
Also known as Ensign Real, this colonial house was the place where Gabriel Garcia Marquez studied for 4 years and graduated as a bachelor.
Currently the house can be visited and see the work that some schools in the city do here.
- Hours: every day from 9am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5pm / Guided tours from Thursday to Sunday and holidays.
Independence Square
Originally known as Plaza de Agustín Zapata, this square was until recently, the market place for later and as a commemoration of the bicentennial of independence, change its name and put a sculpture of Antonio Nariño in addition to transferring the water stack from the Plaza de los Comuneros to its current location.
This is next to the Plaza de los Comuneros, one of the nerve centers of the city and one of the most important places to see in Zipaquirá.
Independence Square
Community Square
This is the main square of the city, where the communal capitulations were signed in 1781, one of the most important historical events in the country and where you can see some of the most beautiful colonial houses in the city in addition to the Government House and the Cathedral Diocesan
We advise you to enjoy the place with peace of mind, sitting in one of the banks to see only the life pass.
Community Square
Diocesan Cathedral
Located in the Plaza de los Comuneros is this impressive work of the romantic classic dedicated to the Holy Trinity and San Antonio de Padua. It began to be built in 1804 to replace the Franciscan doctrine church that had existed until now, where the Commune Capitulations were sworn in 1781 and ended 111 years later.
- Hours: open only during Mass - every day 7am - 12pm - 6pm.
- Price: free
Diocesan Cathedral
Stroll around Zipaquirá
No doubt this is one of the Top things to do in Zipaquirá besides visiting the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira. We also recommend you to know the places we mentioned, get lost in the surrounding streets, where you can enjoy and understand how you live in any city on a route through Colombia.
Do not forget to visit the Calle del Calzoncillo, one of the streets that go to the Plaza de los Comuneros, which is one of the liveliest in the city.
Calzoncillo Street
At 2 in the afternoon and after walking through the charming streets of Zipaquirá we approached the Casa del Chorro restaurant, the most recommended in the city, where we ordered a ceviche, an overbarriga, beer and mango juice plus coffee and infusion by 73000COP . Highly recommended!
Ceviche at Casa del Chorro
After lunch, we decided to go to the Cacique Real to rest for a while until 17pm that we return to Zipaquirá to continue knowing the most central area of the city, which continues to surprise us and exceed all the expectations we had.
Zipaquira
In addition to this walk, we take the opportunity to approach the Plaza de los Mártires Zipaquireños, very close to the Plaza de los Comuneros, where you can see an obelisk commemorating the creation in 1905 of the department of Quesada, whose capital was Zipaquirá.
And to end the day, nothing better than a dinner in Cuchufli a vegetarian in the center, with a very pleasant atmosphere, where we ordered two empanadas and vegan pizza, more blackberry juice and beer for 25000COP.
We do not want to finish the post without reminding you that in case you have fewer days than us, you can perfectly visit the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá in the morning and then take private transportation, with a taxi or Uber, and go to the Laguna de la Guatavita, where we will go tomorrow and stay to sleep in the area or even continue to Villa de Leyva.
In this case you can only do it in private transport, since doing it in public transport is impossible, both for times and for combinations.
We leave you a map with the places to see in Zipaquirá including the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá.
Day 5: Visit the Laguna de Guatavita
