Zipaquira's underground Salt Cathedral half day trip from Bogota

Even if you’ve seen plenty of cathedrals during your travels, you’ve never seen one quite like this. This half-day tour of Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral offers an opportunity to tour this fascinating underground structure, carved into subterranean walls of a salt mine near Bogotá.

Begin your visit with your choice of pickup from your Bogotá hotel at either 8am or 2pm, continuing north towards the city of Zipaquirá. Arrive at the mine and head underground to the cathedral, located more than 656 feet (200 meters) below the earth’s surface.

Once inside this impressive structure, listen as your guide provides an overview of the cathedral’s construction and history. The original 246 foot (75 meter) salt cathedral first opened in 1954, though it was eventually closed for safety reasons. Not to be dissuaded, the church’s creators went to work on an expanded version of the structure, carving out an additional 250,000 tons of rock for the new cathedral you see now, which opened in 1991. 

Take time to wander the eerie darkened tunnels of the site, along with the church’s three main sections, including the Stations of the Cross, its three naves and its dome. Finish your day back above ground, where you’ll have some time to explore Zipaquirá before heading back to your Bogotá hotel.