naviquan

About 656 feet (200 m) deep within a salt mountain 45 minutes from Bogotá, The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá (Catedral de Sal) takes you into the heart of an engineering marvel—a mountain, turned salt mine, turned cathedral and museum.

Located inside the salt mines of Zipaquirá in the Bogotá´s Savannah it is a religious center and one of the most famous Catholic sanctuaries of the country and the first wonder of Colombia. Inside, there are natural wonders - the moist salt walls and dripping stalactite ceilings - and rich artistic collections, especially the salt and marble sculptures on religious themes. The subterranean church forms part of cultural complex and is called a jewel of Colombian architecture.

The Cathedral has three sections, representing the birth, life, and death of Jesus. There are icons, ornaments, columns and other architectural details hand carved in the salt rock and accented by blue lightings. The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá is thought to represent one of the most remarkable achievements of the Colombian architecture.

back to top

You can reach Zipaquirá:
- By train: from Bogota, Savanna station you can take tourist train (Tren Turistico De La Sabana). Every weekend and on public holidays an antique steam train leaves the Sabana station, in Bogota, to Zipaquirá. It’s a 4-hour trip back to the past. At a pace of 20kmh you are treated to onboard live music and food services, while enjoying the countryside views.
- By bus: take any Transmilenio bus from Bogota marked Portal Norte. Once at Portal Norte, take the bus marked Zipaquirá. It takes about 45 minutes to get to Zipaquirá, the price of the ticket is about $ 2. Once there, you can take a taxi for about $1.50 or you can walk.

back to top

All year round. The weather is pleasant and mild.

back to top

- Hotel Colonial (Zipaquirá) - located in the center of the town (just two blocks from the main plaza and another two blocks from the Salt Cathedral), rates from $ 7 to $ 15
- Hotel Cacique Real de Zipaquirá - located in historic center of the town, 200 meters from the entrance to the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá. This one-start hotel is probably the best what you can find in Zipaquirá (no current rate data is available).

Most tourists stay in Bogota ( 45 minutes by bus or car) to the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá. We recommend Cite Hotel - Hoteles Cosmos: five star hotel, rates from $145.00 per room/night. Hotel is located in the business and entertainment center of Bogota, overlooking Virrey Park. Research and book hotels in or near Bogota, Colombia

back to top

Sightseeing.

back to top

The town is famous for the Cathedral and the archaeological excavation site El Abra, located in the valley of the same name. El Abra is a cave system used by the Homo sapience of the late Pleistocene epoch 12,400 BCE ± 160 years.

The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá is opened the whole year every day, the most important places to visit in the Salt Cathedral complex are: the Square where the cross named El Eje Sacro is located, Saline Dome, Mine, the Brine´s Museum, Reservoir, Forests, Salt auditorium

The Salt Theme park covers an area of 32 hectares. The visitors can observe pieces of art, displays of the mining process, geology displays etc.

The admission fees to the Salt mine is about $8.50 (17.000COP) or if you want to make the “miners route” and visit the Brine Museum the fees are $12 (24.000COP). You can book an English speaking guide at no cost.

Be prepared to spend not less than two hours: you will need one hour to visit the Salt Cathedral (which is a big site) and at least half an hour for miners route tour and another half an hour to visit the museum.

back to top

Tags: art and culture (26); Bogota; Brines Museum; Catedral de Sal de Zipaquira; cave (4); Colombia; Cundinamarca Department; El Abra; El Eje Sacro; Mountain (16); Natural wonders (14); Pilgrimage (14); Religion (18); Religious architecture (17); Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira; Salt Park; steam train; Tren Turistico De La Sabana; underground Roman Catholic church; Zipaquira

Web Sites:   Colombia Travel: Official guide - Tourism, Vacations & Holidays in Colombia

back to top