Honest Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral Tour Review

Looking for a day trip from Bogotá that combines geology, history, and a touch of the divine? We were, too. After two fantastic experiences with Beyond Colombia, we booked their Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral group tour – and spoiler: it didn’t disappoint.

We know that planning day trips in a foreign country can be overwhelming. Maybe you're wondering: Is it worth the price? Is the Salt Cathedral just a tourist trap? We had those same questions before we booked.

Having explored quite a few Colombian highlights already, we approached this tour with high expectations. And thanks to a knowledgeable guide, seamless logistics, and jaw-dropping underground architecture, this one definitely stood out.

If you're a traveller who enjoys practical tips and honest opinions, you're in the right place. So here’s our no-fluff review of our Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral tour: what to expect and whether it’s actually worth your time and pesos.

• Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral Tour Review
  • Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral Tour Itinerary
  • Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral Day Trip – Our Honest Opinion
  • What Other Travellers Say About the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral Day Trip
  • What Does the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral Tour Include?
  • Conclusion: Is the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá Tour Worth it?
  • Where We Stayed in Bogota

Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral Tour Review

As we had already done two great tours with Beyond Colombia, we chose their Zipaquirá: Salt Cathedral Group Tour with Pickup:

Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral Tour Itinerary

This is the itinerary of the exact Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral Tour we went on:

1. Going Down the Way of the Cross

After an extremely well organised hotel pickup, we arrived at the Salt Cathedral. Our decent 180 m (590 ft) down into the mine started with the Way of the Cross. There are 14 small chapels, representing the Stations of the Cross, which illustrate the events of Jesus' last journey, carved out of the Halite.

At the end of the decent, there’s a huge dome with a height of 8 m and a diameter of 11 m

You reach the naves of the Cathedral through the Narthex labyrinth, salt-carved paths, symbolising the biblical path of penance for the unbaptised. At the top, there’s a sculpture of Saint Michael the Archangel, holding a scroll that reads “You are the salt of the earth.”

2. Naves of the Cathedral

Next up was the highlight of the day, the naves of the cathedral, where our guide showed us around and took pictures of us.

The Salt Cathedral features three naves:

• Birth Ship
• Ship of Life
• Ship of Death and Resurrection

In the central nave, you can find the world's largest salt-carved cross as well as a salt copy of the Creation of Adam.

Every 30 minutes, a light show is projected onto the walls of the central nave, which we enjoyed quite a lot.

3. Free Time in the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá

We had ample free time to explore the Salt Cathedral (which is a bit of a maze) on our own. Here are some suggestions of what you can do:

• Buy drinks, food, and souvenirs.
• Use the restroom.
• Check out the “Water Mirror”.
• Visit the Museum Monumental 180 with relief sculptures on salt walls and marble blocks.
• Visit a replica of an Emerald mine.
• Visit the Museum Tutankhamun (yes, the Egyptian guy, we’re not sure why…).

4. Lunch

For lunch, we went to Mister Parrilla. In contrast to many of the online reviews, we quite enjoyed the food and the service. The meats being roasted on sticks were delicious!

The main downside is the very high price for Colombian standards – especially for the drinks. On the upside, the location of the restaurant is very central. There are other food options nearby and even an Exito supermarket a couple of blocks away if you want to stay more on a budget.

At no time were we pressured to eat in this restaurant; we opted to do so for the purpose of this blog post.

5. Exploring Zipaquirá

Last but not least, our guide showed us around the city of Zipaquirá. Zipaquirá was founded in 1600 and has around 130000 inhabitants.

We visited the Independence Square, the Main Square with the Diocesan Cathedral of Zipaquira, as well as some of the lovely streets with our guide.

Unfortunately, we did not have any time to explore on our own because the weather took a turn for the worse.

In hindsight, this wasn’t too bad because we got stuck in rush hour traffic and our way back to Bogota took much longer than expected.

Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral Day Trip – Our Honest Opinion

The tour was extremely well organised. We really enjoyed our guide, who used to work as a guide in the Salt Mine and hence was extremely knowledgeable.

She took her time explaining all the features of the Salt Mine, including the Way of the Cross, the dome, the Narthex, and the three naves. For our free time in the cathedral, she gave clear indications on where to find drinks, food, and the restrooms.

During our guided walk through Zipaquirá, she told us a lot about the history of the city. We had time to explore the Cathedral before we had to cut our time short because of the weather, which can’t really be blamed on the tour…

While we enjoyed our lunch break, it was anything but budget-friendly. That said, the whole tour is not really a budget activity. The entrance fee to the Salt Cathedral makes up the majority of the price. You pay the rest for the convenience of not having to get to the bus station in Bogota, on the bus, from the station in Zipaquirá to the Salt Cathedral, and back – and the guide, of course!

What Other Travellers Say About the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral Day Trip

⭐ Rating: 4.8 / 5 (1198 reviews)

The best part was how Sebastian pretty much under promised & over delivered. He was consistently checking in with every body on the tour to make sure everyone was happy and doing whatever was needed to make that happen. The drive there was shorter than expected which was good. It was a smaller 15 person capacity van and our driver Jesus was great in the staggering Bogota traffic. We returned at rush hour & it seemed like he knew some alternate routes back. The Salt Cathedral lived up to the hype, especially the enormous, 24 foot diameter, support columns in the nave. Sebastian also made sure we didn’t miss ‘’The Water Mirror’. If he’s your tour guide you won’t miss it either. The tour was just as promised and even a bit better than that. Thanks Sebastian and Jesus!

What Does the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral Tour Include?

The Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral tour we did includes:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Salt Cathedral entrance
• Tour guide
• Visit to Zipaquirá
• Free time for lunch

Conclusion: Is the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá Tour Worth it?

The pros: The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá is one of the Seven Wonders of Colombia (like the Las Lajas Sanctuary, San Agustín Archaeological Park, Castillo San Felipe in Cartagena, and the Teatro de Cristóbal Colón in Bogota).

It is also the second largest (which is kind of surprising) Salt Cathedral in the world after the Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland.

The cons: The visit is not budget-friendly (even if you decide to visit without a tour).

So, should you visit the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral? The honest answer is: It depends. If you’re not into geology or churches or you’re on a strict budget, the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral is not a must-visit.

On the other hand, if you’re into geology like us, this place is a must-visit – even if you’re not religious. It’s just super cool to see all these structures carved into Halite 180 m (590 ft) underground. In case you’re catholic, it also feels like a must-visit.

Where We Stayed in Bogota

We stayed at Casa Dreamer Bogotá and can fully recommend it. The location in La Candelaria is super convenient. It’s close to sights and restaurants as well as tour meeting points.

Our favourite features were the sauna and the comfy lounge area with a real fireplace. There’s a restaurant on site which offers a delicious breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You can also refill your water bottle with tea or drinking water.

The rooms are extremely comfy, and the staff is lovely.

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