Salt Cathedral — Attraction in Zipaquirá

This is one of must visit places around the world. You can take a guided tour from Bogota, or take a self tour using Tourist Train (look for info at Sabana station in Bogota in Santa Fe area) for full experience. Purchasing ticket online from the site does save time waiting on ticket line. Cost to entrance for Basic which covers pretty much all you need for 80k for Colombian, and 118K for foreigners (Aprox $28). Coming from town, I recommend taking Calle 5 or 6 to get to large & busy square by Zipaquira Cathedral, then go up one more street to Carrera 6 and head left (west) until you see a gate and sign for Catedral del Sal. You climb up the stairs til you get to a large court yard with various vendors upper level, and tunnel entrance below the climbing wall. Show your ticket, follow the guide (in Spanish). You can get a QR code for WiFi in the tunnel and each area in the tunnel has QR code for explanation. You will climb down about 400-500 feet while seeing various carved praying areas, until you get to bottom where you will see three large chapels (it was Sunday, so place actually had a mass when we were there), many shops, cafes, food vendors. (pretty much most of drinks, cafe has alcohol drinks and coffee drinks, sandwich, hot dogs, ice creams, pastries, snacks are what I saw. They actually heat up the churros before serving so it was nice hot and crunch! You can with some sort of cream/jelly or just sugar.) Bathroom is located further down the tunnel so be aware. Toilet doesn't have the seat down cover and no paper, so make sure to get some paper by wash area before you enter the stall. Most chapel and pray area have various changing lights. It is bit dark but able to see so just be careful. Place is handicap capable but no elevator so prepare to push hard coming up. Place is very large, so prepare to walk couple miles. Above main level, up by ticket area has restaurants, shops, and bathroom. Also other...

Went there on a Wednesday, which was perfect as there weren't too many people. They charge different prices for Colombians, around $7, and foreigners $13, for the basic tickets. The tour leaves every 15mins or so. The tour is in Spanish but they provide guided headphones in English as well. I actually wandered off on my own after 5 mins, which gave me time and space to do things on my own.

The Catholic symbols and church are very enjoyable, even though I'm nowhere near religious.

After the Cathedral, you will enter the retail area. The Café 340 is worth stopping for a coffee and pastry.

You probably want to skip actually buying an emerald here as they are well overpriced, like at any tourist attractions.

However I do recommend going to the Desal Spa. Despite the price being higher than most places outside, it is still considerably cheaper than in USA or Europe.

I paid $20 for a 20mins foot scrub and foot massage. Apart from getting to experience a real salt spa inside a salt mine, the setting/ambience was beautiful and the service was great, too. I will probably be back just for the spa alone, which I was told the entry fee will be about $4 if you booked a service at the spa. If you like spa, this is a must! Even if you don't, you will still enjoy the experience.

Bottomline, you will spent aprx 2 hours here. Come early on a weekday. Charge your phone as you will be taking heaps of pix. For the sake of others, don't wear strong perfume as it is a confined space and eventhough it is pet friendly and they provide a trolley for your dog....a dog in my tour group barked for 5 mins straight.

P.S. After the tour, stop for lunch at a nearby restaurant, can't remember the name but it has a big cow outside. The meat samlle platter is...

Visiting the Salt Cathedral (Catedral de Sal) in Zipaquirá, Colombia, was an unforgettable experience. It’s one of those places where you feel the perfect blend of natural wonder, history, and human creativity.

The cathedral, built inside a massive salt mine, immediately draws you in with its serene, almost mystical atmosphere. Walking through the dimly lit tunnels, surrounded by salt-carved sculptures and crosses, I felt a deep sense of peace and awe. The main chamber, with its towering illuminated cross at the altar, was particularly striking—it’s both humbling and inspiring to stand there and take it all in.

One of my favorite parts was the Stations of the Cross, which are beautifully carved into the salt walls. Each station feels deeply symbolic, and the quietness of the space allows you to reflect on their meaning. Even if you're not religious, the craftsmanship and the story they tell are worth appreciating.

The guided tour was excellent, providing insights into the mining history, the engineering behind the cathedral, and the significance of the various sculptures and spaces. I also enjoyed visiting the small museum and gift shop at the end, where you can learn even more about the region's culture and history.

If you go, I’d recommend wearing comfortable shoes because you’ll be walking quite a bit, and it’s slightly cool inside, so a light jacket is a good idea. Also, if you can, visit on a weekday to avoid the crowds.

Overall, the Salt Cathedral is a unique and breathtaking place that left a lasting impression on me. It’s not just a religious site but a testament to human creativity and resilience. I would highly recommend it to anyone traveling...