Zipaquira

Colonial town north of Bogotá, famous for its underground cathedral carved from salt mine walls

Zipaquirá is a colonial town about 50 km north of Bogotá and one of the most popular day trips from the capital. The main attraction is the Catedral de Sal, an underground cathedral carved entirely out of the walls of an active salt mine. The mine has been worked since pre-Columbian times by the Muisca people, and the current cathedral — the second on the site — was completed in 1995, some 180 metres below the surface. The scale is dramatic: a full-sized nave, side aisles, and an enormous cross carved in relief from the rock face, all illuminated in coloured light.

The town itself has a pleasant colonial centre around the Plaza de los Comuneros, with the Catedral Diocesana on one side and whitewashed arcaded buildings on the others. A tourist train, the Tren de la Sabana, runs from Bogotá on weekends and makes the journey part of the experience.

Guide

Getting There

Zipaquirá is 49 km north of Bogotá and easily reached as a day trip.

By bus: Buses to Zipaquirá depart from Bogotá's Portal del Norte TransMilenio terminal (the northern end of the Bogotá rapid transit network) throughout the day. The journey takes about 1.5–2 hours depending on traffic; the buses are comfortable and inexpensive. On weekends, leave early to avoid the longer queues at the Salt Cathedral.

By tourist train: The Tren de la Sabana runs on Saturday and Sunday mornings from La Sabana station (Calle 13, near La Candelaria in central Bogotá). A much slower but more atmospheric option, the steam train takes about two hours each way and stops in Cajicá en route. Book ahead.

By car or taxi: About an hour from central Bogotá via the Autopista Norte, depending on traffic. Taxis from Bogotá can negotiate a round trip with waiting time — agree the price before you leave. Rideshare apps work in Bogotá but coverage drops beyond the city limits.

Guide

Things to Do

Zipaquirá's main attraction — and for most visitors the only reason to come — is the Catedral de Sal, an underground cathedral carved from a working salt mine, 180 metres below the surface. It is genuinely remarkable and well worth the trip from Bogotá.

The colonial town itself has a pleasant main square and some historic buildings worth an hour of wandering after visiting the cathedral. The Catedral Diocesana on the Plaza de los Comuneros is an attractive 16th-century colonial church; the square itself, surrounded by whitewashed buildings with terracotta roofs, is one of the better preserved colonial plazas in Cundinamarca. The Casa de los Quevedo-Zornoza on the plaza houses a small history museum.

The town also has markets selling local products — Zipaquirá is known for its chicharrón and local sausages — and a scattering of restaurants around the main square where you can eat well and cheaply before or after the cathedral visit.

Nearby, the Tren de la Sabana tourist train runs from Bogotá on weekends and is a pleasant alternative to the bus if you want the journey to feel like an occasion.