Salt Cathedral + Golden Guatavita

This full-day tour will take you to two places of interest located within the Bogota savannah, each of them one-of-a-kind. The first stop will be Zipaquir Salt Cathedral; a majestic cathedral built inside the bowels of the largest salt rock deposit on earth. This sight deserves every piece of its fame. It's a place where you'll see the mysticism of the Muiscas, Catholic symbology and engineering power collide; it's a magical tour through tunnels and vaults of incredible size. Within this former salt mine, the materials found underground have been manipulated by artists and sculptors, and with help of some amazing lighting effects, you'll witness one of the most original interpretations of Catholic symbols on earth. Learn from our expert guide about this process and the symbology behind the works of art you will see along the tour. After exiting the cathedral we will head to the colonial village of Zipaquir. We will walk by the main square, which is surrounded by several buildings that are declared national monuments. We will have time to stop at the local handicraft market. After a stop for lunch at an authentic traditional foods restaurant - which formerly was a salt boiler and still displays traces of the process that was used here - we will drive towards Guatavita which was named after the treasure hidden behind its mountains - The Guatavita Lagoon. After walking through the cobbled streets of the white-house village, which holds a unique history, we will drive through potato crops and farmers' homes up to the paramount in which the sacred lake lies hidden among mountains and mist. Inside this natural reservoir dotted by forest vegetation, you can feel the mystic energy that made this lagoon a sacred place for the Muiscas. Learn about the connection of this ancient people with nature and the way gold was used as a symbol of gratitude. Also noted, this particular practice preformed by the Muiscas awoke the passions of Spanish bounty hunters and other unfortunate adventurers. Finally we will head back to Bogota and you will be dropped of at your hotel or any other point of your convenience.