Day trips from Bogotá: the city, the salt cathedral or the lake

Bogotá sits high, at about 2,640 metres, and spreads a long way, so the car saves the long walks and the hill. Two of our tours stay in the city. The Salt Cathedral and Lake Guatavita are north of it, and Villa de Leyva is a long day into Boyacá. Here is what each of our five involves.

One day in the city: Bogotá in a day, with Monserrate, the Botero and Gold museums and Usaquén. One day out: the Salt Cathedral at Zipaquirá, a church carved 180 metres underground.

The five, side by side

Trip	Length	Leaves	Price
Bogotá: Private City Tour with Monserrate, La Candelaria and the Gold Museum	5h	07:00	from €120
Bogotá in a Day: Private Tour with Monserrate, Museums and Usaquén	8h	07:00	from €160
Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral Private Tour from Bogotá	6h	07:00	from €310
Lake Guatavita Private Day Trip from Bogotá	8h	07:00	from €240
Villa de Leyva Private Day Trip from Bogotá	12h	07:00	from €330

Prices are starting prices and depend on the size of your group.

How to choose

You want the city in half a day

Monserrate and La Candelaria. Five hours, at 07:00 or 13:00: up by cable car or funicular to Monserrate, at 3,152 metres, then the colonial quarter, the Plaza de Bolívar and the Gold Museum, and a coffee before the drive back. The museum is closed on Mondays and free on Sundays.

You want the whole city

Bogotá in a day. Eight hours from 07:00: Monserrate first, before the clouds and the queues, La Candelaria, about an hour each in the Botero Museum and the Gold Museum, ajiaco for lunch, and the old village of Usaquén, liveliest on Sundays when the market is on. The Gold Museum is closed on Mondays and the Botero on Tuesdays.

You want the Salt Cathedral

Zipaquirá. Six hours, at 07:00 or 13:00: the colonial square of the town, then the church cut into the tunnels left by the salt miners, 180 metres underground, with the Stations of the Cross and a lit cross 16 metres tall. The route is wide and walked at an easy pace, and it is cool inside.

You want the lake of El Dorado

Lake Guatavita. Eight hours from 07:00: the round crater lake sacred to the Muisca, seen only on a guided walk of about two hours, with a climb to the rim at around 3,100 metres, then lunch in the white town by the Tominé reservoir. The lake is closed on Mondays, or on Tuesday when Monday is a holiday.

You want a colonial town

Villa de Leyva. Twelve hours, the longest day here, about three hours each way: the Puente de Boyacá, where independence was sealed in 1819, the whitewashed town around its huge cobbled square, lunch, and El Fósil, a museum built around a marine reptile. A night there makes it easier.

Four things worth knowing before you book

Entrances are paid on the day

The price covers the private vehicle, driver, fuel, tolls and parking. The Monserrate cable car or funicular, the Gold Museum, the Salt Cathedral, the Guatavita entrance with its park guide, El Fósil and lunch are paid on the day.

Take the altitude slowly

Bogotá is at about 2,640 metres, Monserrate about 500 metres higher. Walk slowly on the first day and drink water. The city is cool all year and showers are common: bring a jacket.

Private costs less than you think for a group

A coach seat is cheap for one person and stops being cheap at four. Our prices are by group size, not per seat: up to four of you share one car at one price, and the price only steps up when you need a van. And you are not waiting for forty strangers at every stop.

You can change your mind

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pick-up, refunded in full. If the date stops working, message us and we will do our best to move you to another day.