Is The Underground Bogota Salt Cathedral In Colombia Worth Visiting?

Planning A Trip To Bogota, Colombia And Wondering If The Nearby Underground Salt Cathedral Is Worth Visiting?

I lived in the Coffee Region of Colombia but I visited the Bogota area twice because the first time I didn’t get to explore as many places as I wanted to like the underground Salt Cathedral, and I’m very glad I went back because this was one of the most unique and interesting places I visited in the country.

🧂✝️ Is The Underground Salt Cathedral in Bogota, Colombia Worth Visiting?

I loved visiting this unique location and definitely recommend it.

The underground Salt Cathedral (Catedral de Sal in Spanish) is located just a little outside of Bogota, Colombia and it’s one of the country’s most unique sites that I personally think is definitely worth visiting, but below are all the details so you can decide for yourself if it’s worth adding to your itinerary.

Why It Is

the Salt Cathedral is the only underground temple in the world, so it’s not only unique for Colombia but also for the world

after visiting more than 20 locations around the country, I think that the Salt Cathedral is one of Colombia’s most beautiful and interesting attractions

the underground mine turned cathedral is about 590 feet (180 meters) down below the surface, which isn’t something you can experience just anywhere, but it is a pretty wide and open area in most parts, so it didn’t feel too claustrophobic to me

not that you’d be traveling to Colombia with your pets, but the Salt Cathedral is pet-friendly

at the mine, there are professional guides available to take you through the cathedral and give you lots of facts and history about it

The mine was first discovered by indigenous people.

the audio tour that the Salt Cathedral offers is available in 7 different languages

in case it matters to you that you can stay connected, there is wifi down in the mine

besides the Salt Cathedral itself, there are multiple other attractions in and around the mine like museums, a rock climbing wall, and a nature path

a few of my most favorite souvenirs came from this Bogota Salt Cathedral where they have lots of unique items available made out of the salt

Why It Might Not Be

If you're claustrophobic or not that interested in a unique site like this, then it probably won't be worth it for you.

Although I really enjoyed my day exploring the underground Salt Cathedral, some might not find it worth the day trip from Bogota, Colombia because:

usually I recommend public transportation for most situations in Colombia but getting to the cathedral using public transportation is a complete nightmare so I do not recommend it here

the cathedral is not a lesser known/traveled destination so it does get quite crowded and busy

the cathedral is deep underground so it may be too much for those with anxiety or claustrophobia

the guided tours given by the salt cathedral were only available in Spanish when I was there

although I didn’t feel this way, it could feel a little cheesy down there with all the vendors and such

it’s not the cheapest attraction to visit in USD or even for Colombians; the entrance for the basic experience for foreigners in the Bogota Salt Cathedral is about $33 (125,000 Colombian pesos) while the premium experience is about $44 (164,000 Colombian pesos)

🚐 Best Way To Get To The Underground Salt Cathedral From Bogota, Colombia

Getting there isn't too difficult but one way is much easier than the other.

Here is a more detailed explanation of how to get to the Salt Cathedral from Bogota, but in summary:

don’t use public transportation, it’s a nightmare here

you could Uber or taxi but prices could be pretty high for the 30-ish mile (45-ish km) ride and you could potentially have trouble finding a ride back

doing a day trip tour from Bogota to the Salt Cathedral is the best, easiest, and most-stress free way to visit

ℹ️ The Salt Cathedral Of Zipaquirá, Colombia Facts & History

The Salt Cathedral near Bogota, Colombia is a very cool place to visit with a very unique history.

In case you like some facts and a little history before visiting places like I do, here are some commonly asked questions about the underground Salt Cathedral near Bogota, Colombia:

Who Built The Salt Cathedral In Colombia? the salt cathedral was developed during industrialization, when miners began creating small alters in the mine; the first attempt to convert it into a salt cathedral began in 1954 and lasted until 1992; the current cathedral in the salt mine was designed by architect, Roswell Garavito Pearl, in 1995*

How Deep Is The Salt Cathedral In Bogota? the underground mine turned cathedral is about 590 feet (180 meters) down below the surface*

Is It Cold In The Salt Cathedral? Bogota is a pretty cool, mountainous area so it’s always got a fairly cold temperature (compared to the rest of Colombia), but down in the cathedral where the sun doesn’t shine, the air can be extra fresh and cool; I wore pants and a jacket and was fine but layers are always a great idea in the Bogota area

Why Is The Salt Cathedral Important? this salt rich area was first discovered by the indigenous people, and it was used to economically develop the region as it was turned into a mine; it later became a religious/tourist site when it was turned into a cathedral and it is now considered the First Wonder of Colombia and the only underground temple in the world*

*all info I learned from visiting the Salt Cathedral itself

🔁 Sum Up: Underground Salt Cathedral In Bogota, Colombia

When I explored the capital city of Colombia, Bogota, visiting the underground Salt Cathedral was at the top of my list because I’d heard it was one of the most unique places to visit in Colombia and it did end up becoming one of my favorite adventurous activities here. I suggest going the easy route with a guided day trip tour and getting a few salt souvenirs from this interesting Colombian site.