COL: Guatavita Lake and Zipaquira Salt Cathedral Tour (Part 1)
Cundinamarca, Colombia
We resumed our journey after a refreshing 20-minute break.
Having heard the tales of unimaginable wealth, Spanish conquistadors set out to drain Lake Guatavita in their quest for gold. Though they were unsuccessful, they managed to lower the water level to a certain extent to find pieces of gold.
We reached a popular vantage point overlooking the lake, but Mauricio told us not to join the crowd and keep moving instead. He promised a quieter spot ahead where we could enjoy the view.
Our adventure beyond Bogota continued the following day with a full-day tour, the second one that my BFF and I signed up for with Beyond Colombia. Priced at COP 310,000 (~S$92.45) per person, the tour first led us to the enchanting Lake Guatavita, a destination that promises natural beauty and ancient legends.
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COL: Guatavita Lake and Zipaquira Salt Cathedral Tour (Part 1) <YOU ARE HERE!>
COL: El Dorado International Airport
COL: Avianca VIP Lounge @ El Dorado International Airport
TRY: Turkish Airlines TK800 (Business)
TRY: Turkish Airlines TK208 (Economy)
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That morning, we were picked up at Hotel Vilar America at 7.50am.
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| Our friendly guide, Mauricio, kept up his cheerful energy throughout the day. |
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| There's something so comforting about the sight of cows grazing peacefully. |
We made a quick stop to see La Casa Loca (lit. The Crazy House) from a distance, a quirky place to visit for lots of photograph opportunities.
From there, we continued our drive to a rest area in the charming town of Guatavita.
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| All the buildings feature red terracotta roofs and white walls. |
The pit stop offered us a chance to grab a cup of coffee and use the restroom before heading to the legendary Lake Guatavita.
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| I opted for robust black coffee, while my BFF settled for hot chocolate. |
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| A lone stallion: a symbol of grace and strength amidst the serene surroundings |
After nearly two hours, we arrived at the entrance to Guatavita Lake at last, eager to embark on our trek and break a sweat.
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| The tour price includes the entrance fee to Guatavita Lake. |
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| The fundamental building blocks of nature: earth, water, air and fire |
The lake is located approximately 57 km northeast of Bogota.
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| My newfound friend from the USA was always ready to strike a pose whenever I pulled out my camera. |
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| Abutilon megapotamicum, a species native to South America. is commonly known as flowering maple. |
Let's enter the hut-like structure.
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| The structure is the recreation of a ceremonial house of the indigenous Muisca tribe. |
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| The territory of the Muisca in the past spanned an area of around 2.5 million hectares. |
We joined a larger group that'd gathered to listen to the legend surrounding Guatavita Lake in Spanish. Unfortunately, I'm not fluent in the language, so I could only catch a few words here and there. Mauricio shared the story in English later on during our trek, ensuring that we didn't miss out anything.
El Dorado (lit. The Golden) is rooted in the legend of a city or kingdom of gold tied to an ancient Muisca ritual. As part of his initiation, the tribal chief would cover himself in gold dust and immerse in the sacred waters of Guatavita Lake.
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| Such a profound question: "Are you the owner of your thoughts?" |
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| The maximum temperature that day was 22 degree Celsius. |
El Dorado has become a metaphor for any place where great wealth may be found or made.
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| Be prepared for a steeper ascent from that point onwards. |
We reached a popular vantage point overlooking the lake, but Mauricio told us not to join the crowd and keep moving instead. He promised a quieter spot ahead where we could enjoy the view.
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| The name of the lake is derived the Muisca word gwatibita (lit. high mountain peak). |
The lake is situated at an altitude of approximately 3,100 m above sea level.
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| Every landscape tells a unique story. |
We made it to the spot promised by Mauricio after close to an hour and a half from the entrance.
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| A vibrant mix of travellers from the USA, the UK, France, Brazil, Guatemala and, of course, Singapore! |
With our hearts full, it was time to begin our descent.
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| My mind wandered to the nostalgic tune of Home on the Range. |
We were greeted with bustling shops and lively crowds at the end of the path.
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| What's your must-buy when travelling overseas? |
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| I didn't try it, but coca tea, anyone? |
I couldn't resist trying a Colombian arepa, a kind of corn cake filled with gooey cheese.
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| That cute dog kept looking at me while I was enjoying my arepa. |
Stay tuned for Part 2 of the tour!
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