COL: Guatavita Lake and Zipaquira Salt Cathedral Tour (Part 2)

Cundinamarca, Colombia

As a quick recap, in Part 1, I immersed myself in the beauty of Guatavita Lake outside of Bogota, Colombia. After a delightful lunch, the full-day tour continued to the awe-inspiring depths of Zipaquira Salt Cathedral. Completed in 1950, this remarkable structure is hailed as one of the most notable achievements in Colombian architecture. 


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COL: Guatavita Lake and Zipaquira Salt Cathedral Tour (Part 2) <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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After our morning hike, our stomachs began to rumble, eager for a hearty meal to refuel us.

It took about half an hour from the lake to our lunch destination. 


The scent of grilled meat wafting in the air, the cheerful clinking of glasses and the hum of conversations truly made Brasas del Llano the perfect spot for lunch.


Of course I couldn't wait sampling the crispy pork.


This place, which really isn't a tourist trap, has got all sorts of country flags.


Satisfied from the hearty lunch, we grew in anticipation as we approached Zipaquira Salt Cathedral. The tour price of COP 310,000 (~S$92.45) per person includes the entrance fee.


We'd take that 'choo-choo train' to exit from the mine later.


There's no additional fee to use the audio guide.
We were given an hour and a half to explore on our own. The air inside the mine was cool and heavy with the scent of salt.


Covering an area of 5,500 square metres, the cathedral is situated 180 m underground.


The construction cost was over US$285 million (~S$378 million).

Prior to its conversion to a Roman Catholic church, miners had carved a sanctuary as a place for their prayers asking for protection before starting to work.


The monumental construction required the extraction of 250 thousand tonnes of rock salt.


I wonder how many country flags are featured in the rotating LED display.
Despite it acting as a functioning church that attracts thousands of visitors on Sundays, it actually has no official status as a cathedral in Catholicism as it operates without a bishop.


The first part of the cathedral takes you through fourteen small chapels, each representing the Stations of the Cross. Have a look at some of them.


Station I: Jesus is condemned to death


Station VIII: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem


Station XII: Jesus dies on the Cross


Subsequently, we reached the dome, but the lighting was way too dim to capture a clear picture of it.


We descended deeper into the mine.


Is there any musical instrument that angels don't play?

Pink or blue for you?
Here's the narthex: an entryway before entering the main worship area.



One section is dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary of Guasa.



Our Lady of the Rosary of Guasa is the patron saint of the miners.


How long would it take for such a large candle to burn completely?
There was a temporary art exhibition taking place during our visit.


Aren't those flowers from Mario Bros?


Do you support euthanasia?


Is it just me, or do you also vision the image of a skull?


Welcome to the main hall!

Not surprisingly, that's the largest underground cross in the world.


I was deeply immersed in the projection inside the cathedral.



I thought to myself, "So glad I booked this tour!"

The striking red illumination cast an intense, almost otherworldly atmosphere.


That's a stone relief inspired by Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam.

There are some eateries inside the mine.



That’s probably the café with the nicest vibe
Besides the cathedral, the mine offers a range of other attractions to explore.


What's Egyptian stuff doing there?

There are plenty of shops to browse around.


Which facial expression do you like the most?


So... Do you believe in the legend of El Dorado?
Take note of this particular shop.



Make sure you don’t miss out on the sight of the Mirror Lake, a perfectly still pool of water that reflects the ceiling and walls of the illuminated cavern, towards the back of the shop.

The wide-angle shot doesn't do enough justice, but enjoy the photos below.

 I felt like I was stepping into the world of Tomb Raider, imagining myself as Lara Croft.

We walked to the end of the tunnel to catch the ride that would take us out of the mine.



What an impressive carving!


What's your best VR experience?

Fresh air at last!



I almost went to Dominican Republic in 2018 when I had the chance to go to the Caribbean.
As we were driven back to Bogota, Mauricio handed us some sweets as a thoughtful gesture. After a day filled with excitement, it was time to say goodbye to everyone.


It was a truly unforgettable day. I'm really thankful for the seamless journey and the opportunity to connect with wonderful people from across the globe.

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