Colombia / Zipaquirá

The salt cathedral of Zipaquirá

1 day, from Bogotá

The Muisca people were already mining salt in underground tunnels at Zipaquirá and Nemocón, trading it for food, clothing and pottery. In the 1990s, one of the world's largest salt cathedrals was built inside the Zipaquirá mine, now recognized as part of Colombia's national heritage. A visit to Zipaquirá pairs well with a short walk around Laguna Guatavita, where, according to legend, tribal chiefs once cast gold offerings into the water to honor their ancestors — a story immortalized in one of the most famous pieces on display at the Museo del Oro in Bogotá.