Zipaquirá, Colombia Travel Journals & Blogs

Südamerika
- Dec 10, 2019 · ⛅ 18 °C Altitude: 2,613 m
  Cundinamarca Zipaquirá 5.02156, -74.006225°1’18” N 74°0’22” W
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Day46
Bogotá Tag 2
December 10, 2019 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
1
Aufgrund des Streiks heute haben wir uns spontan entschieden zur Salzkathedrale zu fahren. Den Abend haben wir dann bei einem wunderschönen und leckeren Abendessen ausklingen lassen dürfen ( Danke @Stefannny)Read more
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Johannes Wieschollek
Schmal ist der große geworden
12/12/19Reply
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Peru, Nicaragua & Kolumbien
- Nov 19, 2021 · ⛅ 18 °C Altitude: 2,607 m
  Cundinamarca Zipaquirá 5.02473, -74.001395°1’29” N 74°0’5” W
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Day61
Zipaquirá
November 19, 2021 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Kolumbien verfügt über ein Weltwunder der Architektur und ist sehr stolz darauf, deshalb machen auch wir einen Tagesausflug dorthin! Es handelt sich dabei um ein rießiges Netzwerk aus Salzstollen, in welche 200 Meter unter der Erde eine Kathedrale in den Salzstein geschlagen wurde.
Wir machen zunächst einen Stop am schönen Stadtplatz der Stadt Zipaquirá, dann geht es weiter zum Eingang des Wunders. Über einen unterirdischen Kreuzweg in den Salzminen führt der Weg zur großen Kathedrale. Alles ist wundervoll beleuchtet und in Szene gesetzt. Das Gangsystem ist weitläufig, es scheint unfassbar, dass dies alles von Menschenhand gemacht wurde. Es ist ein mysthisch-magischer Ort und hat seinen Ruf als Wunder der Architektur definitiv verdient.
Auch unseren dritten Tag und Abend in Bogotá haben wir sicher überstanden. An den Straßenecken des Zentrums und des Ausgehviertels La Candelaria stehen überall Polizisten und Wachmänner und so haben wir uns relativ sicher gefühlt. Natürlich ist Bogotá kein Ort, wo man mit Handy und Geldbeutel in der Hosentasche herum läuft. Auch etliche Leute, die wie treffen, erzählen uns Geschichten von Überfällen. Und so waren auch wir vorsichtig und Abends nur mit dem Nötigstem unterwegs. Alles in allem hat diese Stadt aber definitv Charme und ich würde sie jederzeit wieder besuchen!Read more
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On the way On the way
- Oct 5, 2017 · ⛅ 19 °C Altitude: 2,670 m
  Cundinamarca Zipaquirá Catedral de Sal 5.01852, -74.009845°1’7” N 74°0’35” W
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Day97
Catedral de Sal de Zipaquirá
October 5, 2017 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Gestern hab ich mich auf den Weg nach Zipaquirá gemacht, eigentlich hauptsächtlich bekannt für eine Gebetsstätte, die in eine Salzmine gebaut ist.
Und jetzt ist es passiert, mir hat irgendwo am Busbahnhof oder im Bus jemand die Taschen leergeräumt und mein “Handgeld“ geklaut. Zum Glück nur 10-15€. Trotzdem ärgerlich.

Ich würde mal behaupten 98% der Touristen machen nur eine Tagestour nach Zipaquirá. Ich bin auf jeden Fall die Ausnahme hier. Im Hostel schlafen außer mir noch 2 Venezuelaner, aber ich glaub die arbeiten hier irgendwo. Also bring ich irgendwie die Nacht rum, auf einer Matratze die den Namen nicht verdient hat, friere mir den Hintern ab und bin froh als der nächste Tag anbricht und ich zur Kathedrale kann. Verlängern werd ich hier definitiv nicht. Aber die Kathedrale ist spitze, der Eintritt ist mit 15€ zwar unverschämt teuer, aber seht selbst. Dort lern ich auch noch einen älteren (fast dauerreisenden) Kolumbianer kennen, der mich zurück nach Bogotá begleitet, von wo aus ich mit dem Bus nach San Gil aufbreche.Read more
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Haben sie die Kathedrale in der Zeit vor Halloween absichtlich in gruselige Lichtstimmung getaucht? ;-p Im Ernst, coole Bilder. Und schön, dass du noch lebst ;) LG, BDB
10/12/17Reply
On the way
Die ist immer so gruselig beleuchtet :D Und danke, und ja, still alive :)
10/14/17Reply
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Mates in South America South America
- Nov 4, 2017 · ⛅ 15 °C Altitude: 2,644 m
  Cundinamarca Zipaquirá 5.03562, -73.999965°2’8” N 73°59’60” W
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Day6
Catedral de Sal
November 4, 2017 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
1
1 1
By now it feels like we didn't sleep at all since we arrived in Bogotá.
Next stage: Zipaquirá.
There is a salt mine in the mountain of Zipaquirá. It was big, deep and nice to be in 😉, but.. well, the religious part in it overshadowed the overall impression too much.
In short: boooooring

But anyway, we made the best out of it and so far we like it in Colombia (not Columbia - una loca chica corrected me 😐)Read more
Mates in South America
The whole mine is made of salt, so too are all the carvings and bricks.
11/5/17Reply
Marcela Rojas Briñez
Easyyyyyy boy!!!!! girls are gonna die for you!
11/5/17Reply
Marcela Rojas Briñez
control yourself André!!!! you were too much excited
11/5/17Reply
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The Craze for Travelling The South American Odyssey
- Feb 22, 2018, 11:48am · ⛅ 17 °C Altitude: 2,595 m
  Cundinamarca Zipaquirá 5.023889, -74.0041675°1’26” N 74°0’15” W
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Day146
Iglesia Zipaquira
February 22, 2018 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Also known as the Diocese Cathedral was inaugurated and consecrated on November 9th, 1870. Its interior paintings were finished in 1916 and it was finally exalted as a Cathedral in 1952, the year the Zipaquira diocese was created.Read more
Vijay kumar Dang
Duniya Bhar ke Church,diocese cathedrals ,synagogue ,monasteries to dikha di,aub masjids Ka kub number aayega.?
4/11/18Reply
The Craze for Travelling
Jald hi ayega. Cyprus is full of them 😁
4/11/18Reply
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The Craze for Travelling The South American Odyssey
- Feb 22, 2018, 11:44am · ⛅ 17 °C Altitude: 2,605 m
  Cundinamarca Zipaquirá 5.023056, -74.0038895°1’23” N 74°0’14” W
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Day146
Parque Principal Zipaquirá
February 22, 2018 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
2
The bus dropped us on the South side of the small town of Zipaquira. From here, the main square of the Parque Principal is about 2 kms and the Underground Salt Cathedral is about 1.5 kms West of the town, just outside the limits of the town. Zipaquira is a beautiful town. The cobbled streets and the wooden balconies and brightly painted facades reminded us of Cusco. The feeling was much more reinforced when we reached the Parque Principal. That place looked exactly like the main square in Cusco. A wide open space with cobbled flooring, beautiful Spanish colonial buildings all around and a lovely church.Read more
Vijay kumar Dang
Just the car can move in the path,no question of any parking
4/11/18Reply
The Craze for Travelling
Yup
4/11/18Reply
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The Full Moon The Full Moon
- Aug 16, 2017, 11:24am · ⛅ 18 °C Altitude: 2,608 m
  Cundinamarca Zipaquirá 5.022431, -74.0056085°1’21” N 74°0’20” W
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Day174
Cathedrale de sel de Zipakira / Bogota
August 16, 2017 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Ce matin nous sommes allés visiter ce qui est considéré comme la première merveille de Colombie: la Cathédrale de sel de la ville de Zipakira. Il s'agit d'un chemin de croix et d'une Cathédrale entierement taillés par les mineurs dans une mine de sel à 180m sous la surface de la Terre. C'était hyper impressionnant car absolument gigantesque et bien mis en valeur par les differents jeux de lumiere. La visite commence par le chemin de Croix et finit par la Cathédrale en apothéose apres environ une heure de decouverte des lieux avec un guide. Nous avons engagement fait "le chemin des mineurs" qui consiste à se preter au jeux et à endosser le role de mineur pour une heure. Nous avons donc marché dans les couloirs de la mine dans le noir absolu et nous avons essayé de tailler du sel à l'aide de pioches (c'était hyper difficile et nous etions bien content de n'avoir à le faire que pendant quelques minutes et non pas 17h d'affilées comme les vrai mineurs d'antan. L'apres midi nous sommes allés à Bogota, et nous sommes tout de suite allés voir le couché du soleil en haut du funiculaire afin d'avoir une vue magnifique sur la Ville, et d'apprehender son immensité.Read more
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thomas valverde
Étonnant !!
9/5/17Reply
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The Craze for Travelling The South American Odyssey
- Feb 22, 2018, 2:17pm · ⛅ 15 °C Altitude: 2,660 m
  Cundinamarca Zipaquirá Catedral de Sal 5.019167, -74.0094445°1’9” N 74°0’34” W
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Day146
The rooftop light show
February 22, 2018 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
4
Near the end of the cave, the was a room where there were colorful images being projected on the barrel shaped roof. The chairs were in the shape of lounge chairs pushed back in such a way that one could lie down and look up towards the roof where the various cultural things from Colombia were being projected. The show was for about 15 min. After that we went to the auditorium where a film ‘Guaza’ was being projected in 3D. The movie recreates the history of the salt dome formation and operating methods that lead to the construction of this majestic cathedral of salt, which is entirely man-made.
From here, we retraced our steps all the way back towards the entrance of the cave.Read more
Vijay kumar Dang
This is unique,the image is in water? Which salt this cave is made of?
4/8/18Reply
The Craze for Travelling
Yup. Very still water. It actually looked like a double level cave until the guide made us all blow and cause ripples. That's when we realized it was water.
4/10/18Reply
The Craze for Travelling
Its rock salt.
4/10/18Reply
Vijay kumar Dang
Daryodhan must have walked on such water??
4/11/18Reply
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The Craze for Travelling The South American Odyssey
- Feb 22, 2018, 1:50pm · ⛅ 15 °C Altitude: 2,660 m
  Cundinamarca Zipaquirá Catedral de Sal 5.019167, -74.0094445°1’9” N 74°0’34” W
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Day146
End of the salt mine tour
February 22, 2018 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Years before the underground church was built (around 1932), the miners had carved a sanctuary, as a place for their daily prayers asking for protection to the saints before starting to work. In 1950, the construction of a bigger project had begun: the Salt Cathedral which was inaugurated on August 15, 1954 and dedicated to Our Lady of Rosary, Patron saint of miners. It was compound of three naves and a monumental cross. Part of the galleries were actually carved by the ancient Muisca. However, as the church was carved inside an active mine, structural problems and safety concerns led the authorities to shut it in September 1992. The building had 120m length and 22m height. It had six main columns, and a maximum capacity of 8000 people. The main nave included the monumental cross, which was illuminated from the base up, projecting a large cross-shaped shadow in the ceiling.
In 1991 the construction of a new cathedral was undertaken, 200 feet under the older one. This new Cathedral was inaugurated on December 16, 1995. Its various corridors and sanctuaries were achieved by making small but significant additions to the caves left behind by previous mining operations.
The tour actually lasted almost 45 min. Our guide left us at the end of the salt mine. There were many souvenir shops there. In fact, I have never seen that many souvenir shops in one place before. There were counters for salt figurines, salt jewelry, salt based bathing soaps, salt based body products etc. There were even emerald counters since Colombia is famous for its emeralds.Read more
Vijay kumar Dang
Why cannot, we in India have such a temple made & make good money .Here people are ready to contribute generously,why donot you think of a startup & Shuchi can think of a Gurudwara also.
4/11/18Reply
The Craze for Travelling
Ha ha ha.. We make enough money in temples in India even without that 😂😂
4/13/18Reply
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The Craze for Travelling The South American Odyssey
- Feb 22, 2018, 1:44pm · ⛅ 15 °C Altitude: 2,660 m
  Cundinamarca Zipaquirá Catedral de Sal 5.019167, -74.0094445°1’9” N 74°0’34” W
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Day146
Inside the Salt Mine
February 22, 2018 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
2
We climbed onto the halite hill. The path leading up is through some nicely manicured lawns and the entrance is at the top. The ticket price of 55,000 COP for adult foreigners is extremely steep. Its not cheap for locals as well. One would need an id for entry as a local and still costs 35,000 COP. An honest opinion would be, its not really worth the money, but if one is in Bogota it is definitely worth a visit once. Included in the ticket is a tour guide. There are tours in Spanish and English, but the frequency of the English tours is quite less. We were lucky that the next English tour was at 1 pm. That gave us enough time to eat some quick food as lunch at the expensive restaurants near the entrance of the cave. The tour started promptly at 1 pm and our guide told us not to take pictures while we were with him as he wanted to do the tour in the given 30 min and that after the tour we would have time till 7 pm in the evening to go around wherever we pleased and take as many pictures as we liked. This was a good idea, as we could focus on listening about the history of the cave etc. and later there was no one pushing us to run while we took the pictures.
Salt deposits in Zipaquira were formed around 250 million years ago, and were raised above sea level during the late Tertiary period, when the Andes were formed.

The halite mines were exploited already by the pre-Columbian Muisca culture since the 5th century BC. According to records from the 1800s, Zipaquira had deposit bigger than the main halite mines of the time, such as those in Spain, Switzerland, Poland and the County of Tyrol with a calculated resource estimation of one million cubic meters.Read more
Vijay kumar Dang
Very unique thing but this can only be enjoyed by being there .
4/11/18Reply
The Craze for Travelling
True 👍
4/13/18Reply
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