Tour, direct tickets or going alone
Salt Cathedral tickets and tours
How to choose between a group tour from Bogotá, the Cathedral's own passports, the tourist train and the public bus, checked against the official sites.
See Salt Cathedral tickets on GetYourGuide ↗Quick answer
Book the group tour from Bogotá if you want pickup, a driver-guide and no bus to work out. The Cathedral's own entry is paid for on site. If you are comfortable with public transport, going independently works well, because the Cathedral sells its own passports online and every passport includes an audio guide. Either way you reach the same Cathedral, so choose on convenience and on how much of the day you want to plan.
Three ways to the Cathedral
| Group tour | Bus and own passport | Tourist train | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starts from | Your Bogotá accommodation | Salitre or Portal Norte | Gran Estación or Usaquén |
| Cathedral entry | Paid on site | Online or ticket office | Sold on board, or direct |
| Guide | Driver-guide, audio guide | Audio guide in passport | Not included |
| Runs on | Dates in the calendar | Every day | Weekends, holidays |
| Best for | No planning | Your own hours | A rail day out |
Four ways to see it
There are four realistic ways to visit from Bogotá, and the Cathedral is 49 kilometres north of the city whichever you pick. A group tour collects you at your accommodation and brings you back. The Cathedral's own passports plus a public bus put you in charge of the hours. The Turistren tourist train runs only on weekends and holidays. You can also drive yourself. The Cathedral sells its own entry in every case, so the real choice is who handles the road and how much of the day you want to plan.
- Group tour: pickup, driver-guide, audio guide, time in town
- Bus plus your own passport: your hours, your pace
- Tourist train: Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
- Driving yourself: covered in the getting-there guide
Read next: Bogotá to the Salt Cathedral
What the group tour includes
The group tour is a day trip of about nine hours. It includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a driver-guide, an audio guide in your language, a panoramic tour of Zipaquirá's centre, free time for lunch and travel insurance. The guide speaks Spanish and English, and a tour guide joins groups of more than four people. The itinerary allows about two hours at the Cathedral, then time in town and an optional stop for regional food at a local restaurant, and it is subject to change. Booked through GetYourGuide, the tour can be cancelled free up to 24 hours before, and you can reserve now and pay later.
- Not included: the Cathedral's own entry, paid on site
- Not included: food and drink
- Marked as wheelchair accessible
- Starting times appear in the booking calendar
The entry ticket the tour doesn't cover
The Cathedral sells its own entry, called a passport, online and at its ticket office. Rates differ for nationals and international visitors, and by age: children under 4 enter free, children are 4 to 12, adults 13 to 59 and seniors 60 and over. You must show an identity document at the entrance, so carry your passport or ID card. On the tour you pay on site. If you buy direct, the Cathedral offers refunds only for force majeure and only on passports bought from the Cathedral itself, not through an agent.
Which passport to pick
There are three passports. Basic covers entry to the Cathedral, the audio guide, the three naves, Salmuera 4DX, a 3D short film, a mapping projection, two museums and the exit train. Standard adds the City Tour and the Tutankamón Museum. Premium adds the Ruta del Minero and the climbing wall. The Ruta del Minero is also sold on its own, but only if you already hold a Basic or Standard passport. If you mainly want the Cathedral and its museums, Basic covers them. Check the limits before paying for Premium: the Ruta del Minero is closed to children under 6, adults over 60, people with reduced mobility, pregnant women and people with claustrophobia or heart problems, and the climbing wall has its own health and weight limits.
Going independently: what it takes
Going alone is straightforward. Buses to Zipaquirá leave from the Salitre terminal and from outside the TransMilenio Portal Norte station. The Cathedral's directions say to get off at Carrera 15 and Calle 4, by the Parque de la Esperanza, then take a taxi or walk, which the Cathedral puts at about 15 minutes. The official site comes in Spanish, English, French and Portuguese, and the audio guide is available in seven languages with every passport. You choose your own hours underground. The Cathedral's services also include lockers, wheelchairs, first aid and parking.
The tourist train
The Turistren tourist train runs only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. It leaves Bogotá in the morning and returns in the afternoon, staying in Zipaquirá for about four and a half hours, and tickets are for the round trip only. Sales open about 15 days before the date. The fare does not cover food or the Cathedral's entry. You can buy entry on board, in cash, or from the Cathedral itself. A bus from Zipaquirá station to the Cathedral, about 1.7 km away, is sold on the train, one way only. The trains seen on weekdays are private university charters, not open to the public.
Who should book the tour
Book the tour if you want one booking that covers the road, a guide and the town, or if you would rather not plan buses and a return trip. It suits travellers with little Spanish, because the guide speaks English and the audio guide comes in your language. It also suits anyone on a short stay who wants the day organised, and it is marked as wheelchair accessible. Lunch and the town visit are built into the day, so there is nothing else to book. The trade-off is that the group sets your hours: the itinerary gives the Cathedral about two hours.
Who should go independently
Go on your own if you want to choose your hours, stay longer than a tour allows, or build the day around the Cathedral's passports. It also suits anyone who likes public transport and wants to pick the hour they arrive. Buses and taxis let you leave when you are ready rather than when the group is. You buy the passport that fits you, including the Ruta del Minero or the climbing wall on Premium. The Cathedral also sells a personal professional guide as an extra at its ticket office, if you want one without joining a group.
Before you go
Carry your passport or ID card, because the Cathedral checks identity documents at the entrance and its rates depend on nationality. Wear comfortable shoes and a light jacket, since the mine stays cool. Wikipedia reports as many as 3,000 visitors on a Sunday, and the national tourism board advises arriving early to avoid crowds. Photography is restricted in some areas. Lockers for bags are sold as an extra at the ticket office. Check the Cathedral's website for current opening hours before you travel. It is also a functioning church, so keep your voice low in the naves.
Read next: The 14 Stations of the Cross, and how the Cathedral was carved
Who this isn't for
The tour is not for anyone who wants to add Lake Guatavita or another stop, because the itinerary covers the Cathedral and Zipaquirá. It is also not for travellers who want a private guide, since the guide is shared with the group. And if you need a fixed timetable for the whole day, check the starting times in the booking calendar first, because the itinerary is subject to change.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cathedral's entry ticket included in the tour?
No. The tour covers transport, a driver-guide, an audio guide and a panoramic tour of Zipaquirá, and you pay for the Cathedral's entry on site. Rates depend on nationality and age, and the Cathedral checks ID at the entrance.
Can I buy tickets directly from the Cathedral?
Yes. The Cathedral sells passports online and at its ticket office. Basic covers entry, the audio guide and the museums, while Standard and Premium add more attractions. Refunds are limited to force majeure and to passports bought directly from the Cathedral.
Do I need to book ahead?
Not strictly, because the Cathedral also sells passports at its ticket office. The tour has its own booking calendar, which shows the starting times. Sundays can draw up to 3,000 visitors, so arriving early helps.
Is there a guide inside the Cathedral?
On the tour, a driver-guide travels with you, and a tour guide joins groups of more than four people. An audio guide in your language is included. Independent visitors get an audio guide with every passport, and the Cathedral sells a personal guide as an extra.
Is the tour better than the bus?
It depends on what you value. The tour adds pickup, a guide and time in town. The bus gives you your own hours and your choice of passport. Both reach the same Cathedral, and entry is paid separately either way.
Can I cancel the tour?
Booked through GetYourGuide, yes: you can cancel up to 24 hours before for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. The Cathedral's own passports follow the Cathedral's refund policy, which is much more limited.
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