Our most recommended things to do in Nemocón

Bogotá: Private Zipaquirá and Salt Cathedral Tour

1. Bogotá: Private Zipaquirá and Salt Cathedral Tour

Private Zipaquirá and Salt Cathedral Tour Benefit from pick-up at your hotel in Bogotá at 09:00 AM or a time to suit you, and then journey to the colonial town of Zipaquirá, famous for its Salt Cathedral. Relax on the 60 to 90-minute trip to the cathedral, where on arrival you will be accompanied to the entrance of the mine for a 2-hour guided tour in English or Spanish.  Located inside the depths of the world's biggest salt rock reserve, Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral was adapted from an old salt mine to function as a place of worship. Marvel at the icons, ornaments and architectural details hand-carved in the halite rock. Surface the mine to enjoy a typical Colombian lunch in one of Zipaquirá's best restaurants. Choose from fish or vegetarian options, or savor different plates of meat prepared in the traditional way on fire. Then, explore the main sights of the town, including Independence Square and the colonial center. Admire one of the oldest churches in Colombia. Drive back to Bogotá for drop-off at your accommodation, or book one of the following options to continue exploring. Salt Cathedral and Lake Guatavitá Tour with Lunch After visiting the Salt Cathedral and enjoying a typical Colombian meal, go to the colonial town of Guatavitá. Take a short guided hike, admire the scenic landscape and discover the birthplace of the El Dorado legend. On the return trip to Bogotá stop at La Calera viewpoint for panoramic views of the city. Salt Cathedral and Nemocón Mine Tour with Lunch Once you have visited the Salt Cathedral and enjoyed a traditional Colombian lunch, discover the salt mine tunnels of Nemocón. Experience what it felt like to work 60 meters below ground. Be dropped off back in Bogotá at the end of the tour. Salt Cathedral & Villa de Levya Tour without Lunch Go from the Salt Cathedral to Villa de Leyva, famous for its cobblestone square Plaza Mayor, which at 150,695 square feet is the largest in Colombia. Learn about the history of this charming town before returning to your accommodation in Bogotá.

From Bogotá: Nemocón Salt Mines Tour and Andrés Carne De Res

2. From Bogotá: Nemocón Salt Mines Tour and Andrés Carne De Res

Start with pickup at your hotel at 2:00 PM and travel to the town of Nemocón to visit its impressive salt mine. Join a local guide who will take you through the tunnels of the salt mine. Enjoy an educational tour to discover the history of the mines and their impressive brine mirrors. Inside the mine, see stalactites and stalagmites, complemented by colorful atmospheric lighting.  After discovering the mine, enjoy a hearty meal and dance to the music at the famous Andrés Carne de Res restaurant in Chía. Arrive at the restaurant around 6:00 PM and marvel at the unique decoration of this popular restaurant. Try Colombian cuisine and choose between different kinds of meat and fish dishes, salads and desserts, in a lively setting. After dinner, be returned to your accommodation in Bogotá.

From Bogotá: Nemocón Mine and Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral Tour

3. From Bogotá: Nemocón Mine and Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral Tour

Benefit from pickup at your hotel in Bogotá, and then travel to the salt mines of Nemocón 65 kilometers from the city center. Get stunning views of the beautiful landscape before arrival. Then, take a tour of the salt mine tunnels and discover what is felt like to work 60 meters below ground. Learn about the history of salt and how it is extracted as you marvel at the optical effects of the mirrors of brine. See where the movie Los 33 was filmed before lunch in the colonial city of Zipaquirá. Next, visit one of the most artistic achievements of Colombian architecture on a tour of the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral, built within the tunnels of a salt mine.

Bogotà: Guatavita Lake and Nemocón Salt Mines Tour

4. Bogotà: Guatavita Lake and Nemocón Salt Mines Tour

Combine nature with industry on this 7-hour guided excursion from Bogotà to visit Lake Guatavita and the salt mine of Nemocón. Escape the hustle and bustle of the city with this relaxing small-group tour of up to 11 people. After pickup at around 8:00 AM at your hotel, start the 2-hour drive through the savanna towards Lake Guatavita, a lagoon that is part of a protected natural area. Likely formed by the impact of a crater, the lake is almost perfectly circular. A native park guide will join the group for a 75-minute tour, during which he’ll explain the culture of the Muisca Indians, the legend of El Dorado, and the biological importance of the lagoon. During the tour, you’ll also take a half hour walk along a path at the edge of the crater to admire different views of the lagoon.   Next, visit the town of Guatavita to explore its architecture and environment. Enjoy a lunch typical of the region before heading out for Nemocón. On the way there, see the beautiful Tominé reservoir, a 9-kilometer-long body of water. When you arrive at Nemocón, you’ll experience what it’s like to be a salt miner: walk 60 meters below the surface of the Earth into an authentic salt mine and discover the history of the Colombian salt industry.

From Bogota: Private Guided Nemocón Salt Cathedral Tour

5. From Bogota: Private Guided Nemocón Salt Cathedral Tour

After your bilingual guide collects you on a private vehicle at the location you have suggested for pick up, tour leaves the city in order to enter a rural area particularly known for its massive salt deposits. First stop at Nemocon village allows you to stretch legs as you learn about the history of this cozy village and sample delicious local baked goods. Next stop takes you deep into this archeological treasure known as the Nemocon salt mine, where you will see the world’s largest salt crystal also known as the Colombian heart. As you walk along enormous stalagmites and cascades discover the process of salt collecting and its impact on this community. There is enough free time to walk around and use bathrooms, take photos, or purchase souvenirs, just make sure and bring Colombian pesos since not all stores take credit cards.

Other Sightseeing Options in Nemocón

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What people are saying about Nemocón

Overall rating

4.8 / 5

based on 17 reviews

If you want to go outside the city for a day, to see what the countryside is like, this tour is a must! The Salt Cathedral is an experience; the visit, with an audio set, leads you through a lot of symbolism; at first it took some getting used to, but once you get into the cathedral itself, it's beautiful! We booked the tour including a visit to the lagoon, unfortunately it was closed. Unfortunately, the offered alternative to visit the salt mine was also not possible, because it was also closed. Yet we were not bored; just traveling through the countryside was captivating and the lunch is delicious!

Amazing tour! Look no further this is the tour to do! The experience that I have had was spectacular! Honestly my husband and I enjoyed the entire day with our guide and driver! Xiomara I hope I spelled her name correctly but she was so kind and so cool and our driver was so kind! If you are going to do a tour I would do it with her! If I could have more tours with our tour guide it would be amazing!

Cindy and Pedro were excellent. They were on time and got us to our destinations safely and as quickly as possible (even with Bogata traffic). The mine and the salt cathedral were breathtaking. Highly recommend this tour if you are in Bogota!

A tour of Zepquera would have been nice, with facts about beautiful buildings etc. Now wandering around and the guide always had to ask what was what, shame missed opportunity

Very good experience highly recommended very nice the guides all very cordial