Road trip
Guatavita and Suesca by car from Bogotá: the lagoon and the rocks in one day
How to do Guatavita and Suesca by car from Bogotá in one day: the Autopista Norte route, the toll, the day the lagoon closes, opening hours and an hour-by-hour plan.
Short answer: yes, Guatavita and Suesca make an easy one-day trip by car from Bogotá. Both are off the Autopista Norte, share a single toll —Andes, COP 16,100 each way— and are close to each other. The classic plan: the lagoon early, lunch in town and the Suesca rocks in the afternoon.
The one thing you cannot get wrong: the lagoon is closed on the first working day of each week. This guide has the route, the hours and an hour-by-hour plan.
The route from Bogotá
You leave Bogotá on the Autopista Norte toward Tunja. The Andes toll is on the same highway, on the way out of the city.
- To Suesca: stay on the Autopista Norte until the signposted turn-off; about 65 kilometers from Bogotá. The rocks are just before the town, beside the Bogotá river.
- To Lake Guatavita: turn off toward Sesquilé and on to the lagoon; about 75 kilometers. From the town of Guatavita it is about 8 kilometers north.
| Leg | Approx. distance | Toll |
|---|---|---|
| Bogotá → Suesca | 65 km | Andes: COP 16,100 |
| Bogotá → Lake Guatavita | 75 km | Andes: COP 16,100 |
| Round trip covering both | — | COP 32,200 (Andes is charged both ways) |
Lake Guatavita: what to know
This is the lagoon where the El Dorado legend was born: the Muisca held their offering ceremony here, which the Spanish turned into the myth of gold. Today it is a protected forest reserve run by the CAR and visits are on a guided walk.
- Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Weekly closure: the first working day of each week, usually Monday, or Tuesday if Monday is a public holiday.
- Fee: set by the CAR, with different prices for locals, Colombians and foreigners. Bring cash.
- What to bring: comfortable shoes and a jacket; the wind is strong at the viewpoint.
The town of Guatavita you visit today is Guatavita la Nueva, rebuilt in the 1960s when the Tominé reservoir flooded the original town. It is a good lunch stop between the lagoon and Suesca.
Suesca rocks: what to know
Suesca is where sport climbing began in Colombia: about 2 kilometers of sandstone cliffs, 20 to 130 meters high, with more than 400 routes of every grade, along the Bogotá river.
- If you climb: there are local schools and guides that rent gear.
- If you do not: there are walks along the rocks, a hike to the Suesca lagoon and a walk to the old railway tunnel.
- To watch the climbers: the path at the foot of the rocks is flat and easy on foot.
A one-day plan, hour by hour
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 7:00 a.m. | Leave Bogotá on the Autopista Norte, ahead of traffic. |
| 8:30 a.m. | Arrive at Lake Guatavita for the guided walk. |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch in Guatavita la Nueva, by the Tominé reservoir. |
| 2:00 p.m. | Suesca rocks: walk or climb. |
| 5:00 p.m. | Drive back to Bogotá on the Autopista Norte. |
Tips for the trip
- Go on a weekend or public holiday: there is no pico y placa in Bogotá on those days.
- On a long weekend, check the regional pico y placa before heading back; it is in our guide to driving back after a holiday weekend.
- Fill up before you leave and bring cash for the lagoon and lunch.
- Check road conditions with Invías.
To add more stops, see our guides to the Salt Cathedral in Zipaquirá and driving to Villa de Leyva. For four or more people, check the SUVs in our fleet.
The figures in this guide were verified against official sources on the update date. Tolls and rates are adjusted every year.
Frequently asked questions
- Can you do Guatavita and Suesca in one day?
- Yes. Both are off the Autopista Norte and close to each other. The usual plan is the lagoon in the morning, lunch in the town of Guatavita and the Suesca rocks in the afternoon.
- Which day is Lake Guatavita closed?
- The lagoon is closed on the first working day of each week: usually Monday, or Tuesday when Monday is a public holiday. Visiting hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., on a guided walk.
- How many tolls are there from Bogotá to Guatavita and Suesca?
- One, the Andes toll on the Autopista Norte: COP 16,100 for a car since July 1, 2026. It is charged in both directions, so the round trip is COP 32,200.
- How far are they from Bogotá?
- Suesca is about 65 kilometers away and Lake Guatavita about 75, both along the Autopista Norte. Each is a little over an hour from Bogotá without traffic.
- Do I need to book to visit the lagoon?
- Visits are on a guided walk and the fee is set by the CAR, the regional environmental authority, with different prices for locals, Colombians and foreigners. Arrive early, especially at weekends, and bring cash.
- What is there to do in Suesca if I do not climb?
- There are walks along the rocks and the Bogotá river, a hike to the Suesca lagoon and a walk to the old railway tunnel, and you can watch the climbers from below.
