Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá: Day Trip from Bogotá by Car

Yes, you can drive yourself from Bogotá to the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, and it is one of the easiest day trips in Colombia. It is about 31 miles (50 km) north of the city, the road is a divided highway most of the way, there is exactly one toll, and the whole thing is signposted well enough that you will not get lost.

What actually decides whether the day goes well is timing. This guide covers the route, the real drive times, the toll, where to park, what tickets cost for foreigners, and the one thing that catches almost every visitor on the way back.

All prices below are in Colombian pesos (COP) with US dollar equivalents at roughly 4,000 COP to 1 USD. Check the current rate before you travel.

Can I drive from Bogotá to Zipaquirá myself as a foreign visitor?

Yes. Colombian law explicitly allows it: Article 25 of Law 769 of 2002, the national traffic code, states that valid foreign driver’s licenses are accepted for driving in Colombia when used by tourists or persons in transit, for the duration of their authorized stay and up to six months. Your US, Canadian, British or EU license works as-is, both at the rental counter and at police checkpoints.

You do not need an International Driving Permit, you do not need to convert your license, and the route to Zipaquirá is a main highway used by thousands of Bogotá residents every weekend. If you are comfortable driving in any large city, you are comfortable driving this.

How long does it take to drive from Bogotá to Zipaquirá?

Between 50 minutes and 2 hours, depending on where you start in Bogotá and what time you leave. Leaving from the north of the city early on a Saturday, it is about an hour. Leaving from downtown at 10 a.m. on a Sunday, it can be two hours or more. The distance barely changes; the traffic does.

What is the route from Bogotá to the Salt Cathedral?

Take the Autopista Norte north out of Bogotá, pass the Andes toll plaza, continue through Chía and Cajicá, and follow signs into Zipaquirá. The final turn is marked with green «Catedral de Sal / Parque de la Sal» signs on the main road.

1. 01Head north on Autopista Norte until the Andes toll plaza.
2. 02Stay on the main road past Chía and Cajicá. Do not exit into either town center.
3. 03At Cajicá, follow signs for Zipaquirá.
4. 04Entering Zipaquirá, follow the green Parque de la Sal signage to the parking entrance.

Download an offline map before you leave. Cell coverage is generally fine on this route, but roaming plans behave unpredictably in Colombia and you do not want to find out at a fork in the road.

How much is the toll from Bogotá to Zipaquirá?

There is one toll on the route, the Andes toll plaza, and it costs 16,100 COP (about US$4) for a passenger car. It is charged in both directions, so a round trip costs 32,200 COP, roughly US$8.

Bring cash in Colombian pesos. Some lanes accept cards and electronic tags, but a card lane being out of service is common, and the cash lane is the one that always works. Small bills are better than large ones.

That rate went up on July 1, 2026 as part of the Accesos Norte highway expansion program, which will keep raising it gradually through July 2027. If you are reading this later, expect a slightly higher number.

Where do I park at the Salt Cathedral?

The Parque de la Sal complex has official on-site parking for 13,000 COP (about US$3). It sits a short walk from the ticket office and the mine entrance, which matters more than it sounds.

Here is why: Zipaquirá sits at 8,690 feet (2,650 m) above sea level, higher than Bogotá, and the approach to the cathedral entrance is uphill. Cheaper private lots exist nearby, but they add a climb at altitude that most visitors underestimate on their first day in Colombia. Pay the three dollars.

How much are Salt Cathedral tickets for foreigners?

Foreign adult tickets run around 125,000 COP (about US$31) and foreign children around 110,000 COP (about US$28). Children under 4 enter free. Colombian nationals pay a lower rate, but you must show a Colombian ID to get it, so as a visitor plan on the foreigner price.

Tickets are sold as tiered «passports». The Basic covers the cathedral itself, an audioguide, the 4DX brine experience, the archaeological museum and the ecological trail. Standard adds a city tour and the Tutankhamun museum. Premium adds the Miner’s Route and a climbing wall. For most first-time visitors the Basic passport is enough; the cathedral is the reason you came.

Rates are adjusted annually, so confirm them on the official Salt Cathedral website before you go. One useful detail: tickets bought online stay valid for 180 days, so a rained-out or traffic-ruined day does not cost you the money.

What are the Salt Cathedral opening hours and how long is the visit?

It is open every day of the week, 9:00 a.m. to 4:40 p.m., including public holidays. A full visit takes about three hours if you walk the Stations of the Cross, the main naves and the underground museum without rushing.

Critical detail for anyone driving: 4:40 p.m. is the last entry time, not the closing time. Arrive at 4:45 and you drove 31 miles for nothing. Aim to be at the ticket window by 9:00 a.m. or by 1:00 p.m. at the latest.

The cathedral itself is carved 590 feet (180 m) underground inside a working salt mine. It is cool down there year-round, around 57 to 61 °F, so bring a light jacket even if Bogotá is sunny.

When should I leave Bogotá and when should I drive back?

Leave before 7:30 a.m. and start driving back before 3:00 p.m. The morning departure gets you into the mine before the tour buses; the early return is the part nobody warns you about.

On Sundays and public holidays, Bogotá runs a return-traffic operation called Plan Retorno. From 4:30 p.m., the Autopista Norte between the Andes toll plaza and Portal Norte is converted to reversible lanes running north-to-south, and a rotating plate restriction called pico y placa regional limits which vehicles may enter the city on nine main corridors. Check the day’s measure on the Bogotá city mobility portal.

In plain terms: leave Zipaquirá at 2:30 p.m. and you glide home. Leave at 5:00 p.m. on a holiday Sunday and the return can take twice as long as the drive out. Eat lunch early.

What should I know about driving in Colombia as an American?

Colombia drives on the right, uses the same basic road signs and speed limits in km/h, and the Bogotá–Zipaquirá route is straightforward. The surprises are cultural and mechanical, not legal.

• Most rental cars are manual. Automatics exist but are limited and cost more. If you cannot drive a stick, say so when you book, not when you arrive.
• Gas is sold by the gallon, not the liter, and an attendant pumps it for you. You do not get out of the car. A small tip is customary.
• Police checkpoints are routine. Officers will ask for your license, passport and the car’s documents. It is normal and takes a few minutes. Never offer money.
• Pico y placa restricts driving inside Bogotá on weekdays based on your plate’s last digit, and it applies to rental cars. It does not apply in Zipaquirá or on weekends.
• Carry the road kit. A fire extinguisher, first aid kit, reflective triangles and a spare are legally required. Rentals include them; confirm at pickup because the fine is yours.
• Speed bumps are everywhere and often unmarked when entering towns. Slow down at every town entrance.

Full requirements, documents and legal details are in our guide to renting a car at Bogotá airport as a foreign traveler.

What else can I see near Zipaquirá with a car?

Having a car turns Zipaquirá from a three-hour stop into a full day, because the interesting things nearby have poor public transport connections between them.

• Nemocón salt mine, 20 minutes away: smaller, far less crowded, and used as a filming location for the movie The 33. Many visitors prefer it to Zipaquirá.
• Guatavita, about 50 minutes: the lagoon tied to the El Dorado legend, plus a rebuilt colonial-style town.
• Suesca, 40 minutes: Colombia’s main rock-climbing area, with cliffs along the river.
• Zipaquirá’s historic center, 10 minutes from the salt park: a main square, the diocesan cathedral and good Boyacá-style food.

What does the Zipaquirá day trip cost in total?

For two foreign adults with a rental car for one day, expect roughly 499,000 COP, about US$125 all in, not counting lunch and souvenirs.

The key number is the car: it costs the same whether two people go or five. Organized tours charge per person. With four travelers, the transport portion drops to about US$16 each, which no tour can match, and you decide when to leave.

Should I drive, take a tour, or take the bus?

Drive if there are two or more of you, if you want to set your own schedule, or if you plan to add Nemocón, Guatavita or Suesca. Take a tour if you are traveling solo and would rather not drive. Take the bus only if budget is the single deciding factor.

• Rental car: fixed cost, full flexibility, multiple stops possible. You handle the driving and parking.
• Organized tour: per-person pricing, guide included, but the group sets the pace and the return time.
• Bus from Portal del Norte: cheapest option, roughly an hour, but it drops you in Zipaquirá’s town center and you still need to reach the salt park.
• Tourist train: a nice experience in itself, weekends and holidays only, with fixed departure times that lock in your whole day.

Airport delivery from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (and outside those hours by arrangement), free additional driver, child seat and Colombian data SIM, and, with the full-coverage insurance, 24/7 nationwide roadside assistance for the whole rental. Send us your dates and flight number and we confirm everything in writing before you fly.