Day trips · Bogotá · Colombia
5 best day trips from Bogotá
Where to go when you want a day away from Bogotá, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Frank Ballesteros, CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Bogotá is Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral (About 1–1.5 hours by bus). The closest option is Chicaque Natural Park, about 25 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 5
- Closest
- Chicaque Natural Park (25 km)
- Most popular
- Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral | 50 km | About 1–1.5 hours by bus | Bus from the Portal Norte TransMilenio station, or an organised tour | First-timers, Families, Culture |
| Lake Guatavita | 75 km | About 2 hours by bus or car | Organised tour, or bus to Guatavita then taxi | Culture, Families, Quiet stays |
| Villa de Leyva | 165 km | About 3.5–4 hours by bus | Bus from the Terminal del Norte or Terminal Salitre, often changing in Tunja | Couples, Culture, Quiet stays |
| Suesca rock climbing | 65 km | About 1.5–2 hours by bus | Bus from Portal Norte | Solo travellers, Families |
| Chicaque Natural Park | 25 km | About 1 hour by car | Taxi or car via the road to La Mesa | Quiet stays, Couples, Families |
The day trips
50 km · About 1–1.5 hours by bus
1.Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral
An underground church carved deep inside a working salt mine, with the Stations of the Cross, a vast main nave and dramatic lighting. The colonial town of Zipaquirá has a pleasant main square for lunch.
- Getting there
- Bus from the Portal Norte TransMilenio station, or an organised tour
- Best for
- First-timers, Families, Culture
75 km · About 2 hours by bus or car
2.Lake Guatavita
This round mountain lake was a sacred site of the Muisca people, whose gold-offering rituals inspired the El Dorado legend. A guided walk climbs to viewpoints over the lake, and the modern lakeside town of Guatavita is nearby.
- Getting there
- Organised tour, or bus to Guatavita then taxi
- Best for
- Culture, Families, Quiet stays
165 km · About 3.5–4 hours by bus
3.Villa de Leyva
One of Colombia's best-preserved colonial towns, with whitewashed houses and one of the largest cobbled main squares in the Americas. Nearby are fossil sites, vineyards and the Pozos Azules; most visitors stay at least one night.
- Getting there
- Bus from the Terminal del Norte or Terminal Salitre, often changing in Tunja
- Best for
- Couples, Culture, Quiet stays
65 km · About 1.5–2 hours by bus
4.Suesca rock climbing
Suesca's long sandstone cliffs along the old railway line are Colombia's best-known climbing area, with local guides offering beginner sessions and walks along the river.
- Getting there
- Bus from Portal Norte
- Best for
- Solo travellers, Families
25 km · About 1 hour by car
5.Chicaque Natural Park
A private cloud-forest reserve on the edge of the plateau, with trails dropping steeply through mossy forest to a lodge and horse rides. It shows how quickly the landscape changes beyond the city.
- Getting there
- Taxi or car via the road to La Mesa
- Best for
- Quiet stays, Couples, Families
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Buy a TuLlave card at stations and avoid rush hours (about 6–9am and 5–8pm), when pickpocketing is common.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Bogotá?
Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral. An underground church carved deep inside a working salt mine, with the Stations of the Cross, a vast main nave and dramatic lighting.
+How long does it take to get from Bogotá to Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral?
About 1–1.5 hours by bus — Bus from the Portal Norte TransMilenio station, or an organised tour, about 50 km.
+How long does it take to get from Bogotá to Lake Guatavita?
About 2 hours by bus or car — Organised tour, or bus to Guatavita then taxi, about 75 km.