Where is God located? The typical answer might be: “Up in the sky in Heaven.” But what if we told you that you could find him underground? Would you be willing to descend to the depths to find him in a temple made of salt? This sanctuary actually exists, and we went to visit it. Join us as we explore the Zipaquira Salt Cathedral.
Salt is an indispensable mineral. It contributes to our diet, influences the climate, and inspired the term “salary.” Truly an important part of our cultures and traditions, to the point of there being a temple carved from rock salt within an active mine.
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History
The Zipaquira Salt Cathedral lies in the department of Cundinamarca, Colombia, about 28 miles (45 kilometers) from the capital, Bogotá. The region houses an underground salt deposit measuring approximately half a square mile (or one square kilometer) and more than a mile deep (roughly two kilometers).
Prior to Spanish colonization, the Muisca or Chibcha populating the region were the first to exploit its salt resources. By the 18th century, industrial techniques were incorporated to extract salt beneath the surface of Zipa Hill.
Mining presents multiple risks, so it seemed sensible to establish a chapel within the mine. Thus, Zipaquira miners forged their own shrine in the 1930s to pray to the Virgin of the Rosary of Guasá.
Its popularity prompted the creation of a larger Catholic church, the first Salt Cathedral within an active mine, inaugurated in 1954. Despite being a popular tourist attraction in the region, that version of the Cathedral closed in 1992 due to safety concerns regarding its structural integrity.
Shortly before, a competition was held to select the design for a new cathedral. Colombian architect Roswell Garavito Pearl’s proposal won out of 44 entries. Construction began shortly before the closure of the original, and the second Salt Cathedral opened to the public in December 1995.
Threshold and the Path of Jesus
This monument is part of Zipaquira Salt Park, a tourist complex surrounding the actual mine. The Salt Cathedral is located 590 feet (180 meters) underground within the mine. To get there, you first cross through Miner’s Square, a park with a giant sculpture at its center.
You enter the mine through a reinforced tunnel with signs marking the descending depth. Part of the ceiling above this threshold contains hundreds of LED bulbs. Every 5 seconds, these project the flag of one of more than 150 nations around the world, welcoming visitors from abroad.
You begin the tour through the Via Crucis or Stations of the Cross, a tunnel that leads to a series of illuminated crosses in front of Roman numerals marking the 14 stations of the Calvary of Jesus of Nazareth. There are variations among these impressive abstract crosses, all carved from the same salt-enriched rock within the mine.
Several of the stations are integrated into deep excavated caverns within which you can watch the salt crystals glow when you shine a flashlight, like stars in the darkness. From others, you can see the Salt Cathedral’s other passages in the distance.
Some even have vaults nearby with fractures in their rock walls that can cause falling rocks and collapse. (All viewed from a safe distance, of course.)
A Unique Wonder?
The guides emphasize how the Salt Cathedral is unique in the world, but there are in fact chapels within other mines. Such is the case with the Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland, which houses four chapels within.
Our guide defended the Zipaquira Salt Cathedral’s uniqueness since it contains the three components that define a cathedral: dome, narthex, and cruciform walkways.
The Current Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira
First, you cross the dome carved into the rock, illuminated by a sky-blue light. It measures between 23-26 feet (seven-to-eight meters) high with a diameter between 30-36 feet (nine-to-11 meters).
The narthex, or Cathedral entrance, is a small descending labyrinth decorated with a sculpture of Saint Michael the Archangel, symbolic of the penance required of the unbaptized.
Three walkways or naves — Birth, Life, and Resurrection — make up the Salt Cathedral, joined by two transverse aisles that form the shape of a cross. The naves house two chapels. You can enjoy a view of the Main Chapel from the Choir, a cylindrical balcony popular for both photos and musical events due to its excellent acoustics.
The perspective of the chambers within the Zipaquira Salt Cathedral enhances the perception of its size, as is the case with Notre Dame, Sagrada Familia, Sheikh Zayed Mosque, or other religious temples. Even the absence of light, a key element in other cathedrals, is compensated for by the solemn decoration interspersed with natural formations such as the salt waterfall.
Chapels
The Main Chapel features an impressive cross in bas-relief. At 52.5 high by 33 feet wide (16 x 10 meters), it is recognized as the tallest underground chapel in the world. Every half hour, the chapel’s altar comes alive with a sound-and-light show featuring mapping projections over the cross.
When attendance is low, Sunday Mass is held in the Miners Chapel, which is smaller than the main one. Several effigies of the Virgin Mary decorate it, including the Virgin of the Rosary of Guasa, or the Miners’ Virgin, rescued from the original Salt Cathedral. A replica of the door to St. Peter’s Basilica also adorns this space.
Artistic Details
The Salt Cathedral houses various works of art, many designed for the church or even carved into its walls. For example, at the foot of the salt waterfall lies a symbolic baptism altar. Since it’s made from the salt rock itself, it cannot get wet and therefore it’s useless for performing its specific sacrament.
Speaking of Christian sacraments, only marriage has been celebrated within the cathedral. Currently, the temple’s administrative authorities do not perform weddings, but you can rent its spaces to celebrate your wedding, reception, or love proposal.
Other works on display include a permanent Nativity scene, a representation of the Tree of Life, as well as sculptures inspired by the Pietà and The Creation of Adam, both Michelangelo originals.
Awards and Recognitions
The Salt Cathedral has received several recognitions for its concept and execution.
The most recent came in September 2024 when the Salt Cathedral was declared the First Wonder of Colombia by the Andean Parliament, the governing body of the alliance between Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Likewise, newspaper El Tiempo called on its readers to elect the Seven Wonders of Colombia. The Salt Cathedral took first place on the list with 6,654 votes.
The cathedral was also featured in Shatter Your Senses, the 2018 volume of the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! annual guide.
Activities
Zipaquira Salt Park has more activities than just the cathedral, depending on the pass you purchase. You can choose from three options: Basic, Standard, or Premium. All include Salt Cathedral admission with an audio or in-person guide plus outdoor walks, as well as most museums and activities.
We’ll highlight two areas you shouldn’t skip within Zipaquira Salt Park. First is the auditorium, an underground 3D cinema that shows Nucuma – Salt Territory, an animated short about the story of the mine from prehistoric times to today.
The second, even more awe-inspiring area is the water mirror. You approach a dark, fenced corner with a horizontal “mirror” that turns out to be a completely still reflecting pool of water.
Culture lovers, on the other hand, can explore the 180 Monumental Museum, the Archaeological Museum, and the Salt Museum. Standard and Premium passes also grant access to the Tutankhamun Museum with its Egyptian artifacts.
Love shopping? Here you’ll find shops selling souvenirs, handicrafts, and Colombian emerald jewelry (inside a replica of a mining town). There are also several cafes, including a three-level one with local and international desserts.
Other options, depending on your ticket, include a climbing wall, a City Tour of Zipaquira’s historic center, and the Miner’s Route. The latter allows you to access areas of the mine and pick its walls like real salt miners.
Final Thoughts
So, is God inside Zipaquira Salt Cathedral? That answer will always be subjective. However, the existence of such a massive structure, created by human ingenuity in such a fragile environment, reinforces our belief in the divinity within us all.
Whether you’re a believer or not, you deserve to include this must-see stop on your next trip to Bogotá.
Now, Some Tips
Travel Early
The speed limit in Colombia averages 31 miles per hour (50 km/h) and “trancones” or traffic jams are common, especially on weekends.
If you’re staying in Bogotá, drive out early to Zipaquira so you don’t waste your day in traffic.
Get Connected
Forget about cell phone reception underground. Fortunately, the park offers Wi-Fi access for all paying visitors.
Let Yourself Be Guided
Take advantage of the guided tour or request your included audio guide to discover all the Salt Cathedral’s secrets. You’ll still have plenty of time to explore on your own.
Taste It, But Be Warned
You’ll be inside a salt mine, and we know you’ll be curious to taste the salt. You’re permitted to touch the larger salt crystals along the way and taste your finger. Just remember: many others most likely did the same thing before you!
Pet-Friendly
Traveling with your furry friend? Request a pet stroller at the ticket office so they can come along.
Exit Strategy
You’ll have several options to leave the Salt Cathedral at the end of your tour. The quickest, but most uncomfortable, are the penitent steps that return you to the Stations of the Cross. (Guides say that the more sins you’ve committed, the more tired you get on the way up!)
If you’re tired of walking and don’t suffer from claustrophobia, opt for departing on train. Still, if you’re claustrophobic, what are you doing inside an underground mine?
More Alternatives
Have some extra time or looking for different experiences? Zipaquira Salt Park has more to offer at an additional cost, like a full spa and the Bike Experience where groups can pedal through the cathedral.
Additionally, many of its spaces are available for events. Contact the Salt Cathedral’s customer service for more details.
Book Your Trip with Us
Interested in visiting Zipaquira Salt Cathedral? We can organize it as part of your trip to Bogotá and surrounding areas, since we’re authorized travel agents. Discover it for yourself. Contact us and we will reply as soon as possible.
Where to Find It
Carrera 6 Calle 1, Zipaquirá, Cundinamarca, Colombia
+57 60(1) 851 9502
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