Day trips from Bogotá at a glance
Seven trips cover most of what visitors do outside the city. The distances below are measured in a straight line from central Bogotá to the places to stay we list in each town. The road is always longer.
| Destination | Direction | Straight-line distance | Known for | Places to stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zipaquirá | North | About 43 km (27 miles) | The Salt Cathedral, a church built inside a salt mine | Sabana North |
| Chía and Cajicá | North | About 25 to 29 km | Small towns on the Sabana, restaurants, weekend lunches | Sabana North |
| Guatavita | Northeast | About 39 to 45 km | The Guatavita lagoon and the Tominé reservoir | Guatavita and lakes |
| La Calera | East | About 15 km | Viewpoints over the city, glamping | La Calera and Choachí |
| Choachí | East | About 22 to 26 km | Hot springs, hiking, the La Chorrera waterfall | La Calera and Choachí |
| La Mesa, Anapoima, La Vega | West | About 42 to 53 km | Lower, warmer towns, hotels with pools | Warm weekend west |
| Fusagasugá | Southwest | About 46 km | A warmer town on the road south | Fusagasugá |
Zipaquirá and the Salt Cathedral
The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá is a church built underground in the tunnels of a salt mine. Pick it if you only have time for one trip: it is underground, so it works in any weather.
Inside, a route leads down past the Stations of the Cross, carved into the salt, to the main nave. The tunnels are lit, and the route is walkable in normal shoes. Check opening days and ticket options before you go, as they change.
Zipaquirá also has a colonial main square a short distance from the cathedral entrance. The center makes a good walk before or after the visit, with places for lunch around the square.
Where to stay in Zipaquirá
A night in Zipaquirá lets you visit early and skip the round trip in one day. Hotel Camino de la Sal has a guest rating of 9.6/10 from more than 300 reviews, with breakfast and family rooms listed. Hotel Cacique Real is rated 9.4/10 from more than 300 reviews.
Hotel Salinero, rated 8.5/10 from more than 500 reviews, lists parking and family rooms, and pets are allowed. La Puerta Rota is a 4-star hotel with a hot tub, a 24-hour front desk, and EV charging listed.
On the way back, Chía and Cajicá make a good lunch stop. Hotel Sabana Park in Cajicá is a 5-star hotel with a spa, about 29 km from central Bogotá. UMA Suites Chia lists a kitchen, a gym, and a restaurant, about 25 km away.
Guatavita: the lagoon and the lake town
The Guatavita lagoon is a round lake in the hills northeast of Bogotá, sacred to the Muisca people. Their ceremony of a new chief covered in gold dust, offering gold to the lake, is one of the roots of the El Dorado legend.
The Gold Museum in Bogotá shows a Muisca gold raft that is widely linked to this ceremony. Seeing the museum before the trip makes the lagoon easier to read.
The lagoon is a protected site. Visits follow set paths on foot, and the walk up to the rim is steep at this altitude. Check the current visiting rules and days before you go.
Guatavita town is a separate stop. The old town was flooded when the Tominé reservoir was built, and the present town was rebuilt in a colonial style in the 1960s, on the water's edge.
Where to stay in Guatavita
Hotel Cordi has a guest rating of 9.1/10 from more than 400 reviews, with a 24-hour front desk and parking listed. Glamping Vista Lago Guatavita, rated 8.8/10 from more than 600 reviews, is one of several glamping sites near the reservoir.
El Alpino Cabaña & Glamping is rated 9.4/10 from more than 400 reviews and lists breakfast and family rooms. Pets are allowed at all three.
For domes and cabins, read our guide to glamping near Bogotá. All places are on our Guatavita and lakes page.
La Calera and Choachí: over the eastern hills
La Calera is the shortest trip on this list, about 15 km from central Bogotá. The road climbs over the eastern hills, with viewpoints over the city along the way.
Choachí lies further on, in a valley lower than Bogotá. It is known for hot springs and for hikes, including the trail to La Chorrera, a waterfall often described as the tallest in Colombia.
Where to stay in Choachí
Cúspide Lodge, about 22 km from central Bogotá, has a guest rating of 9.6/10 from more than 200 reviews and lists a spa and a hot tub. B&B Trekking y Senderismo (trekking and hiking) is rated 9.3/10 from more than 100 reviews and lists a spa and breakfast.
Cucuate Hospedaje (hospedaje means "lodging") has a kitchen and a guest rating of 9.4/10 from more than 100 reviews.
More choice is on our La Calera and Choachí page.
The warm west and Fusagasugá
West and southwest of Bogotá, the roads drop to towns at a lower altitude, where the air is warm enough for a pool. La Mesa, Anapoima, and La Vega are about 42 to 53 km from central Bogotá in a straight line.
These towns work better as a weekend than as a day trip. The descent and the climb back take time, and roads back into Bogotá are at their busiest on Sunday afternoons and holiday Mondays.
La Masia Hotel Boutique in Anapoima is a 4-star hotel with a pool, rated 9.1/10 from more than 600 reviews. In Fusagasugá, Hotel Catama Inn lists a pool, a restaurant, and family rooms. See warm weekend towns west of Bogotá and Fusagasugá.
Planning a day trip from Bogotá
- Leave early. Traffic leaving Bogotá can double journey times at rush hour, and a start before the morning peak helps.
- Pick your transport. Organized tours handle the driving. A rental car gives freedom; our guide to driving in Bogotá covers pico y placa. Buses to Zipaquirá leave from the north of the city.
- Mind the altitude. The Guatavita rim and the hills around La Calera are steep. Our altitude guide explains why to keep the first day easy.
- Pack layers. The highlands turn cold quickly when clouds come in, and showers are common.
- Bring cash. Small shops and parking lots in the villages don't always take cards.
Which day trip suits you?
- Rainy day: the Salt Cathedral in Zipaquirá, because it is underground.
- History and legends: the Gold Museum in Bogotá first, then the Guatavita lagoon.
- Warm weather: La Mesa, Anapoima, or La Vega to the west, ideally for a weekend.
- Hiking and hot springs: Choachí, over the eastern hills.
- Half a day only: La Calera, the shortest trip, or lunch in Chía.
- Travelers with children: the Salt Cathedral, with its lit tunnels and a route on foot inside.
Two trips in one day work when they lie in the same direction. Zipaquirá pairs with Chía or Cajicá, and Guatavita pairs with the Tominé reservoir.
One night out of the city
A day trip turns into an easy trip with one night away. Zipaquirá and Guatavita each have places to stay with guest ratings above 9/10, and both are near enough to drive back the next morning.
Our places to stay around Bogotá page groups them all by region. If you drive, our list of hotels in Bogotá with parking covers the nights in the city.
