South America
Colombia
Cundinamarca Department
Tierra Negra
Places to visit in Tierra Negra
Laguna de Guatavita
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Laguna de Guatavita

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See all things to do
Laguna de Guatavita
4.5
About
This lake is where the legend of El Dorado originated.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,655 reviews
Excellent
1,037
Very good
477
Average
95
Poor
26
Terrible
20
Kevin S
Pontypridd, UK6,243 contributions
Ridiculous rules, half a day minimum
Jan 2023
Pay $3 per person to enter, to then be told you can only go on an accompanied tour. The tour is essential to know the history. But its in Spanish, we don't speak Spanish. Well you can't go alone, you'll get lost. What, on a path two metres wide? You might get altitude sickness? We have been at 2500/3000 metres for 3 weeks we are used to it by now. What if a child is tired and wants to turn back, or after the main two marked mira-dors people want to turn back? You can't.
We entered, then turned around at the mirador. But I refuse to promote this by adding photos. The way they work you'll need at least half a day out of Zipaquira to do this tour or a full day from Bogota, it's not worth that.
Written 9 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rob R
Tredegar, UK1,391 contributions
Enjoyable visit from Bogotá
Jan 2023 • Couples
We visited on an organised tour as we had an evening flight and this filled up the time.

If I am being honest I wouldn’t have probably done it otherwise as it’s a long journey from Bogotá.

The tour is done in Spanish lucky we had an English speaking guide with our tour who translated for us, although the tour was very long winded and we had to stay with an official guide for first half of the tour. With long stops when I just wanted to walk and enjoy the scenery.

When we reached the top guide left us and we were allowed to go at our own pace. To go back down which was just the same terrain as going up.

Enjoyable visit but probably wouldn’t go if it wasn’t part of our tour itinerary and the two and half our trip back to Bogotá airport was a long journey.

The scenery is beautiful but the whole visitor experience was a bit controlled and the tour is only done in Spanish which you have no option but to take the tour with a local guide.
Written 15 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
inalima
Atlanta, GA7 contributions
Very bad experience because of bad staff and bad policy of the place
Jun 2022 • Friends
I would give a 10 star for the place itself, and 0 for administrators and staff. Unfortunately , the rules of this place are very poor and not organized at all. I live in Bogota and brought my english speakers friends to see the lagoon and enjoy the nature and the noise of the birds. Once we paid for the tickets, we were told we were not supposed to walk on our own for safety reasons. So we stayed with the group with a guide until half way through the trail. The guide was rude, talked to me in a very impolite way in front of the crowd, and required us to stay in the crowd even though my friends didn’t speak any Spanish. My friends just wanted to take pictures while the guide was speaking SPANISH, but he obligated us to hear his loud voice in a very old style microphone. There wasn’t even headphones for the tourists so the voice of this guide wouldn’t eco that entire peaceful place. We couldn’t even listen to the noise of the birds and enjoy the views peacefully .That staff needs serious training and they need to change the policies of the tour. It was a very odd safety policy because the second half way of the trail we were able to enjoy the nature freely. The second half way of the trail was more dangerous than the first half way because part of it wasn’t paved. If you don’t speak SPANISH don’t go, you will be frustrated like my friends were, and like many people that reviewed here on Trip advisor about the language problem in this place. Don’t forget to bring toilet paper, even though you pay for a fee to enter the park, when you go to the bathroom there is no toilet paper. You have to buy it if you need to use it.
Written 21 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michelle T
New York City, NY666 contributions
Amazing Experience!
Jun 2022
We had drivers while we were in Bogota, so we requested that one of them take us to Guatavita. It's about a 1.5 hour drive from Bogota without traffic. We arrived around 11am and the next tour was going out at 11:15am so we were just in time.

All tours are in Spanish and you need to have a tour guide in order to go up. If you can speak or understand Spanish, it's truly a very educational hike. The entire hike takes about 1.5 hours. The tour guide leaves you at the lagoon and you make your own way down at your own pace.

We learned so much - about medicinal plants and also the legends and traditions of the Musica people that used to live in the area.

It cost us 41,000 COP for two people for the tour guide and entrance.

Bathrooms are only located at the beginning of the tour and no plastic bottles are allowed so plan accordingly with your water.
Written 17 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ColimaTed
Villa de Alvarez, Mexico10 contributions
Great Walk
Apr 2022
Two hours, all beautiful. We learned the medicinal benefits of dozens of plants and lots about the culture.
10,000 feet great views. We were so very impressed that young men with first aid skills and training were available for one visitor affected by the altitude.
Written 1 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stefan S
19 contributions
Fantastic nature
May 2021 • Couples
We went on a morning tour with a guide. The park shows great potential in the first half and in the second part you get to see the fantastic lagoon. The tour is physically taxing but not unmanageable. Rich in history, natural beauty and wonder.
This would have been a solid 5-star for us if there had been any english/bilingual guides at the time of our visit.
Written 12 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Victoria O
Shanghai, China215 contributions
Beautiful but not satisfying!
Feb 2021
We live in Bogota so did this as a day trip. In hind sight booking with a tour may make this a more interesting visit for non-Spanish speakers.
We organized a private taxi for 6 of us and it took about 1 and a half hrs to get there. The driver dropped us off and you meet them on the other side of the lake!
You join a group of about 30 people- the groups set off every 30 minutes to ensure there is a gap between each group. The tour guide gives lots of detailed information about the lake, the legend and history of El dorado and the Muisca people- but you need Spanish to access it. There are English boards to find out more information.
Because you are in a group, the "hike up" is painfully slow. We were eager for a good walk but it was definitely more of a plodding walk with many stops to share information.
The lake and surrounding landscape are very pretty and there are clearly designated areas for photo opportunities.
The guide leaves you to walk down by yourself.
Written 17 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SAV - South America Voyager
Medellin, Colombia8,017 contributions
Get out of Bogota and see the splendid countryside, just 1.5 hours away!
Oct 2020
As a Trip Advisor DESTINATION EXPERT for Colombia it is my pleasure to provide this well balanced and accurate review. I have been traveling to Colombia for the past 30 years and for the past 4 years living in Medellin.

I have traveled and explored just about every area, every city and even more numerous small pueblos in Colombia than I can count. I have the time, the resources, the passion and the experience to understand reasonable expectations when it comes to Colombian hotels, hostels, restaurants, bars, activities, things to do and see and tours.

I am pleased to provide this review of Laguna de Guatavita and suggest that when your ready to get outside the hustle and bustle of Bogota for some good air and stress free / no traffic please consider a visit, drive took me about 2 hours, to this lake and area.

I had been planning a visit to this area for some time, perhaps 8 years now, and so last week when I found myself in Bogota just decided that now is the time to visit.

Very little traffic and we were rewarded with some beautiful vistas and photo opportunities and some quiet moments just walking around the lake and enjoying the natural beauty.

I am so glad I finally visited this area and without any hesitation if your in Bogota and want to get out and see the beautiful countryside, take a trip and enjoy!
Written 1 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Weak Knee Traveler
Singapore, Singapore11,769 contributions
Beautiful Even Though Weather was Bad
Sep 2019 • Solo
This is a must visit to understand more about the indigenous people here. There is a guide from the park leading the tour. However, the entire tour was in Spanish. Luckily, I have a English speaking guide to translate everything for me.

It was raining on and off during the tour so it was a bit wet but the hike wasn't difficult. Just need to careful as some parts could be slippery. Good to have shoes with good grip.

The views of the Mountains were beautiful. The late was beautiful too even though it was raining. It can get pretty windy up at the lake though.
Written 6 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rogers R
Bogota, Colombia191 contributions
El Dorado Legend @ Guatavita
Mar 2020 • Family
Nice place, nice views, a little bit messy regarding transportation and signs with a lot of places claiming be the official parking. Walkaround about 1 1/2 hr with a guide explaining El Dorado’s legend and another topics related to Muisca Culture. Recommended place to visit.
Written 15 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Laguna de Guatavita (Tierra Negra) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor

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