Lake Guatavita

Lake Guatavita is situated in the municipality of Sesquilé, within the Cundinamarca department of Colombia, at an elevation of approximately 3,100 meters above sea level in the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes. The lake features a strikingly circular shape surrounded by steep slopes, a formation that was historically misinterpreted as a volcanic crater but is now understood as a geological depression. This site is world-renowned as the sacred lake of the Muisca people and the primary source of the El Dorado legend, where new chiefs were reportedly covered in gold dust before diving into the water to offer treasures to their gods. In 1537, Spanish conquistadors led by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada arrived at the lake, marking the beginning of centuries of drainage attempts to recover sunken artifacts. One notable effort occurred in 1911 when British engineer Hartley Knowles managed to lower the water level significantly but faced insurmountable mud. Today, the lake is a protected natural reserve, preventing further excavations and preserving the high-altitude páramo environment. The surrounding forest is home to unique flora, including various species of frailejones and high-mountain orchids.

Nearby cities

Soacha

Large suburb of Bogotá with rich indigenous history.

Facatativá

Agricultural and industrial city near Bogotá.

Zipaquirá

Historic city world-famous for its underground salt cathedral.

Chía

Northern suburb of Bogotá, known as the city of the moon.

Girardot

A bustling riverside resort city that serves as a popular warm-weather weekend getaway for Bogotá residents.

Guatavita

Guatavita is a charming Colombian town known for its striking white-washed colonial architecture and its proximity to the sacred Lake Gua…

History & landmarks

Ráquira

Colombia's pottery capital, a vibrant and colorful town known for its traditional clay craftsmanship.

Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá

The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá is an underground Roman Catholic church built within the tunnels of a salt mine.

More places

Bavaria Brewery Tocancipá

One of the largest and most modern breweries in Latin America, producing the most famous Colombian beer brands.

Chingaza National Park

A high-altitude Páramo national park that provides vital protection for endangered spectacled bears and Andean condors.

Parque Jaime Duque

A family theme park near Bogotá featuring replicas of world wonders and a zoo.

Church of San Francisco (Bogotá)

The oldest surviving church in Bogotá, known for its spectacular 17th-century wood-carved altar.

La Candelaria

The historic neighborhood of Bogotá, known for its steep streets, colonial houses, and rich history.

Museum of Independence - Casa del Florero

The historical house in Bogotá where a dispute over a flower vase on July 20, 1810, sparked the independence movement.

Primary Cathedral of Colombia

A neoclassical cathedral on the Plaza de Bolívar in Bogotá, the largest in the country.

Capitolio Nacional

The seat of the Colombian Congress, a magnificent neoclassical building located on the Plaza de Bolívar.