Nemocon Salt Mine

Salt mirrors, underground chambers and a colonial town. One of Colombia's most underrated destinations, an hour from Bogotá.

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Overview

The Nemocón Salt Mine has been extracting salt since the 16th century, first by the Muisca people and later during the Spanish colonial era. Today the tunnels are open to visitors, and the mine looks much like it did when it was still active — 80 meters underground, over 1,600 meters of passageways carved entirely by hand.

It is the kind of place that takes a moment to register. The lighting brings out the salt formations in a way that feels more like a gallery than a mine. Above ground, the colonial town of Nemocón moves at its own pace — cobblestone streets, a quiet central plaza and local restaurants that see more locals than tourists.

Private round-trip transport from your hotel in Bogotá
Entrance tickets not included
Meals and beverages not included

What's included

Underground salt museum

About the destination

The tour of the mine begins at the Sabana History Museum, where the geological story of the salt deposit is explained before you descend. The mine sits at over 2,500 meters above sea level, which makes the underground temperature noticeably cooler than the surface. Once inside, the route passes through chambers that have been lit to highlight the natural formations; salt stalactites, cascadas and mirrors that reflect the light in every direction.

Inside the Chamber of the Heartbeat sits the Colombian Heart, the largest halite crystal heart in the world. Further along, the Salt Waterfall and the Wishing Well mark two of the most photographed spots in the mine. The underground chapel, carved directly into the salt rock, is the last stop before returning to the surface.

Back on the surface, the town of Nemocón is small enough to cover on foot in an hour. The main plaza, the colonial church and the surrounding streets have a lived-in quality that is easy to spend time in especially after a morning underground.

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