Salt Mines & Salt Cathedral in Colombia: Zipaquirá, Nemocón, Manaure & Galerazamba Guide (2026)

From Bolivia to Namibia, there are few but enormous salt deserts in the world that can be visited, just as there are few salt mines in the world that open their doors to tourists. In Colombia you can find both, from sea level to the Andes mountains.

We invite you to take this tour through the salt deserts and salt mines of Colombia.

The Importance of Salt

The real value of salt, regardless of domestic consumption, which is marginal, lies in the fact that it is a fundamental input in at least a hundred industrial processes, ranging from the manufacture of balanced feed to detergents, glass and tannery treatment.

Colombia produces some 540,000 tons of salt annually, a relatively small figure. Forty percent of Colombia’s salt comes from the Zipaquirá, Nemocón, Upín and Galerazamba mines, while the remaining 60 percent is extracted from Manaure in La Guajira.

History of Salt Mines in Colombia

Origins of Salt Deposits in the Cretaceous Period

Salt deposits in the Andes are believed to have been left by ground movements during the Cretaceous period, approximately 70 million years ago, when the Eastern Cordillera was lifted, and large marine lakes were left to dry and sediment, until they were finally covered by a thick layer of earth.

Importance of Salt for the Muiscas

Salt was the cornerstone of the Muisca economy — arguably more valuable than gold in daily commerce. The Muisca, who numbered an estimated 500,000 to one million people at the time of Spanish contact (circa 1537), operated sophisticated salt extraction and processing operations at Zipaquirá and Nemocón dating to at least 800 AD. Women played a central role in salt processing, boiling brine in large ceramic vessels to produce hardened salt cakes called panes that served as a standardized unit of exchange.

Such was its value that salt allowed the creation of a network of roads and meeting places between indigenous markets where the product was exchanged for others such as corn, gold, ceramics or cotton. There was even a commercial relationship with coastal communities to exchange mine salt for sea salt.

The routes used by the Indians were around the Magdalena River, which connects the northern region of the country with the Muiscas in the Andes.

Salt was so important that for the Zipa and Zaque, the indigenous kings, territories such as Zipaquirá or Nemocón were the crown jewels and allowed them access to many luxuries that their geographical location denied them, including emeralds, fish and peacock feathers, among others.

Salt During the Spanish Colony

Later, salt became much more important among the Spaniards, who used it frequently, among other things, to preserve foodstuffs in the absence of refrigeration.

Salt During Colombia’s Independence

Later on, the income from the salt produced in Zipaquirá helped to finance the independence struggles. Salt was so important that during the 20’s of the last century, this activity was under the tutelage of the recently founded Bank of the Republic, as if it were the monetary policy of the time.

Recent History of Salt Mines in Colombia

In the 1970s, the salt monopoly remained in the hands of the state. Today the mines are managed by private industries.

Apart from its economic importance, and its exploitation as a natural resource, today the salt mines and brines are important tourist destinations in Colombia, the most outstanding being the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, Colombia’s first Wonder of the World.

So if you were wondering in which country is the Salt Cathedral, well here is your answer, it is in Colombia!

Marine Salt Mines of Colombia

An unforgettable visit to the pink seas and salt deserts of Colombia, a universe of landscapes and surreal beauty.

Manaure

The salt mine of Manaure is the department of La Guajira, in the Caribbean coast of Colombia. Manaure is the largest salt mine in Colombia, producing around 300,000 tons of salt per year. These salt flats are deeply intertwined with the Wayúu indigenous people’s culture and economy. The Wayúu — Colombia’s largest indigenous group with over 380,000 members — have harvested sea salt here for centuries, and the site remains central to their economic identity. The distinctive pink color of the evaporation pools, caused by halophilic microorganisms and Artemia brine shrimp, has made Manaure an increasingly popular destination for photographers and ecotourists.

When you arrive at the salt mine of Manaure you will find an amazing salt desert. Besides, there is the big machinery pumping for the extraction of salt. Your guide will explain each of the salt extraction processes during the visit.

The main attraction of this maritime salt mine is the pink tone of its waters. This is due to the algae, small crustaceans and microorganisms which turn the water pink. Those amazing organisms are capable of withstanding these high levels of salinity.

At the end of the tour, you can go to the nearby beaches of Mayapo and El Pajaro. Both are quiet beaches with white sands and aquamarine green sea.

If you want to know more about other activities you can do near the Salina Manaure, check out our blogs: Travel Guide to Los Flamencos Fauna & Flora Sanctuary in Colombia, Travel Guide to Macuira: The Cloud Forest Oasis in La Guajira Desert and Northern Caribbean Birding Route.