Zipaquirá, Colonial municipality in Cundinamarca, Colombia
Zipaquirá is a municipality in Cundinamarca Department, Colombia, located about 49 kilometers north of Bogotá. The town sits across hilly terrain at 2,652 meters (8,700 feet) elevation and consists of a colonial center with low whitewashed buildings and cobbled streets around a central plaza.
The town was founded in 1600 by Luis Henríquez over a former Muisca settlement known for its salt extraction. During colonial times it grew into an important mining center supplying salt to Bogotá and other regions.
The name comes from the Muisca language and means "our tribal father", reflecting the pre-Columbian roots still present in local place names and traditions. Residents gather in the main plaza on weekends, where vendors sell traditional snacks and families meet under the shade of colonial arcades.
Buses depart regularly from Bogotá's Terminal del Norte and reach the town in about an hour depending on traffic. The center can be explored on foot, with comfortable shoes recommended due to cobblestones and slopes.
Beneath the town lie tunnel systems from former salt mines where illuminated religious sculptures have been carved directly into the mineral walls. These underground galleries are now used for religious services and cultural events, drawing visitors from many countries.
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