Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá hosts Guasá return on 24 October
Published on 10/24/2026 at 13:09 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSFaith and mining tradition in Zipaquirá
- The three-day observance returns to Zipaquirá from 22 to 24 October 2026 under the Cathedral custodian’s programme.
- The procession reaches the Nave Central at 6pm on 24 October, followed by a religious service and choir presentation.
- The current underground cathedral opened in 1995 after the first cathedral was closed in 1992.
- The venue stands at Carrera 6 and Calle 1 in Zipaquirá, Colombia.
Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá (Catedral de Sal de Zipaquirá) hosts the return of the Virgen del Rosario de Guasá in Zipaquirá, Colombia, on 24 October 2026. The three-day religious and mining tradition runs from 22 to 24 October and links the underground cathedral with processions across the town.
Virgen del Rosario de Guasá returns on 24 October
The programme begins on 22 October with a 3pm caravan from the cathedral to the Sagrado Corazón de Jesús parish in Barandillas. A procession, rosary and Eucharist follow there, while the 23 October programme includes a welcome and religious service at Nuestra Señora de Chiquinquirá parish in San Miguel.
The decisive moment comes on 24 October, when a caravan leaves San Miguel at 3pm for the Arco del Retén. A procession then reaches the cathedral at 4pm. The Virgen del Rosario de Guasá is due to enter the Nave Central at 6pm for a Eucharist, followed by a choir presentation at 7pm. The official three-day programme names the cathedral, Barandillas and San Miguel as venues.
Mining history gives the celebration its setting
The observance is tied to the history of workers in the salt mine. The operator describes the Virgin as a devotional figure linked to miners and identifies the tradition with the cultural identity of Zipaquirá. It therefore moves between the town and the place where the mining story began, rather than treating the cathedral as a backdrop alone.
The current cathedral was inaugurated in 1995 after structural defects led to the closure of the first cathedral in September 1992. Architect Roswell Garavito Pearl designed the present building. It is 180 metres (591 ft) underground, a physical setting that explains why the 24 October return ends in the Nave Central rather than at a conventional town church. A report on the underground site also identifies the cathedral as a venue beneath the mountain.
A procession connects the cathedral with Zipaquirá
The route gives visitors a way to understand the religious event through the local mining landscape. The opening caravan leaves the cathedral for Barandillas, while the closing procession brings the image back from San Miguel to the Nave Central. This movement is the clearest link between the place and the tradition’s annual public form.
The custodian invites residents and visitors to accompany the celebration. The programme includes caravans, processions, religious services, a rosary, a homage and a choir performance, with the final service taking place inside the cathedral on 24 October 2026.
Visiting Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Virgen del Rosario de Guasá programme runs from 22 to 24 October 2026. The return procession reaches the cathedral on 24 October, with entry to the Nave Central scheduled for 6pm.
- The celebration uses several venues. The cathedral is the starting point on 22 October and the destination on 24 October, while Barandillas and San Miguel host activities during the intervening days.
- The site is at Carrera 6 and Calle 1 in Zipaquirá, Colombia. The cathedral is 180 metres underground, so the visit takes place below the town rather than in a street-level church.
- Spanish is the official language and the national currency is the Colombian peso.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá
When does the Virgen del Rosario de Guasá take place at Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá?
The programme runs from 22 to 24 October 2026, with the return to the Nave Central scheduled for 6pm on 24 October.
What is Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá?
It is an underground cathedral in a former salt mine. The current building opened in 1995 and stands 180 metres below ground.
Where is Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá and how do you get there?
It is at Carrera 6 and Calle 1 in Zipaquirá, Colombia. The official programme identifies the site as the starting and finishing point of the 2026 celebration.
