For the first time, Bogota, capital of Colombia, will be part of the World Network of Religious Tourism, a link that coincides with the celebration of the Jubilee Year in 2025. According to the District Tourism Institute, the Colombian capital expects to receive 1.3 million visitors during Holy Week, who will be able to participate in more than 300 activities designed to connect faith, culture and history.
Jubilee year is a special occasion, and the Church has organized activities in the months following Holy Week. Tourists visiting Bogota can choose between traditional destinations like Monserrate and the Salt Cathedral, in the nearby municipality of Zipaquira, or explore less crowded yet charming towns such as Sibate or Junin.
Bogota, Colombia, joins the World Network of Religious Tourism in 2025
This year, Bogota and its surrounding Cundinamarca region will join the World Network of Religious Tourism. This special inclusion coincides with the Jubilee Year, a rare event that only happens once every 25 years, featuring activities that extend beyond Holy Week.
Tourism authorities expect more than 1.3 million visitors, who will have the chance to explore both Bogota’s traditional destinations and nearby municipalities in Cundinamarca, offering unique experiences for pilgrims and religious tourists.
“This is an invitation to travel the Jubilee route, because it offers great experiences that will connect history, faith, culture and landscapes. From Sibate to Guasca, including one of the great wonders of our country: the Salt Cathedral,” said Norma Solorzano, general manager of the Departmental Institute of Culture and Tourism of Cundinamarca, during the launching of the programming for this Holy Week.
Among the most emblematic places for pilgrims in Bogota is the Cerro de Monserrate, known for its Way of the Cross, one of the most popular in the country. The Primada de Colombia Cathedral, located in the historic center of the city, has been an epicenter of religious life since its foundation.
According to the Departmental Institute of Culture and Tourism of Cundinamarca, these destinations are complemented by other points of interest in Cundinamarca, such as the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira, considered one of the great architectural and spiritual wonders of Colombia.
Located 180 meters deep, it is divided into three sections, representing the life, death and resurrection of Christ, and since 2007 it has been declared the first wonder of Colombia.
Lesser known religious sites in Bogota and its region
In Bogota there are less frequented churches that are also worth visiting during Holy Week. In the historic center is the Parroquia Nuestra Señora de las Aguas, one of the oldest churches in the city, which preserves a colonial style and provides a serene space for spiritual reflection.
Likewise, in the Chapinero sector is the parish of Nuestra Señora de los Angeles — La Porciuncula, which stands out for its baroque style. It is located right next to the Avenida Chile Shopping Center. This church worships the Virgin of the Angels, and is usually the epicenter of various activities such as spiritual retreats and solemn masses.
And for those who wish to explore beyond Bogota, to the south, Sibate is a good option. Less than two hours from the capital, this municipality has the Nuestra Señora del Carmen parish, a place of devotion to the virgin, patron saint of drivers, which is characterized by its facade with its bell tower and stained glass windows.