The Gold Museum in Bogota Will Take You to a Whole New World

The Gold Museum in Bogota will take you to a new world you’ve never been to or heard of before. It’s simply dazzling and shimmering with everything gold you dreamed of having in your closet.

Bogota’s Gold Museum is a must-see for anyone keen on history, culture, and of course, gold. The museum houses over 34,000 pieces of gold artifacts, making it one of the largest collections of gold in the world. From ancient Incan jewelry to pre-Columbian burial masks, the Gold Museum gives visitors a glimpse into a time when gold was revered above all else.

Related Post: The Botero Museum in Bogota

A Brief History of Gold in Colombia

Gold has been mined in Colombia for over 2,000 years and has played a significant role in the country’s history and culture. For the indigenous people of Colombia, gold was a sacred metal with magical powers. They used them in religious ceremonies, and they believed that gold had the power to heal the sick.

When the Spanish arrived in Colombia in the 16th century, they brought a new appreciation for gold. The Spanish conquistadors plundered the country’s gold mines, sending vast quantities of the metal back to Spain. However, they also introduced new mining techniques and technologies that allowed for more efficient extraction of gold. 

As a result of all this mining activity, Colombia became one of the world’s leading producers of gold. By the early 1900s, the country was responsible for around 20% of the world’s gold output. Today, while Colombia is no longer one of the top gold-producing countries, it still has a significant number of active mines.

Highlights of the Museo del Oro

You can find the Gold Museum at La Candelaria, Bogota’s historical center, and it occupies a building that was a former prison. One of the fascinating things about the Gold Museum is that it gives visitors a glimpse into the lives of Colombia’s indigenous people. The museum’s collection includes both Inca and Muisca gold, providing insight into two very different cultures. The Inca were one of the largest empires in South America before the arrival of the Spanish, while the Muisca were a smaller tribe that inhabited what is now Colombia. 

Some of the most popular items on display include Pre-Colombian burial masks, ancient Incan jewelry, Spanish colonial coins, modern-day Colombian coins, and gold nuggets from various Colombian mines. 

My favorite gold object here is the shining Muisca Raft showing the ritual that brought about the unforgettable and legendary story of El Dorado.

The Gold Museum also allows visitors to see how gold is mined and processed into different forms. There are exhibits on gold panning and smelting, as well as an informative film about gold mining in Colombia. 

If you’re planning a trip to Bogota, add the Gold Museum to your list of must-see attractions. You’ll learn about Colombia’s indigenous cultures, see some incredible artwork, and get an up-close look at some of the most fantastic gold artifacts imaginable. The admission fee to the museum is just COP4,000, so it’s an affordable way to experience some of Bogota’s rich history and culture.

My Suggestion to the Museum

After paying for the ticket, I thought they would give me a museum brochure, but I was handed nothing. I asked for it, but they said they didn’t have one. I’d recommend that they have a brochure showing the Top 10 objects to see inside. This is very helpful for those who don’t have much time to explore the museum.