The Cacique Guatavita Lagoon is a body of water located in the eastern mountain range of Colombia, in the Tierra Negra district of the municipality of Sesquilé, Almeidas province, in the department of Cundinamarca, 75 km northeast of Bogotá. It is under the administration of the Corporación Autónoma Regional.

Located at 3100 meters above sea level, the lagoon has temperatures between 5 and 11 °C. It is surrounded by slopes with gradients between 32 and 38 degrees and is fed mainly by subterranean currents generated by the sub-paramo vegetation. Its characteristic greenish color is due to various species of algae, and the water has a slight alkalinity.

The lagoon, almost perfectly circular in shape, measures between 350 and 430 meters in diameter and is surrounded by native holm oak forests. It is home to a species of fish known as guapucha.

Unlike other paramount lakes of the Eastern Cordillera, generally formed in ancient glacial cirques, it is believed that the depression of the Guatavita lagoon originated from the collapse of saline strata, in line with the saline deposits of the region, such as Zipaquirá, Nemocón and Tausa.

Although the fauna is limited due to the constant presence of visitors, it is possible to find foxes and mice. As for the flora, frailejones and flycatchers stand out.

The Guatavita Lagoon is of great historical and cultural importance, as it was the scene of sacred rituals of the Muisca culture that gave rise to the legend of El Dorado. According to tradition, at the investiture ceremony of the new Zipa, he sailed to the center of the lagoon on a decorated raft, covered with gold dust. Accompanied by four caciques, he would offer gold, emeralds and incense to the gods, while the people would throw valuables into the water.

The Gold Museum of the Banco de la República preserves a piece known as the "Muisca raft", which represents this ritual and confirms that similar ceremonies took place in other bodies of water in the region.

Throughout history, there were several attempts to drain the lagoon to extract its treasures. Explorers such as Lázaro Fonte and Hernán Pérez de Quesada were able to reduce its level and obtain gold pieces. However, subsequent efforts by Antonio de Sepúlveda, miners and other adventurers failed. In the 20th century, the lagoon was even used as a quarry to extract materials for road construction in Sesquilé.

From Bogotá, it can be reached by the North Highway or via the Guasca-Sesquilé road. The lagoon is part of an ecotourism complex whose entrance fee is COP 18,000 (2023). Visitors take a guided hike of approximately two kilometers to reach the surrounding hillside.