Juan Convers

In the city center of Bogotá, the Museo del Oro (Gold Museum) is one of Colombia’s most fascinating cultural treasures. Home to over 55,000 pieces of gold and other materials from pre-Hispanic cultures, it offers visitors a comprehensive journey through the artistry, beliefs, and traditions of the ancient peoples who once called this land home. Among its star attractions is the iconic Muisca Raft — a masterpiece of pre-Columbian goldwork that embodies one of the country’s most enduring legends: El Dorado.

The Muisca Raft is more than just an extraordinary work of art; it is a window into the ceremonial life of the Muisca people. Created between 600 and 1600 CE using the lost-wax casting technique, this intricate gold sculpture depicts a ritual at Lake Guatavita, where a new chief — his body covered in gold dust — offered gold and emeralds to the gods. Measuring just under 20 cm in length, the raft features the central figure of the chief surrounded by attendants, banners in hand, sailing into legend. Today, it remains one of the museum’s most celebrated pieces — a vivid reminder of the myth that defines Colombia’s pre-Columbian heritage.