The main archaeological site in San Agustín is the Archaeological Park, but there is much more to see in the UNESCO World Heritage listed area surrounding the town. Visitors who stay more than a day or two will be rewarded with incredible views and several smaller yet equally important archaeological sites.
The main archaeological site in San Agustín is the Archaeological Park, but there is much more to see in the UNESCO World Heritage listed area surrounding the town. Visitors who stay more than a day or two will be rewarded with incredible views and several smaller yet equally important archaeological sites.
San Agustín Archaeological Park is home to some fascinating religious sculptures made by primitive cultures between the 1st and 14th centuries. This UNESCO World Heritage site is the largest collection of religious monuments and megalithic sculptures in South America. It’s also considered by many to be the world’s largest necropolis.
Many of my Colombian friends had never heard of the place, so when I arrived in the small town of San Agustín, I was very surprised to find such an eclectic mix of people and amazing international cuisine.
The absolute best thing about the town of San Agustín is the food! It’s like a culinary oasis in a vast desert of homogeneous meat and rice dishes. After our long days touring the archaeological sites and natural wonders, we looked forward to trying one of the great restaurants in town.
The town of San Agustín is full of small hotels, guesthouses, hostels, and cabañas, both within the town limits and in the country. There is also a luxury option available.
Usually involving a big gathering of friends and family, sancocho is one of the most popular Colombian dishes. It’s a stew with a mishmash of meat and vegetable ingredients, so much so that the people cooking it sometimes forget every single ingredient that went into making it.
Parque Explora is an award-winning hands-on museum in the Aranjuez district of Medellín near University Station (Estación Universidad). It’s a great place to take kids to learn about the human body, physics, and nature.
The pleasant town of Ciudad Bolívar is about 3 hours from Medellín. It’s worth checking out if you have extra time and are driving through the area. It’s not worth going out of your way for unless you’re really interested in seeing authentic towns in Antioquia.