While traveling in Southwest Colombia, you hardly expect to find a desert. Mixed in among the lush green mountainous landscape is a 330 square kilometer region packed with interesting formations, canyons, and incredible scenery. The Tatacoa Desert (Desierto de la Tatacoa) is an unusual place that in fact is not even a true desert. It’s a dry tropical forest.
Neiva is the hot and sweaty capital of the Huila department and sits along the Magdalena River. The only real reason for a tourist to visit Neiva is to pass through on the way to the Tatacoa Desert.
Neiva is the hot and sweaty capital of the Huila department and sits along the Río Magdalena. The only real reason for a tourist to visit Neiva is to pass through on the way to the Tatacoa Desert.
On our way from San Agustín to Neiva, we made a lunch stop in the hot and sleepy town of Gigante. Gigante is known for it’s enormous tree in the town plaza, La Ceiba de la Libertad.
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.