photo by Michael Kragh
San Agustin, Colombia has a lot to offer to tourists and sometimes it’s daunting to know where to start. The best thing to do is to make a plan of all the wonderful things you want to see to make sure that you maximize your time. This list of places will give you a perfect template of where to start your Colombian adventure.
photo by Mario Carvajal
Archaeological Parks
There are three phenomenal archaeological parks in San Agustin – The San Agustin Archaeological Park, the Parque Arqueológico Alto de Los Ídolos and the Parque Arqueológico Alto de Las Piedras. If you can, all are definitely worth a visit but if you’re short on time, choose the park that houses the things you’re most interested in.
For instance, The San Agustin Archaeological Park houses Latin America’s largest collection of megalithic sculptures that date back to 50-400 A.D. This park also houses the four mesas/tables that are a rare treat as they are supported by intricate statues. And for added importance, the site was named an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
The Parque Arqueológico Alto de Los Ídolos houses paintings, ancient tombs and statues of both people and animals and animal/people hybrid creatures. There’s an emphasis on religious statues here and unlike The San Agustin Archaeological Park, you’ll find statues of people here. This site was also dubbed an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
Lastly, the Parque Arqueológico Alto de Las Piedras houses the tallest animal and human statues in the whole area with some of the statues also upholding tables which are marvels considering that they were constructed ages ago.
photo by Michael Kragh
Magdalena Strait
The Magdalena Strait is a popular tourist destination as this is where the Magdalena River, the principal river of Colombia, narrows to only 2.20 meters wide. What makes this so special is that the river is very clear at this narrow section and visitors can see the sand and rocks below through the rushing water.
Located just 10 minutes from the municipality, the area is surrounded by beautiful mountains, vegetation and large stones that frame the river itself. If camping is more of your speed, you’re also able to do set up shop in this beautiful area. Just make sure to follow all campsite rules like cleaning up after yourself and not contaminating the water.
photo by Chepe-commonswiki via Creative Commons
Tatacoa Desert Near Neiva
Although the Tatacoa desert isn’t exactly near San Agustin, you have to fly into Neiva in order to get to San Agustin so visiting this desert before or after your San Agustin trip is a breeze. Plus, if you’re into stargazing (and let’s be honest, who isn’t?), you’ll be doubly enchanted as the celestial views from here are astonishing.
The desert covers 330 square kilometers of land and is considered to be the second largest arid zone in Colombia. People visit because of the unique landscape and the hand-painted look of the rocks in layers of ocher and grey hues.
Strangely enough, this area is not an actual desert in the traditional sense but is instead a dry tropical rainforest. Animals that you can expect to see during your visit include turtles, eagles, scorpions and snakes peppered in between shows topping cacti varieties. The area receives very little rain runoff so the plants have especially adapted to the area which is easily seen by the root formation as most roots grow horizontally with only a few plants in the area with roots that grow the typical vertical way into the ground.
photo by Yair Alfonso Murillo Rincón via Creative Commons
Salto de Bordones
Are you into waterfalls? Then the Salto de Bordones is the place to visit. Cascading down a 400 meter drop, this waterfall is located between Isnos, Saladoblanco and Pitalito. This area is also a great place to hike and enjoy the flora and fauna that Colombia has to offer. There’s also an ecological path along the waterfall if you’d like to get even closer. And as you do, water will splash on you giving you a full-on immersive experience. Just remember to bring a change of clothing in a ziplock baggie and comfortable walking shoes for the adventure.
And if you’re camping, make sure to enjoy responsibly and set up camp a safe distance away from the gushing water as well as observe all camping etiquette. Better yet, enlist the help of a knowledgeable Colombian guide so that you know which animals to look out for as well as get a full appreciation of the area.
Let’s Go!
Colombia still remains untouched in many ways and if you’ve ever been interested in visiting this country, now is the time to strike. There aren’t many heavily populated tourist destinations yet and adventure travels are truly one-of-a-kind as you’re still able to get up close and personal to majestic natural marvels – few things are blocked off. So reach out to your Uncharted Colombia representative today to book a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.