Top Things to do in San Agustin
The 10 Best Things to do in San Agustin, Huila Department
Discover the best top things to do in San Agustin, Colombia including San Agustin Archaeological Park, Estrecho Del Magdalena, La Pelota - Estatuas A Color, La Chaquira, El Purutal, Los Tres Chorros, Iglesia de San Agustin, El Tablon, Museo Precolombino Villa Real, Obando Archaeological Park.
Restaurants in San Agustin
1. San Agustin Archaeological Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,023 reviews
A mountainous prehistoric site contains many imposing megalithic monuments and tombs with impressive sculptures.
Reviewed By KV1234 - London, United Kingdom
If you don’t want to organise all of your own travel we would recommend contacting Mark at “The Colombian Way” travel agency. All of his tour prices are on his website and very keenly priced. It takes all of the hassle out of your journey and he organises private drivers, English guides and local guides. We booked a range of tours with The Colombian Way over the course of 2 weeks (from Medellin to Armenia, to Salento, to Popayan, to Tierradentro, to San Agustin, to Tatacoa and finishing in Bogota). Mark was very fast in communication and was always available to help out whenever we needed it which was brilliant as the Government were changing what was open at a moments notice. He was also extremely competitive on price being 30% cheaper than another tour operator. The highlight of our trip was the amazing underground tombs of Tierradentro and the magnificent stone sculptures of San Agustin / Isnos (the largest group of religious monuments and megalithic sculptures in South America.)… you must do it! The Colombian Way driver transferred us from Tierradentro to San Agustin. A note for those thinking of driving yourself… Google suggests a road that is often closed due to landslides so you have to stay on the main roads and travel 50% further. One of the benefits of using The Colombian Way driver. We arrived in San Agustin in the early afternoon and had time to look around the town centre including the main square which have some of the stone sculptures of the “small men” as I like to call them. The next day we were picked up and transferred to the amazing San Agustin Unesco Archaeological Park where we met our English guide for the day. These were mostly carved between AD 100 and 1200. In the park are an amazing array of separate stone sculptures, in the shapes of animals and warriors and human faces, some mythical, some realistic. They are carved out of volcanic rock - some are over 4 meters tall and weigh several tons. The similarities with the Hindu religion also abound. Did Indians travel here? An amazing place… In the afternoon we were driven 1 hour to Alto de los Idolos where some of the stone sculptures of men are over 2 metres high. Very impressive. On the way back to San Agustin we went via the Magdalena strait, the narrow piece of rock through which the river bottlenecks through. The following day involved a drive via Isnos to hike to Salto de Bordones. We had read there was another site at Isnos called Alto de las Piedras and so we asked to go to that site first. This has the famous Double Yo statue. You must also go here if you have the time. It’s small but impressive. The hike to the waterfall was a little muddy underfoot and you can’t get that close to the falls but they are large so equally impressive. After the hike we were transferred back to San Agustin for a delicious smoky meat barbecue in a local restaurant. Mmm mmm The next day we were transferred from San Agustin to Tatacoa desert. Tierradentro and San Agustin are amazing places. The highlight of our trip.
2. Estrecho Del Magdalena
3. La Pelota - Estatuas A Color
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 70 reviews
La Pelota y el Purutal, una visita que no puedes dejar para después. Es un lugar mágico en el que se erige un bosque nativo a 1.800 metros de altura que engalana la estatuaria a colores del Chaman y la Sacerdotisa que permanecen en el sitio original. Es un lugar en el que propios y foráneos pueden deleitarse con hermosos paisajes y una imponente vista del pueblo de San Agustín y las cordilleras Central y Occidental. Así que, si te gusta la arqueología y la naturaleza, este lugar tiene la mezcla perfecta. Conócelo
Reviewed By TomanR
After visiting most of the other main sites in San Agustin we were really eager and looking forward to see something "different" and colorful. We walked from San Agustin by the main road and took the longer way to get there, which was nice, because then we took shorter way on a way back so we managed to have different land view all the time. The place itself is very magical and i guess usually there is not many people.. we even had the whole place just for us almost for two hours. It's nice to spend some time on site with snack or picknick. There is also a very nice authentic colombian coffee place right next to the entrance to the archeological park so you can get coffee straight from the farmers.
4. La Chaquira
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 200 reviews
Reviewed By 471PeterK - Geneva, Switzerland
You start up on the Via Estrecho del Magdaleno where the Taxi drops you off, make your way down on yet another steep washed out dirt road past El Tablon with their amusing mini museum and on past coffee plantations to the top of the steps leading down to La Chaquita. From there it is a good 15 min down on a steep switchback path and steps to a couple of viewing platforms overlooking the Magdalena river gorge. Behind you are a large number of carved slabs of stones from the San Agustin culture. Many are washed out but a few are still great. Climb up and again on level ground have a fine cold lemonade from the Swiss emigre Finca/cafe owner and watch a carver working on small replicas of San Agustin stone figures. A great gift to take home
5. El Purutal
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 32 reviews
Reviewed By pinir67 - Hod Hasharon, Israel
I visited this remote archaeological site as part of a horse back tour in the area of San Agustin. The ride to this site is spectacular in a rural setting surrounding with amazing vistas of the mountains. The uniqueness of this site is the fact that it has 2 large tomb protected by statues that maintained most of their original color. Definitely worth the visit.
6. Los Tres Chorros
7. Iglesia de San Agustin
8. El Tablon
9. Museo Precolombino Villa Real
10. Obando Archaeological Park
TAGS
