Discovering the Tatacoa desert

DAY 1 – NEIVA, VILLAVIEJA, TATACOA DESERT

Early in the morning private transfer from your hotel in Bogotá to the airport for your direct flight to Neiva (flight time: approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes).

After claiming your luggage, meet your driver waiting for you in the Arrivals area with a sign with your name. Transfer to the nice hotel next to the Tatacoa Desert where you’ll spend the next 2 nights (travel time: approx 1 hour and 30 minutes).

Arrival around noon, lunch included at the hotel and time to relax in its water pool.

In the afternoon, private tour in Villavieja: discover this typical town of the Huila region located on the banks of the Magdalena River, the longest and most important river in Colombia (after the Amazonas river).

Among the various activities included: visit to the Paleontological Museum, visit to El Totumo Handicraft Museum (with local handicrafts made from the fruit of the totumo tree), visit of the rice fields (with bird watching). Get to know the Ceiba, the most widespread tree in South America whose meaning is “symbol of freedom”, a sacred tree in pre-Columbian cultures.

After a boat ride on the Magdalena river (sightseeing of the Palo de las Iguanas and the Turtle Beach), return to the hotel. Time to relax before the next full day dedicated to the Tatacoa Desert. 

Accommodation next to the Tatacoa Desert (nice hotel with pool, private room with bathroom)

Included:

Private transfer to Bogotá airport, direct flight Bogotá – Neiva with checked baggage included, private transfer from Neiva airport to the hotel, city tour of Villavieja with driver-guide (spoken language: Spanish) including transportation, entrance fees and boat ride on the Magdalena river, accommodation next to the Tatacoa desert with breakfast.

DAY 2 – TATACOA DESERT

After breakfast, meet your driver-guide. Today explore the desert on a tuk-tuk or motorbike, the most common transport means in the Tatacoa Desert. 

Full day dedicated to discover this area, located at an altitude between 386 and 486 meters (1,260 -1,600 feet) above sea level, with an extension of approximately 300 square km (190 square miles). 

This ecosystem is called “tropical dry forest”, the ocher and gray colors dominate the landscapes and the vegetation (including cactus) is really unique and characteristic.

The first tour of the day would be in the Valley of the Xylopalos, where you will enjoy an ecological walk visiting sites such as El Paso de las Culebras, El Estrecho de las Señoritas, El Valle de las Constelaciones and the Tormenta Museum.

At the end of the excursion, return to your hotel to enjoy some free time to relax and have lunch.

In the afternoon, second excursion of the day (always with a typical tuk-tuk/motorbike) with your driver-guide to visit the famous and iconic Gray Desert (Valle de los Deseos and the path of “Los Hoyos” – about 40 minutes walk), where the predominant color is gray and the impressive rock formations are different from what that you will see later in the Red Desert.

You can cool off in a splendid natural water pool (entrance included) before continuing your visit in this unique landscape area.

Arrival around sunset to the Red Desert, where the ocher colors dominate the landscape made of canyons and particular geological formations (Laberintos del Cuzco, La Torre, Los Estoraques).

After visiting the Red Desert, transfer to the Astronomical Observatory. Thanks to its privileged geographical position (near the Earth’s Equator) and the perfect climatic conditions (absence of visual and hearing pollution), this is a truly special place for astronomers.

Here, at the Astronomical Observatory, you can first learn a lot about astronomy and then observe the wonderful starry sky (aprox. 2 hours of activity, 1 hour of theory and 1 hour dedicated to observing the sky, admission included).

In the evening, at the end of this activity, return to the hotel. 

Accommodation next to the Tatacoa Desert (nice hotel with pool, private room with bathroom)

Included:

Tour with a driver-guide (spoken language: Spanish), transportation by tuk-tuk or motorbike, entrance fees (Tormenta museum, natural water pool and astronomical observatory with the activities mentioned in the program), accommodation next to the Tatacoa desert with breakfast.

DAY 3 – TATACOA DESERT, BOGOTÁ

After breakfast, private transfer from your hotel to Neiva airport (travel time: approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes). Direct flight to Bogotá (flight time: approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes).

After claiming your luggage, meet your driver waiting for you in the Arrivals area holding a sign with your name. Transfer to your hotel in Bogotá (accommodation not included).

Included:

Private transfer to Neiva airport, direct flight Neiva -Bogota with checked baggage included, private transfer from Bogotá airport to your hotel.

Are you interested in a private tour with an english-speaking tour director? Send us an enquiry at booking@yourcolombia.com 🙂