San Agustín is an isolated village located about 230 kilometres from the nearest population centre in the upland southern department of Huila. First founded by the Spanish in 1752, the village endured a turbulent colonial history and was entirely destroyed by indigenous resistance before being permanently re-established in 1790.Today, San Agustín is globally renowned for its extraordinary abundance of archaeological sites. The mysterious pre-Columbian culture that produced these remarkable religious relics in such profusion remains unnamed, and the sites continue to demand huge amounts of research. Recognising its incredible historical value, UNESCO declared the San Agustín Archaeological Park a World Heritage Site in 1995.
Visiting with Undiscovered Destinations
San Agustín is a major highlight that truly sets our itineraries apart. We dedicate three days (Days 7 to 9) to exploring the archaeological and natural wonders of this region on both our 17-day The Secret Heart of Colombia tour and our 28-day Colombia and Panama – Bridging the Americas tour.Arriving from Neiva, you will spend two nights at the charming Akawanka Lodge (or similar).
Our extensive itinerary allows plenty of time to fully explore the main Archaeological Park, the Archaeological Museum, and the Magdalena River Strait. As we depart the region on Day 9, we take a special detour to the Alto de Los Idolos site to ensure you see the full breadth of these ancient wonders before continuing our journey north through the lush Andean cloud forests toward Popayán.
