Where to stay in San Agustín

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Where to stay in San Agustín? The range of accommodations for every budget is quite large, both in the city and outside, where you can find cozy hotels in the midst of nature. In this article you find tips that will hopefully make it a little easier to choose your accommodation.

ColombiaMyWay Tips

Tip #1
At 1.5km from the city are the beautiful cabañas of Masaya San Agustín. Because of its location on top of a mountain you have a beautiful view of the valley from here. There is a good restaurant and the hotel can arrange transport for you to town and excursions such as jeep tours and horseback riding.

Tip #2
Would you rather stay in the city in a cozy hostal? Then Hostal Bambu is a must. Because of the common areas, you can easily socialize with other travelers. The hostal also organizes several active tours. Bonus of the hostal is its rooftop terrace with mega hammocks, a lovely place to enjoy the view during sunset.

Tip #3
Looking for a nice hotel in a quiet area, close to several archaeological sites? Then check out hotel Monasterio San Agustín. This cozy hotel is located in the middle of nature, 4.5km from the center.

Tip #4
Want to spend the night overlooking Colombia’s highest waterfall? Then book an overnight stay at the Ecohotel Bordones., in Isnos, an hour’s drive. From the hotel you have a super view of the 200-meter-high Salto de Bordones waterfall.

Read on for more tips on hotels in the various price ranges.

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San Agustín

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Want to know more? Then check out the full travel guide San Agustín with information on what to do, practical information, the best travel time and transportation to San Agustín.

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What to do in San Agustín? How to book excursions safely + bonus tips

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What to do in San Agustín? The archaeological park is certainly not the only attraction. There are plenty of fun things to do in San Agustín, especially if you like a little action. Its mountain location with lush vegetation, waterfalls and coffee plantations is perfect for active tours. Check out our tips for what to do in San Agustín, from horseback riding to rafting to spotting Colombia’s highest waterfall.

7 Must do’s + bonus tips

1. Get in a jeep and explore the area

A jeep tour is the perfect way to visit the more remote archaeological parks, with the bonus of visiting the impressive -200-meter-high- El Salto de Mortino waterfall. In the archaeological park Alto de los Idolos, you will find the most tombs and statues after the archaeological park in San Agustín. In Alto de las Piedras you can admire the iconic statue “Doble Yo” and In the Obanda archaeological park you will find similar tombs to those in Tierradentro.

 

2. Admire the highest waterfall in Colombia

The Salto de Bordones is 400 meters high and spectacular to see, from the viewing platform. You can’t get that close so you can swim in the waterfall, but it’s still cool to see the waterfall from the viewing platform. The Salto de Bordones is an hour’s drive from San Agustín. Want to do something really special during your visit to San Agustín? Then stay at the Ecohotel Bordones, from where you have a super view of the Salto de Bordones waterfall. The hotel can arrange transportation for you from San Agustín.

    3. Go horseback riding in the beautiful surroundings

    There are several options for horseback riding. For example, you can go horseback riding to the various archaeological sites in the vicinity of San Agustín, such as La Pelota, El Purutal, El Tablón and La Chaquira, an archaeological site with panoramic views of the Magdalena River gorge. Another great tour is a horseback ride to the Tres Chorros waterfall where you will pass fincas and swim at the waterfall.

    4. Take a stroll through San Agustín and slide in for lunch

    Start the walk at the main square Parque Simon Bolivar with the Iglesia de San Agustin and stroll through the streets. If you have ever been in the villages in the coffee region , you’ll notice that the houses here are a lot less colorful. The houses are mostly painted white and green. Stop for lunch at one of the restaurants, such as Fonte cafe restaurant, which usually offer a cheap daily menu for COP10,000/$2.50. Specialty of the Huila region is Asado Huilense, a large piece of marinated pork that is grilled or slow-cooked in a clay oven. Want to learn more about the traditions of the locals? Then take a cultural tour, learning about the culture of San Agustín through music, dance, gastronomy and crafts.

    5. Learn about the coffee process from "bean to cup"

    The region around San Agustín is not nearly as well known as the Zona Cafetara or the surroundings of Medellín, yet good quality coffee comes from here. During this private tour you will see the coffee process from “bean to cup” of the organic coffee finca la Cabaña. The owners have been in the coffee business for more than 50 years.

    6. Go rafting on the Magdalena River

    Rafting on the Magdalena River gives you guaranteed a huge adrenaline rush! You don’t need any experience to join this rafting adventure. The tour is private and can be adapted to your level, so even if this is your first time rafting, you are more than welcome.

    7. Go mountain biking!

    With this mountain bike tour you can enjoy nature to the fullest, cycling to a hidden waterfall, crossing rivers, visiting archaeological sites and having breakfast with the locals.

    Bonus tips

    1. Visit the most "instagrammable" village in Colombia

    If you take a tour of southern Colombia, make a stop in the city of Gigante, between Neiva (87km) (the Tatacoa Desert) and San Agustín (135km). At the Montaña la Mano del Gigante you can take a picture by the “giant hand,” but now there are more attractions and viewpoints, such as a slide, a large “dream catcher” and a swing under an arch with rainbow colors .

    Buses leave from Neiva to Gigante. Once you are in Gigante, you can take a cab from the central square (around COP25,000/$6) or jeep (around COP10,000/$2.50) The ride on a bumpy road takes about half an hour and the cab will drop you off at the entrance to the Mirador.

    Insiders tip: if possible, do not plan your trip on weekends or Colombian holidays! It is extremely busy then with locals taking day trips. Waiting time to take a picture at La Mano del Gigante can then add up to several hours!

     

     

    2. Visit archaeological park Tierradentro

    Tierradentro is an archaeological site of almost 20,000 square meters in the department of Cauca, with statues and tombs from the pre-Columbian civilization lying on top of the hills. You can also visit tombs there, some of which are up to 8 meters deep.

    Tierradentro is on the Unesco World Heritage List and is an unusual off-the-beaten-track destination, not often visited by travelers. The easiest way to get there is via Popayán. From Popayán there is a direct bus to San Andres de Pisimbala once a day. (Sotracauca, 4.5h). You can also take an organized tour from Popayán.

    You can also get to Tieradentro via San Agustín, but that is a more complicated trip if you are traveling by bus. You then have to travel first to Pitalito, then on to Garzon, and catch the last bus from La Plata to Tierradentro. Most buses stop at the intersection “Crucero de San Andres,” 2km from the entrance to Tierradentro. Here you can take a cab to the entrance. It is more convenient to arrange private transportation from San Agustín to Tierradentro. Check here accommodations near Tierradentro.

    Tip: It is a tough hike through the mountains to get to the tombs, so you must be in good physical condition for this trip.

    Ready to plan your trip? Then check out our travel guide San Agustín with info on the best hotels and hostels, the best travel time, practical information and info on transportation to San Agustín.

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    Practical information San Agustín

    Cali & SW Colombia, Everything about San Agustín

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    Here you will find practical information about San Agustín: can you pin money, what to bring, are there supermarkets and drug stores, what about transportation and much more useful information about San Agustín.

    Practical info A-Z

    Cash withdrawals

    There are ATMs in San Agustín, but only cash is accepted at most attractions and restaurants outside the city.

    What to bring
    • Raincoat and sweater because it often rains and the weather can be unpredictable in San Agustín
    • Comfortable shoes
    • Small backpack
    • Water Bottle
    • Cash
    Supermarkets

    There are mostly many small stores (tiendas) in town and two supermarkets: Supermercado Olimpica and Maxi Ahorro. There are also two drugstores: Farmacenter Farmasalud and Darsalud Droguería.

    Transportation

    There are taxis and minivans and to the archaeological park you can also walk, depending on your location. If you want to see the other sights further out of town, booking an organized tour can be convenient, to combine different attractions. Because of the winding roads through the mountains, renting a car is more complicated.

    Want to know more? Then check out the full travel guide San Agustín with information on what to do, where to stay, the best travel time and how to get to San Agustín.

    Best time to travel to San Agustín

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    What is the best time to travel to San Agustín? Here are tips + suggestions about the climate and about the number of days you need to explore San Agustín.

    San Agustín can be visited year-round. Most rain falls in the rainy season, from September through November. The best time to travel to San Agustín is December through February and July and August.

    How many days?

    1 day

    If you are only in San Agustín for 1 day, we recommend that you at least visit the archaeological park . You will need about half a day for that. The rest of the day you can stroll around town, look around the central square and taste the local food in one of the restaurants.

    2 days or longer

    If you have several days, in addition to visiting the archaeological park, you can also visit the more remote archaeological sites. This can be done on horseback or with a jeep tour. These tours are usually combined with a visit to one or more waterfalls. Check here for more ideas for what to do in San Agustín.

    Want to know more? Then check out the full travel guide San Agustín with tips on what to do, where to stay, practical information and transportation to San Agustín.

    The archaeological park in San Agustín: information and tips

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    Home 9 Category: Everything about San Agustín

    The archaeological park in San Agustín, is one of the best-preserved archaeological parks in Colombia and it is also one of Colombia’s best-kept secrets, because this special place is not on the popular tourist route in Colombia. Here you will find information on prices and opening hours and tips.

    The different archaeological sites
    The statues and tombs are scattered among several archaeological sites that are quite a distance apart: Parque Arqueologico, Alto de Los Idoles, La Chaquira, El Tablon, El Purutal, La Pelota and Alto de Las Piedras. The highest statue is in Alto de Los Idoles. Parque Arqueologico is closest to the town of San Agustín, at a distance of 3 km. This park is easily reached by cab, van or walking. The other sites are more remote and are best reached by jeep tour or horseback.

    Below we talk about the archaeological park 3 km from San Agustín.

    Prices and opening hours
    A ticket for the Parque Arqueológico costs COP65,000/$16 (2024). This ticket also gives you access to other archaeological parks, such as Alto de las Piedras and Alto de los Ídolos. However, you must use the ticket on two consecutive days. Keep in mind that the Parque Arqueologico is closed on Tuesdays and Alto de las Piedras / Alto de los Ídolos on Wednesdays. (April 2024)

    The route
    The archaeological park consists of 4 sections:

    • Museo Arqueológico de San Agustín
      At the entrance to the park is a small museum with smaller sculptures, jewelry, pottery, utensils and interesting information about San Agustín culture.
    • Bosque de Estatuas (sculpture garden). This trail goes through the rainforest, where a number of sculptures are placed along the route.
    • The Mesitas, where the other statues are placed in groups (mesitas A, B, C, D). At each mesita are a number of signs with brief explanations.
    • Alto de Lavapatas is the oldest archaeological site in San Augustín. From this site which is higher up, you have a panoramic view of the surrounding area.

    If you want to take it easy, you can certainly entertain yourself for half a day in the park, as the sites are quite far apart.

    If you want to explore the park with a guide, check out here for options.

    You can also take a jeep tour where you visit the archaeological sites outside San Agustín and the Salto del Mortino waterfall.

    If you want to plan a short trip from Bogotá and not travel further around southern Colombia, then this tour is an option.

    Want to know more? Then check out the full travel guide San Agustín with information on what to do, where to stay, the best travel time and how to get to San Agustín.

    How to get to San Agustín?

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    How to get to San Agustín?

    How to get to San Agustín? Here you will find all the ways of transportation, by bus or by plane.

    Whether you travel by bus or by plane, in most cases you have to travel via Pitalito, on an hour’s drive from San Agustín. One option where you travel directly, is the direct bus service from Bogotá.

    Bus transportation:

    • Bogotá
      From Bogotá there is a direct bus to San Agustín. It is a long ride of 11h; there are also night buses. Departs from the Salitre terminal. Tickets from COP97,000/$24 (Coomotor, Cootranshuila, Taxis Verdes).
    • From other destinations, the journey is via Pitalito. From Pitalito, you travel on to San Agustín in an hour. Buses run throughout the day and you can buy a ticket starting at COP23,000/$5.50. (Cootranshuila, Cootrans)
    • Neiva (Tatacoa) 5h (possibly bus change in Pitalito) from COP58,000/$14. Coomotor, Cootranshuila, Taxis Verdes
    • Cali: 8h (via Pitalito), from COP97,000/$24. Expreso Gaitana, Cootranslaboyana
    • Popayán:  4h (via Pitalito), from COP58,000/$14, Cootranshuila, Cootranslaboyana. Transipiales, Expreso Gaitana. Note: despite the distance being only 125km, the bus takes 4-5 hours because some roads are unpaved.
    • Florencia: 4h (via Pitalito), from COP56,000/$13.50, Cootranslaboyana, Coomotor Florencia

    Plane:
    The nearest airport is in Pitalito. A flight from Bogotá to Pitalito takes 1.15h. Prices from $80 Avianca/Satena. From Pitalito, it is a one-hour drive to San Agustín. Furthermore, there are flights to Pitalito from Cali (1h / Satena).

    Transportation in the town
    There are taxis and minivans and for the archaeological park you can also walk, depending on your location. The other sights further out of town and booking an organized tour can then be convenient so you can combine different attractions. Because of the roads through the mountains, renting a car is more complicated.

    Transportation to the archaeological park
    Depending on where you stay, you can walk to the park. From the center, it’s about a 45-minute walk. There are also buses (less than COP2,000/$0.50) and you can take a cab for a small COP12,000/$3.

    If you want to plan a short trip from Bogotá and not travel further around southern Colombia, then this tour is an option.

    Want to know more? Then check out the full travel guide San Agustín with information on what to do, where to stay, best time to travel and practical information about San Agustín.