We spent 10 superb days in San Agustin, 10 days in which we took the time to discover the area and guess what? We LOVED it. Especially the discovery of the archaeological parks of San Agustin and Isnos!
Angélica had memories of this area dating back to the late 90s, and to be honest, it’s nothing like it! We visited the archaeological park, of course, but also discovered plenty of things to do around San Agustin. It’s definitely worth staying a few days.
There’s so much to say about San Agustin that in this post we’re only going to focus on the 3 archaeological parks.
Disclaimer: we apologize in advance for any grammatical or syntactic errors, as our native language is not English (we're a Colombian-French couple), so we hope you'll forgive us and still enjoy the information we share with you! Please note that all the information on our blog is based on our own experience, and is checked and updated regularly.
General information San Agustin archaeological parks
- UNESCO inscription: 1995
- Total area: 116 ha
- Civilization: unknown
- Period: between 200 BC and 900 AD
- Type: necropolis, monolyths
- When to go: year-round
- Climate: Semi-humid temperate
- Altitude: 1730 m
- Region: Andes
- County: Huila
- Towns: San Agustin and Isnos
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America’s largest necropolis
San Agustin archaeological parks travel guide
To set the scene, the archaeological parks of San Agustin were declared a World Heritage Site in 1995. Quite simply, it is“the largest group of religious monuments and megalithic sculptures in South America“.
It comprises 500 stone sculptures created by a little-known pre-Columbian culture that inhabited this territory from 200 BC to 900 AD. This civilization left traces of its existence and beliefs on the funerary and ceremonial sculptures, sarcophagi and drawings found in this part of Colombia.
Little is known about this culture, which is thought to have disappeared from this territory, leaving only this immense necropolis discovered in 1797, and a system of terraces for soil irrigation. This has enabled us to determine that they were a sedentary people dedicated to agriculture.
We also don’t know why they chose this area for their burial complexes, how they moved the stones or why they left..
Although some research has been carried out, the interpretation of the sculptures remains a matter of conjecture. We’ll never know the whole truth about these sculptors, and the ancient culture of San Agustin will remain a mystery.
3 main parks make up this immense archaeological zone around San Agustin:
- San Agustin Archaeological Park
- Parc de los idolos in Isnos
- Alto de las piedras in Isnos
Only a small part of the statuary heritage of this vanished culture has been discovered. Scientific studies have shown (using X-rays) that a large proportion of the tombs are still buried underground. This makes you wonder about the scale of this necropolis and the importance this civilization attached to honoring its dead.
San Agustin Archaeological Park
The Amazing heritage of Colombbia
This is Colombia’s best-known archaeological zone. Home to 150 sculptures, San Agustin Park represents one of the main manifestations of pre-Hispanic sculpture in the north of the South American continent.
The park features a number of funerary structures that bear witness to the presence of a uniquely organized pre-Columbian culture.
You should allow around 4 hours to get the most out of the park. You can start your visit with the small museum at the entrance to the park, which provides a little more context and information if you decide to explore the park without a guide.
But we’d really advise you to take a local guide (they’re available at the park entrance). That’s what we did, and we don’t regret it for a second! We had one of the best guides in the park, and we can’t recommend Don Oscar Ceron enough if you speak Spanish! He’s brilliant.
Visiting San Agustin archaeological with a good guide
We recommend that you contact Don Oscar Cerón to guide you around the park.
He’s one of San Agustin’s oldest guides, trained by anthropologists who came to study the culture.
He knows an enormous amount not only about the culture of San Agustin, but also about other indigenous cultures in the country, and has incredible personal experience. We can assure you that visiting the park with him will be very enriching, and that you’ll come away with plenty of keys to a better understanding of the other archaeological sites in the area.
Contact:
- Oscar Cerón ( 57 ) 310 759 4409
- Tours only in Spanish
The San Agustin archaeological park is organized into 3 distinct sectors, which we’ll explore along a number of different trails.
The sculpture grove
The tour begins here, on a shady path where 39 sculptures of various origins were found by “guaqueros” (the name given in Colombia to pre-Hispanic tomb robbers).
Many of these statues had previously been in houses or in the market. It was a time when Colombia paid no attention to its heritage, and anyone could take what they found on your land. Later, many statues were “displayed” in San Agustin’s main square, without any conservation work. Since then, the statues have been moved to the park to ensure their protection.
Mesitas A, B and C
Several tombs and sarcophagi are on display in this area. Tombs have been (and are still being) found all over the region (far from San Agustin). In other words, the whole area around San Agustin was a huge necropolis!
the large production of sculptures and funerary complexes shows that the cult of the dead monopolized a large part of this people’s artistic production.
Mesita B is considered the most elaborate of all the mesitas.
Alto de Lavapatas
Continuing along the path, you’ll come to one of the places that’s very different from the rest of the park: the Lavapatas fountain.
This is a series of canals and small basins carved out of a stone slab in the riverbed. There are several carved reliefs, human and animal figures, and seats where ceremonies and rituals would have taken place.
Knowing that on arriving at the site we come across a statue of a frog symbolizing fecundity, and that in the fountain we clearly see a pregnant woman and a human form holding a newborn child, we can imagine that this was a place where childbirth or baptism ceremonies took place?
These are the kinds of theories that a guide can bring to the table with his or her knowledge, and on which we can launch into endless discussions… super interesting!
Practical info San Agustin Archaeological Park
Admission to the San Agustin archaeological park is a kind of passport that includes access to the two other archaeological sites in Isnos: Alto de los Idolos and Alto de las Piedras. Valid for 2 days.
- Address: Cra. 11 #307, San Agustín
- Opening hours: Daily: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. – Closed on Tuesdays in low season
- Please note that the ticket office closes at 4 pm, but you can stay in the park until 6 pm.
- Price Foreign adults: $50.000 COP – price includes admission to 3 sites over 2 days
Alto de los idolos Park
BEST-PRESERVED FUNERARY COMPLEX
Alto de los idolos is located near the village of Isnos, 30 km from San Agustin.
It’s a much smaller park than San Agustin’s, but one of the best-preserved funerary complexes. The sculptures and tombs are in their original location, making this site even more interesting.
This is the only site to feature a complete sarcophagus with a carved lid. Traces of color can also be seen, showing that potentially many of the statues were painted with colors that have not stood the test of time.
Particularly noteworthy at this site are the richness and detail of the human and animal representations, as well as the dimensions and funerary structures. Once you’ve visited San Agustin Park and seen the first statues carved in a relatively “basic” fashion, you’ll realize just how much the carving technique has evolved over the centuries.
PRACTICAL INFO ALTO LOS IDOLOS
- Location: San José de Isnos
- Opening hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. / Admission included in San Agustin Park entrance fee
Alto de las piedras Park
THE SMALLEST OF San Agustin’s archaeological parks
Alto de las piedras is home to just 8 sculptures and is located on a hill 5 km from downtown Isnos.
This is a pre-Hispanic ceremonial center where you can admire one of the most enigmatic statues: “El doble yo” (the “double me”).
A three-dimensional sculpture featuring an anthropomorphic figure with jaguar’s teeth, bearing on its head another smaller figure with both anthropomorphic and zoomorphic features.
This sculpture has given rise to many interpretations, and is also said to have a spiritual dimension.
It is one of the best-preserved and most detailed figures.
Practical info Alto de las Piedras
Alto de los idolos and Alto de las Piedras, being the smallest parks, are also the least visited. You’ll probably find fewer tourists in these two places.
- Location: San José de Isnos
- Times: Daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. / Entrance included in the price of San Agustin Park
- If you want a guide, you’ll need to bring one with you. Unlike San Agustin Park, there are no guides available at the park entrance.
Conclusion
San Agustin archaeological parks travel guide
The impression left by these sculptures is incredible, and the idea that we know nothing about this civilization leaves us wondering. Not to mention the quality of the sculptures and the beauty of some of them!
In conclusion, we’d like to say that we really enjoyed visiting San Agustin’s archaeological parks!
Where to stay in San Agustin
Finca El Cielo
Finca El Cielo is where we stayed in San Agustin, and we recommend it 100%! The hotel is beautiful, the garden magnificent, the welcome is perfect, and even if it’s a bit far from the village, you can get to various archaeological sites on foot.
Other options
San Agustin
Hostal
Dormitory : $25.000 to $50.000/Double room : $150.000 to $200.000 COP
As the name suggests, this is a hotel run by a Frenchman, and I hear it’s very nice. The hotel is located at the top of a hill from where you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view. It’s a property surrounded by gardens, with every comfort and a range of accommodation to suit all budgets. From dormitories to small cabins.
San Agustin
Eco Lodge
Double room : $100.000 to $150.000 COP
El Maco is an ecological finca set in the middle of nature, offering excellent value for money. The finca also has a sauna and a restaurant.
How to get to San Agustin
From Bogota
BUS | Bogota – San Agustin
- Bus companies: Coomotor, Taxis Verdes, Cootranshuila..
- Duration: approx. 10h
- Several departure times, including night schedules
FLIGHT | Bogotá – Pitalito
- Airline: Satena
- Duration: approx. 1h20
- Fare: approximately $300.000 COP
Once in Pitalito, take a buseta to San Agustin (45 min)
From Neiva
Buses from Neiva to Pitalito are much more frequent than the direct ones to San Agustin, so this may be a faster option in the end, as there’s less waiting. You’ll then need to take the Pitalito – San Agustin shuttle bus.
BUS | Neiva – Pitalito
- Companies: Coomotor, Cootranshuila, Cootrans Laboyana, Flota Huila..
- Duration: approx. 4h
BUS | Pitalito – San Agustin
- Companies: Coomotor, Cootrans Laboyana..
- Duration: 40 min approx
BUS | Direct Neiva – San Agustin
Go to the blue module of the Neiva Terminal to take the bus that will take you directly to San Agustin.
- Companies: Coomotor, Cootranshuila..
- Duration: approx. 5 hours
NIGHT BUS
If you’re traveling at night, choose one of the larger buses for a more comfortable journey. Beware of the air conditioning, which is often very strong, so take a sweater with you.
From Cali
From Cali, several bus companies offer direct services to San Agustin, but beware of infrequent departures.
BUS | Cali – San Agustin
- Duration: approx. 8 hours
- Companies: Coomotor, La Gaitana
- Cali terminal
Getting to Neiva by plane
You can reach Neiva by plane from Bogotá, a journey of just 1 hour, and then travel to San Agustin by bus as explained above. This option requires a little more budget, but saves you time.
PLANE | Bogota – Neiva
- Ticket price: between $120.000 and $250.000 COP
- Airlines: Avianca, Easyfly, Satena
Fly to Pitalito
This last option brings you closer to San Agustin via the small airport of Pitalito, served by the regional airline Satena. Direct flights depart from Bogotá. You’ll need a bigger budget for this option. From Pitalito, take a bus to San Agustin, as explained above.
PLANE | Bogota – Pitalito
- Companies: Satena
- Ticket price : Around $300.000 COP
- Duration : 1h20
PLANE | Medellin – Pitalito
- Airline : EasyFly
- Ticket price : Around $300.000 COP
- Duration: 1h30
Hello ! These are indeed magnificent parks, which intrigue many. To bring your information up to date, the entrance fee is now 50,000 pesos for foreigners and access to all three sites over 2 days
And currently, during the COVID period, the price is reduced to 38,000 pesos, but with restricted opening hours. And the park museum is closed.
Hello Sophie!
Thanks so much for the feedback, we’ll update the info 🙂
Great if you were able to take advantage of it.
The archaeological park is magnificent! We’ve just spent most of the day there! It’s shady and well organized.
Thanks for your message Evelyne 🙂 Great if you liked the San Agustin archaeological park!
The San Agustin archaeological park is truly magnificent. I haven’t had a chance to visit it, but I have watched several documentaries. I hope one day I’ll have the chance to go on vacation to Colombia.
Yes, San Agustin Park is one of the places that the French really like to visit! It’s a place steeped in history 🙂