Tatacoa Desert: How to Get There, Things to Do & Tours
The Tatacoa Desert is without doubt one of the places with the most astonishing landscapes in Colombia.
The Tatacoa Desert (Huila) is the second-largest arid area in Colombia, after the La Guajira Peninsula.
The landscapes of the Tatacoa Desert are unique in the whole country. The best views come at sunrise or sunset, when the earth's colors are at their most vivid. The nights are another draw, with a clean, clear sky full of thousands of stars and the moonlight outlining the silhouettes of the eroded formations.
Tourist information
The Tatacoa Desert is also known as the Valley of Sorrows (Valle de la Tristeza), a name the Spanish gave it for its appearance and aridity.
According to scientists, during the Tertiary period the area was covered by lush tropical vegetation. The fossil remains found in La Tatacoa show the variety of species that lived here at that time. Over thousands of years the area gradually turned to desert through soil erosion, giving it its present look, with whimsical formations dominated by reds, ochres and yellows.
How to get to the Tatacoa Desert
The Tatacoa Desert is 38 km from the city of Neiva, in the Huila department.
From Neiva you can travel on a paved road to the town of Villavieja, the gateway to the desert, just 7 km away. There is also public transport and buses between Neiva and Villavieja.
Villavieja
The town of Villavieja has the services visitors and tourists need: hotels, restaurants, shops, taxis and travel agencies. It sits on the bank of the Magdalena River and can be explored on foot. Points of interest include the Paleontological Museum and the Santa Bárbara Chapel, the main square and the Casa Museo del Totumo.
Paleontological Museum
Villavieja is home to the Paleontological Museum, which preserves the fossil remains found in the region and uses display panels to explain the area's features. It is well worth a visit as an introduction to the subject. Address: Carrera 3 N 3-28.
The desert: a protected area
The Tatacoa Desert is a protected area of 56,000 hectares where conserving the environment is a priority. The routes cover different sectors, the most notable being El Cusco and Los Hoyos. The main route can take between 4 and 6 hours.
The area has few inhabitants — only a handful of families live here, raising goats and selling products to tourists. The desert is home to various plant species, cacti chief among them, and animals such as snakes, scorpions, lizards and eagles.
Astronomical observatory
Thanks to the clarity of the Tatacoa sky, there is an astronomical observatory that offers talks and allows nighttime visits. Phone: +57 313 3195106. Facebook: Oatastrotatacoa
Important — when visiting the desert, remember to:
- Bring water.
- Not climb or stand on the eroded formations.
- Not leave litter.
- Not light fires.
- Hunting and collecting flowers and plants is prohibited.
- The temperature drops at night — bring warm clothing.
Where to stay in the Tatacoa
The nearest urban center with major hotels is Neiva, 38 km away. The town of Villavieja also offers accommodation in guesthouses. Around the observatory you can camp, and there are also houses in the desert that allow camping.
Hotel guide
Hotel Colonial Villavieja
Address: Calle 5 #1-82, Villavieja
WhatsApp / Mobile: 3124968588 // 3163269522
Website: hotelcolonialvillavieja
Hostel Dunas Tatacoa
Phone: +57 314 3060163
FB: Dunastatacoa
Hotel Villa Paraíso
Address: Calle 4 #7-69, Villavieja
Phone: +57 (321) 2345424
WhatsApp: +57 (301) 5594641
Website: hotelvillaparaisovillavieja.com
Frequently asked questions about the Tatacoa Desert
In the Huila department, 38 km from Neiva. It is the second-largest arid area in Colombia after La Guajira, famous for its red (El Cusco) and grey (Los Hoyos) earth formations.
From Neiva by road to Villavieja (the gateway, 7 km from the desert), with public transport available. From Villavieja you explore the desert by motorbike, tuk-tuk, on foot or on a tour.
Explore the labyrinths of El Cusco (red) and Los Hoyos (grey), bathe in the natural pools, watch the sunrise and sunset, and enjoy the starry sky at the astronomical observatory.
Thanks to its clean, dark sky, it is one of the best places in Colombia for stargazing; there are observatories and nighttime star sessions.
There are guesthouses and campsites within the desert (ideal for seeing the stars) and hotels in the town of Villavieja. It is wise to bring cash and sun protection.
It can be visited all year; the dry season (June–September and December–January) offers clearer skies for astronomy. Come prepared for the daytime heat and the cool nights.