The Tatacoa Desert, as this region located in Huila is famously known, is not exactly a desert, it is rather a tropical dry forest that in the tertiary period was a garden full of trees and flowers that gradually dried up until it became what today appears to be an ochre and gray desert. Its name comes from the rattlesnakes that inhabit the region, since in Huila these snakes are called “Tatacoas”.
HOW TO GET TO TATACOA DESERT
La Tatacoa is located in Huila, in the municipality of Villavieja. To get to the Tatacoa desert from Bogota you must take a bus to the municipality of Aipe, Huila, then to get to Villavieja you must cross the Magdalena River in a boat, another option is to get to Neiva and there take a bus to Villavieja. When you get to Villavieja, you have two options, since the desert is divided into two parts, El Cuzco (the red part) and Los Hoyos (the grey part). El Cuzco is located 8 kilometers from Villavieja, one option is to walk for approximately 2 hours, however, because of the climate of the area, it is not highly recommended. In Villavieja you will find motorcycles and taxis that provide the service to take you to the desert, its cost does not exceed $20,000. This part of the desert is the most visited by tourists.
Los Hoyos is located 17 kilometers from Villavieja. To visit this part of the desert, it is advisable to hire an agency for a complete tour with a guide to see the places it offers, for example, Cardón, Cuzco, the Sand Zoo, Los Hoyos and the Xilópalos Valley.
GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE IN TATACOA DESERT
The Tatacoa Desert is located between the Magdalena River and the Eastern Cordillera and has an area of 330 square kilometers at an altitude of 386 and 900 meters above sea level. The temperature in the Tatacoa Desert is variable, for example, at midday it can reach a temperature of up to 43°C but at night it can drop to 18°C, for this reason, it is advisable to bring warm clothes for the day, but warm clothes for the night, sunscreen and insect repellent should not be missed.
ATTRACTIONS IN TATACOA DESERT
The Tatacoa Desert itself is a tourist attraction, it is one of the most visited destinations in Huila. Its eroded semi-dry landscape provides an unparalleled sense of tranquility. It is a quiet place, as fantastic, where you can find unique wildlife, such as rattlesnakes, turtles, spiders, eagles, lizards and ocelots. This region of the country is characterized by having one of the most important centers of astronomy in Colombia, in addition to this, the desert has been the scene of paleontological excavations as it is a fossil site of ancient seas and there are those who think that there could be found some lost link in the evolutionary chain.
WHAT TO DO IN TATACOA DESERT?
Tourists visit the Tatacoa Desert because it is a scenery that wonders for its landscape and in addition, the nights here become magical. Generally, travelers prefer to stay and camp because at night there are showers of stars. You can also visit the astronomical observatory that allows the entrance of tourists and gives talks almost every day. You can go on an ecological walk through the 330 square meters of the desert.
In the Los Hoyos sector there is a swimming pool, you can take a refreshing dip in the middle of the desert for an affordable price.
In Villavieja you can visit the paleontological museum where you will find a collection of fossils of animals that travelled through the Tatacoa desert millions of years ago.
WHERE TO STAY IN LA TATACOA DESERT?
The best option to stay in the desert is camping, that is why, 300 meters from the astronomical observatory is located the area for campers that offers restaurant, there you will also be able to find and hire guides for your tour of the desert. But if you prefer the comfort of a hotel, you can find a variety of hostels and hotels in Villavieja, Huila.
Yararaka Hotel is located at Carrera 4 # 4-43, offers WiFi, private bathroom per room, free parking, swimming pool. Reception 24 hours.
Telephone: (8) 8622744 – 313 2470165
Villa Paraíso Hotel is located 250 meters from the center of Villavieja and 10 minutes from the Tacaoa Desert on Calle 4 # 7-69. It offers WiFi, free parking. The rooms have private bathroom, television. It has an outdoor swimming pool and 24-hour reception. Pets are allowed.
Website: https://www.hotelvillaparaisovillavieja.com
Phone numbers:(8) 8797727 – 3212345424 – 3015594641
E-mail: reservas@hotelvillaparaisovillavieja.com
COSTS
The entrance to the Tatacoa desert is free of charge.
The visit to the astronomical laboratory costs $10,000, and includes a full lecture on astronomy.
The entrance to the paleontological museum of Villavieja costs $5,000.
Information taken from La Nación Newspaper. March 28th, 2018.