The Tatacoa Desert

It is located on the north side of the Province of Huila, and it is one of the first natural surprises in this side of our geography full of a great variety of different and spectacular landscapes. The desert is the first step to live an amazing adventure and get deeper in a deserted and enigmatic spot. In contrast, the Magdalena River (the longest river in the whole country) is very close and also some urban centers full of life.

This arid zone, the second largest in Colombia after peninsula La Guajira in the north side of the country, appeal into the uncommon shapes due to the degeneration of land and produced colors on its composition, yellowish on El Cuzco and ashy in Los Hoyos. Touristic lodges in Colombia have a basic infrastructure for this trip and guide visitors into this rustic tour.

How to reach this desert
From Bogotá there are several airlines flying to the capital city of the Province of Huila, Neiva in approximately 30 minutes. From Neiva the tourist will take land transportation up to the town Villavieja, and from this point to the desert are 15 additional minutes.

If visitor drives his / her own car, this trip will take about five hours from Bogotá. Right in Villavieja there is a service of moto-taxi, which is a service in a motorcycle used as a taxi, pulling a coach or carriage. Visitor will be taken to the deserted zone in these vehicles.

Sector El Cuzco
This land keeps some orange tones due to brimstone on its lands, and red colors because of labyrinths, towers and cathedrals the most famous structures in La Tatacoa. Right there some sorts of cactus grow up producing flowers and some inedible fruits. Cardoons are used for inhabitants to manufacture candies. On the other side, geologists and anthropologists take some advantage of land degeneration and traces or tracks from fossils to begin some researching in order to find some geological eras.

Astronomic Observatory
This is a construction used to watch and study celestial bodies. It is located right on the way to get in the desert in sector El Cuzco. Because of the absence of any luminous pollution, this desert has become the main spot in Colombia to appreciate stellar phenomenon easy to observe and notice either directly or through powerful telescopes as the one right in this observatory. It is curious to find that whereas this land deteriorates continuously, right up over our heavens is getting closer wrapping up the stars and celestial bodies as fantastic scenery.

Information:
Javier Fernando Rúa
Phone: + 57 (8) 879 7584
Cell phone: 310) 465 6765
E-mail: jrua@tatacoa-astronomia.com

Another spot to visit is the central sculpture in the park of the town which resembles some creatures from ancient times in this desert.

Information:
Gladys Vanegas
Cell phone: (313) 804 9580

This town took as its own the slogan "fly away and come here" as an invitation for everybody and ask them to come and find nice people and natural and architectonical attractive as Santander Park, the Cathedral The Immaculate Conception, the monument to La Gaitana, the levee of the Magdalena River, park island Mohan, the National Building or the antique train station.

Information:
Secretaría de cultura y Turismo del Huila.
Phone: + 57 (8) 875 2195
Cell phone: (317) 667 618
E-mail: Jaime.perdomo@gobhuila.gov.co

Information:
Fundación Takyhuayra, Jorge Melo Valderrama
Phone: + 57 (8) 838 7355
Cell phone: (312) 40 9529
E-mail: takyhuayra@gmail.com
Website: www.fundaciontakyhuayra.com

Some blocks away from the park is the wharf of the dam, and there are some walking paths and ways for bikers. Once the visitor is sailing on the dam is unavoidable to enjoy a cheerful trip on board of a touristic ferry or one of the ships sailing around the dam until reaching port Hobo. This dam is used for competitions of sport fishing and other sports like kayak.

Information:
Secretaría de Turismo de Yaguará
Phone: + 57 (8) 838 3066 Orlando Téllez
Cell phone: + 57 (312) 241 0885
E-mail: orlandtz@yahoo.es
Secretaría de Turismo de Yaguará
Phone + 57 (8) 838 3066

• Walking through
  Walking through natural paths send visitors in a way of different landscapes, some of them green leading to Rivera and waterfall Salto del Ángel; some other walks on landing scraped areas and sources of water on Los Ramos gorges in the village of Yaguará, and the ones converted in labyrinths full of mystery as it has been created in the desert of Tatacoa. All of this implies a good health and love toward nature.
  Information
  In Rivera: Jorge Melo, Cell phone: + 57 (312) 406 9529
  In Yaguará: Orlando Téllez, cell phone: (312) 241 0885
  In Tatacoa: Nelson Ramírez, cell phone: (320) 338 3121
• Speleology
  The north side of the Province of Huila is the most passionate spot to study caves composition as the cave of tiger on the path Upar in Yaguará. It is 613 meters (about 1900 feet) long with a high grade of difficulty in which there are four kinds of bats, and different rocks or spelotemes. Inside the caves there are some waterfalls making pools to abate the embarrassment or to quench one’s thirst because of the long walk in the darkness.
  Information: Ecoaventura Pachama - Cell phone: + 57 (320) 231 0481, (312) 241 0885 - E-mail: pachamamaeu@gmail.com - Website: www.ecoaventurapachamama.com
• Horsing
  By horsing visitor gets in touch with nature, enjoying landscape and learn about farming on working lands and everyday job of countrymen or farmers.
  Information: Fundación Takyhuayra, Jorge Melo Valderrama - Phone: + 57 (8) 838 7355 - cell phone: (312) 406 9529 - E-mail: takyhuara@gmail.com - Website: www.fundaciontakyhuara.com
• Rappel and Kayak
  Large like knife rocks on the mountain going along the edge of the mountain in Yaguará, in addition there is an excellent sight of dam Betania and on this high around is the best spot to challenge through a good sport as rappel. In order to reach the top of the mountain, the sportsperson must walk through a way full of guava trees, prickly bushes and beautiful sights of the dam.
  In addition of the ferry and some touristic ships, sometimes on the waters of the dam there are some extreme kayak races.
  Information: Ecoaventura Pachama - Cell phone: + 57 (320) 231 0481 - (312) 241 0885 - E-mail: pachamamaeu@gmail.com - Website: www.ecoaventurapachamama.com

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE TRAVELER

• Lodging
  Facilities in the desert of Tatacoa lock of some comfort. So they are to be enjoyed by some uncomplicated tourists well disposed toward challenges and adventure and contact with nature.
• Health
  Visitor does not need any special vaccination program; however, he /she must be in good health since longs walks are waiting for everybody. It is a good idea to carry a first aid kit.
• Elements to carry
  Sneakers, comfortable clothes for high temperatures, body protectors, repellent and some water for hydrating, especially in the desert La Tatacoa.
• Schedules
  There is not any specific schedule for visiting this region. However, is advisable to make these walks in short steps in order to avoid sunstroke at noon, and also to enjoy celestial nights and Javier Rua’s conferences at the Astronomic Observatory.
• Preservation
  The ecosystem of this desert is fragile. Please do not pick up neither animal nor vegetal samples, do not litter or scatter trash on the way.
• Transportation
  There is a lot of public transportation from Bogotá to main cities of the country. There are also some airlines from Bogotá to Benito Salas airport in Neiva.
• Information
  There are some restrictions when using different touristic attractive, especially on spots for adventure sports.
• Important
  Continuous information and advisement from touristic operators is a good deal in order to avoid unpleasant situations. It will unforgettable to enjoy these beautiful and different landscapes in this Province.