Explore the magic of San Agustín in Colombia’s Huila department, where ancient mysteries and natural wonders converge. This unique place enchants adventurous solo travelers with its archaeological marvels and serene landscapes infused with spiritual energy. Locals may tell you gripping tales of spectral encounters and mystical phenomena. Whether you believe in them or not, the undeniable magic of this region captures even the most skeptical traveler.
Amidst rolling green hills and hidden waterfalls, San Agustín is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, complemented by its UNESCO World Heritage Site, the San Agustín Archaeological Park. The town of San Agustin is a very pleasant place to stay, featuring cosy cafes and restaurants with a delicious culinary offer.
Here are ideas for things to do in San Agustín, Colombia, and in its surroundings.
The San Agustín Archaeological Park is an ideal place for solo travelers to wander and praise beauty. Stroll amidst mysterious pre-columbian statues, altars, ceremonial baths, and tombs, displayed in a stunning natural setting.
The park is split over several locations and includes also Alto de los Ídolos, Alto de las Piedras, and Lavapatas. The main Archaeological Park is located very close to San Agustin and can be reached in less than an hour by foot from the center of San Agustin.
The Archeological Park Alto de los Ídolos is situated between San Agustin and Isnos. While there is access by road, travelers can also embark on a scenic 12-kilometer trek by foot or on horseback, passing through La Chaquira and crossing the Magdalena River via an old wooden bridge.
Photo by Travelhapp, San Agustin Archeological Park
The beautiful colorful stone sculptures of El Purutal are located in the hills around San Agustin. When hiking there or horseback riding, you can enjoy gorgeous views of green mountains and valleys.
Photo by Travelhapp, El Purutal statues, San Agustin Archeological Park
La Chaquira, is an important archaeological site about 50 minutes by foot from the center of San Agustin, situated on a cliff overlooking the Magdalena River. Marvel at ancient rock carvings and petroglyphs and enjoy breathtaking river views
Photo by Travelhapp, La Chaquira, San Agustin
San Agustin is a very pleasant place to spend a view days. Enjoy amazing vistas while strolling through the streets, admire the beautiful churches, and visit the Archeological Museum to learn more about San Agustin’s ancient civilization and fascinating pre-columbian history.
Last but not least, relax in the nice cafes and restaurants of San Agustin while sipping delicious regional coffee or enjoying typical food. Here are some recommendations:
Tinto Specialty Coffee (Google Maps): Beautiful place run by a passionate owner, serving excellent coffee and waffles.
Bici Cafe (Google Maps): Designed creatively around the bike theme, Bici Cafe offers great coffee along with delightful healthy food.
Sabores Ancestrales (Google Maps): Artsy Sabores Ancestrales offers creative regional food and delicious cakes.
The countryside around San Agustin is absolutely gorgeous and ideal for outdoor activities such as hiking and horseback riding. You can enjoy marvelous panoramic views of the area and search for hidden waterfalls. If you like ziplines or swings, visit Finca Camping Caña y Café (Google Maps), reachable in 30 minutes by foot from the San Agustin Archeological Park.
Photo by Travelhapp, San Agustin Countryside
Photo by Travelhapp, San Agustin Surroundings
The Estrecho del Magdalena is a geological spectacle where the mighty Magdalena River narrows extremely and rushes turbulently through a gorge, lined by rock cliffs and surrounded by lush vegetation. This cardinal place is located 15 km from San Agustin and can be accessed via an unpaved road, best by jeep or motorbike.
Photo by Travelhapp, Estrecho del Magdalena
Photo by Travelhapp, As narrow as the Mighty Magdalena River can get…
Huila stands out as one of Colombia’s premier coffee-producing regions, boasting numerous coffee farms and plantations scattered throughout the department, with some situated in or near San Agustín. It’s a must-do when visiting San Agustín! Here are a few recommendations:
Agroturismo Fincabaña – Café Especial (Google Maps): This charming Finca can be reached in just 30 minutes by foot from the center of San Agustin is a great place to try regional coffee.
Finca Campo Bello (Google Maps): Beautifully set Finca Campo Bello is committed to sustainable coffee production and can be reached in about 15 minutes by camionetas which depart daily from the market place in San Agustin towards Vereda Llanada de Naranjos.
Herrera Cafe Pitalito (Google Maps): Exquisite coffee from the Pitalito area. Contact Herrera Cafe beforehand to arrange your coffee tour. You can reach Pitalito in less than an hour by bus from San Agustin.
Apart from offering additional impressive archeological sites like Alto de las Piedras (Google Maps), Isnos is a great off-the-beaten-path destination for outdoor and nature enthusiasts. The majestic Bordones waterfall (Google Maps) impresses with its 290-meter drop, while the Salto del Mortiño waterfall on the way to San Agustin offers a lush Andean backdrop and a viewpoint to enjoy breathtaking panoramic views. For adrenaline-seekers, rafting along the Magdalena River from Sombrerillos to Versalles makes an exhilarating adventure.
Isnos is also known as the “panela capital” of Huila and offers a firsthand look into traditional panela production. Panela is an ancient, unprocessed, sweetener made from evaporated sugar cane juice, featuring a rich flavor profile.
Photo (mod.) by Diego Torquemada, Salto de Bordones near Isnos, CC BY 3.0
The magical department Huila has not been explored by many international travelers yet but features a wide range of hidden gems and fascinating off-the-beaten-path destinations with the Tatacoa Desert just being the most famous one. Get inspirations for Exciting Things to do in Huila.
I traveled alone to San Agustin and really enjoyed it! The town is small and pleasant to explore by foot and the main archeological park is quite close to the center and easy to reach.
San Agustin feels safe but as a female solo traveler I prefer to have some company on hikes to more remote and isolated sights for peace of mind. When I visited, luckily my friendly host accompanied me sometimes. In Colombia, it’s also easy to meet other solo travelers in hostels. Introverted types like me, who prefer a private room in a quiet place over a busy hostel, can join our Colombia Solo Travelers Facebook Group to find people to team-up with.
In general, when traveling alone in South America (and many other places), it’s always a good idea to apply some precautions. Have a look at my Colombia Safety Tips and Solo Travel Guide for an initial orientation.
Photo by Travelhapp, Hidden Waterfall in San Agustin Huila
When is the best time to visit San Agustín in Colombia, weather and climate-wise? San Agustin invites you all year round with pleasurable day time temperatures between 23 and 26°C (73-79°F) and night time temperatures around 13-16°C (55-61°F). The driest months are typically June to September and December to March (climate change and weather phenomena aside).
From San Agustin you can easily get to some other hidden treasures of Colombia by bus or mini-bus.
Neiva, Huila: The hot capital of the Huila department itself is not very attractive but it’s a good travel hub with a lot of connections to other parts of Colombia. The bus ride from San Agustin to Neiva takes approximately 4,5 hours (see Rome2Rio).
Popayan, Cauca: From San Agustin it’s a fun and bumpy 5-hour bus ride through Purace National Park to the beautiful white city of Popayán. Find out what to do in Popayán.
Mocoa, Putumayo: From Pitalito you can get to the capital of the untapped Putumayo region in the Colombian Amazon in just 3 hours by bus (see Rome2Rio). From Mocoa you can travel on to Pasto in off-the-beaten-track Nariño.
* By the way, please note that the correct name of the town, in Colombia, is San Agustín, not St. Augustin – and it’s Colombia and not Columbia. (There are frequent confusions about this.)
Last Update: November 24, 2024
