The Tatacoa desert is the second largest desert area in Colombia that is classified as a tropical dry forest because there is a highly eroded area crossed by dry canyons. To get to the Tatacoa desert from any city in Colombia, you must first go to the Neiva transport terminal. Here you find several routes to choose from; One option is to take a bus that goes directly to the desert. This transportation costs 15,000 Colombian pesos (4 dollars) and the journey takes an hour and a half.
A second option to get to the tatacoa desert from Neiva is to take a route to the town of Villavieja, you can find buses and vans that take you to the main park, where the cost of the ticket is 8,000 Colombian pesos (2 dollars). Then in the municipality of Villavieja, you must take a motorcycle taxi that for a cost of 15,000 Colombian pesos will take you to either of the two desert areas.
The road has a paved road and reaches the desert, the contrast that is experienced from the town to the hostels is a sample of the beauty of this treasure in the department of Huila.
To get to Neiva by bus you can do it from the transport terminal of any city in Colombia. Here we share some rates of bus tickets and times.
- From Bogotá to Neiva: approximately $45,000 (6 hours of travel).
- From Ibagué to Neiva: approximately $30,000 (3 hours of travel).
- From Armenia to Neiva: approximately $45,000 (6 hours of travel).
- From Medellín to Neiva: approximately $80,000 (12 hours of travel).
- From Manizales to Neiva: approximately $70,000 (8 hours of travel).
- From Cali to Neiva: approximately $90,000 (9 hours of travel).
The entrance to the desert has no cost. One of the desert areas is that of Cuzco, characterized by its reddish and ocher dunes. The other desert area is that of Los Hoyos where the dunes are gray tones. As for lodging, you can find hostels on the sides of the Villa Vieja road and within the desert, there is a choice of room, camping, and even glamping.
The natural pools can be found in the Los Hoyos area, 30 minutes from the Astronomical Observatory. They are natural pools of local water, immersed in the desert at a temperature of 40 degrees between huge land formations. Also on the Rock of Constantine, there is a tourist attraction that has a groundwater pool.
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