Tatacoa Desert: Top 5 places to visit.
Top 5 places to visit in the Tatacoa Desert
Colombia is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. It is home to the most paradisiacal beaches on the Caribbean, mangroves on the Pacific, snowy destinations in Huila, and one of the most incredible places: the Tatacoa Desert.
The Tatacoa Desert is one of those unmissable places to visit in Colombia. It’s not a proper desert, but a tropical dry forest. It is a very eroded area crossed by canyons. Here you can appreciate how nature has formed two zones of different colors in one place.
Here are the top 5 things to do when visiting the Tatacoa Desert:
1. Walk through Cuzco and Los Hoyos
The desert is divided in to two large areas. Cuzco which is distinguished by its reddish ocher color, and Los Hoyos which is characterized by its gray color. One of the first things that you should plan to do in the Tatacoa Desert is to visit these two places.
Cuzco and Los Hoyos can be visited on the same day, on a walk that lasts for 2 to 4 hours. Here you can appreciate the Tatacoa zoo and the panoramic view of the Huila Department.
2. Visit the Xilopalos Valley
After ending the tour of Cuzco and Los Hoyos, you can visit the Xilopalos Valley. This place has been less explored by tourists. The large canyons, giant cacti and magnificent landscapes make this a unique destiny in the Tatacoa Desert.
3. Stargaze at La Tatacoa Observatory
Observing stars is one of the unforgettable things to do in the Tatacoa Desert. Although stars can be seen in a lot of places around the world, nothing compares to this view. You can watch the starriest sky from a vast and clear tropical dry forest, away from the light and noise pollution of the big cities.
At the observatory, the resident astronomer will make your mind soar with a nightly presentation and observation; you can appreciate shooting stars, constellations, Venus and Jupiter. The Tatacoa Desert is the best place on the equator to observe the stars from.
4. Step into the Valley of Desires
This is another place to visit in the Tatacoa Desert, a place that keeps the wishes of the many visitors who come there, in piles of rocks. When the wind blows down a pile of rocks, it means that the wish has come true.
5. Explore the Paleontological Museum of Villavieja
This museum is located in the neighboring municipality of Villavieja. Here you can appreciate more than 600 fossil parts that have been found in the Tatacoa Desert. Paleontologists say that they date back to at least 5 million years ago.
Top 5 Places of the Tatacoa Desert: Conclusion
These are our top 5 things to do in the absolutely stunning Tatacoa Desert, which as you can see makes a fantastic tourist destination. Perhaps now it won’t be difficult for you to imagine a landscape that seems to come from another planet.
If you need help or guidance with the planning process of your trip to Colombia, don´t hesitate to contact us. We have a team of travel experts looking forward to help you have the best holiday of your life.