Neiva Travel Guide

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La Tatacoa Desert, the second largest dry area in Colombia after the desert of La Guajira, is one of Colombia’s most attractive natural landscapes. It covers an area of 330 km² of gray and ochre soil interrupted by the green of the cactuses.

According to scientific discoveries, during the Tertiary Period, La Tatacoa was a garden with thousands of flowers and tress that gradually dried up until it became a desert.

The further south you go from Neiva, the closer you get to the guerilla area. Caqueta and Putumayo are, in my opinion, no-go areas for tourists. (Leticia on the Amazone river seems to be an exception but fly there). Take a flight as far as you can go, i.e. fly Bogota-Neiva with AIRES or AVIANCA. Then continue by car preferably arranged by someone local and during daytime. Don't travel on the road at night, stay in Neiva and continue the next day. For San Agustin go to Pitalito and then arrange further transportation. See my Pitalito page. My advice would be to go to these places from Bogota and return to Bogota as well before travelling to other destinations in Colombia like Popayan, Cali etc. Police and military are nervous here, take care with taking pictures, or ask a policeman first. It's not impossible but take precautions.
Info December 2003