Tatacoa Desert tour from Neiva: Magdalena River and red desert
Walk the Magdalena River and hike through petrified wood to watch the red desert glow at sunset
A full-day guided tour from Neiva into the Tatacoa Desert, departing at 8 am and returning by 10 pm, with stops at the Magdalena River, a natural sanctuary, the Valley of the Xilópalos (a 4-kilometer hiking trail), and the red desert. You walk through a landscape shaped by ancient volcanoes, see wildlife including iguanas and birds, and end at a viewpoint with a drink as the sun sets. Lunch and private transport from Neiva are included. Entry to the natural pool and the astronomical observatory are optional add-ons.
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Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Tatacoa Desert and surroundings
- Meet at Backpackers Hostel at 8:00 am
- Travel to Villavieja and tour town
- Tour Magdalena River and observe wildlife
- Visit Backpackers Neiva Natural Sanctuary
- Hike 4 km in Valley of the Xilópalos
- Lunch break
- Optional pool visit and swim
- Travel to red desert and walk 4 km
- Watch sunset at Mirador with drink
- Optional astronomy visit at observatory
- Return to Neiva and Backpackers Hostel
The experience
The tour leaves Neiva at 8 am and heads 70 minutes south to Villavieja, a small town where you'll see the local museum before moving to the Magdalena River: Colombia's most important river, where you can spot its native flora and fauna along the banks. From there the route enters the Backpackers and Travelers Neiva Natural Sanctuary, a protected reserve within the desert where iguanas, squids, birds and other wildlife live among the scrub.
The heart of the day is the Valley of the Xilópalos, a 4-kilometer hiking trail of mild difficulty through a grayish landscape scattered with petrified wood. The remains of an ancient volcanic region from the Miocene epoch. The trail takes about two hours, and the colors and rock formations shift as you move through. After lunch (a traditional Huila meal with protein, rice or potato, salad and a drink), you have the option to swim in a natural pool for an extra cost, or skip it and rest before the afternoon push.
The final stretch is the red desert itself, a 4-kilometer walk through terrain marked by red and ocher soil, green cacti and winding paths where you might spot snakes, scorpions, lizards, eagles or turtles if you're lucky. You end at a mirador (viewpoint) around 5:45 pm with a refreshing drink while the sun sets over the landscape. The tour then offers an optional visit to an astronomical observatory where a guide explains the night sky for another two hours before the return to Neiva by 10 pm. A guide who speaks English and Spanish leads the whole day, and all transport is private.
What’s included
- Private transportation from Neiva to all sites and back.
- a live guide in English or Spanish.
- travel insurance.
- traditional lunch from the Huila region with a protein (meat or chicken), rice or potato, salad and a drink.
- a refreshing drink at the sunset viewpoint.
Before you book
Prices and times updated 7 days ago
Operated by Backpackers Neiva
Is this one for you?The full day, 8 am to 10 pm, leaves no room for other activities, but it covers the entire Tatacoa landscape in one push: river, desert, petrified valley and sunset. If you want to see all three desert zones and the river in a single departure from Neiva, this is the route that does it.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Spanish.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What is the Valley of the Xilópalos and why does it look gray?
The Valley of the Xilópalos is a hiking trail through a landscape filled with petrified wood: fossilized remains from an ancient volcanic region. The grayish color comes from high concentrations of phosphorus and silica in the soil, remnants of the area's volcanic and torrential past during the Miocene epoch millions of years ago.
Will I see wildlife on this tour?
Yes. The Magdalena River stretch and the natural sanctuary are home to iguanas, birds, reptiles, turtles and squids. In the red desert section, you may encounter snakes, scorpions, lizards, eagles and turtles, though sightings depend on the time of day and season.
How much walking is involved?
You'll hike about 4 kilometers through the Valley of the Xilópalos (mild difficulty, roughly two hours) and another 4 kilometers through the red desert (roughly two hours). There are also shorter walks at Villavieja and along the Magdalena River, plus time at viewpoints and the natural sanctuary.
Can I swim in the pool, and is it included?
Swimming in the natural pool is optional and costs an extra 10,000 Colombian pesos. It's a 30-minute stop in the afternoon schedule, so you can choose to skip it and rest instead, or add it to your day.
What happens at the astronomical observatory?
The observatory visit is optional (10,000 pesos extra) and runs for two hours in the evening. A guide explains the night sky and astronomical phenomena, with time for stargazing before you return to Neiva around 10 pm.
Tatacoa Desert tour from Neiva: Magdalena River and red desert
14h · EN · ES · at your hotel
from US$ 83 per person
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