San Agustín attractions - An independent walking tour
Most visitors do two 1-day tours by jeep or horse, which covers all the main attractions. All operators offer more or less the same programs. It makes sense to take one of the so-called jeep tours as some of the attractions, including archaeological and natural sights, are a bit far from the town of San Agustín, but the other attractions can be covered in a one day hike independently. This post covers the independent hike that includes the San Agustín Archaeological Park, El Purutal la Pelota, La Chaquira and El Tablón.
1. San Agustín town. Jeep route (yellow): 2. Salto del Mortiño; 3. Alto de los Idolos; 4. Alto de las Piedras; 5. Cane sugar factory; 6. Obando; 7. Estrecho del Magdalena. Hiking route (red): 8. San Agustín Archaeological Park; 9. El Purutal la Pelota; 10. La Chaquira; 11. El Tablón. (Based on map: rcquinn.com)
THE WALKING TOUR IN PHOTOS
San Agustín Archaeological Park
The archaeological park is not too far from the centre of San Agustín (3 kilometres), you could walk there, but you can take a motor-taxi as well. I did the latter in order to save time and energy for the walk after the park. The park is extensive and you will need at least 2-3 hours to cover it.
Click here to see photos of the San Agustín Archaeological Park.
El Purutal la Pelota
From the entrance of the Archaeological Park a pedestrian path starts uphill - starting from there and taking a few turns here and there, you will reach the private site, El Purutal la Pelota. (You have to pay an entrance fee even if you have the pass for the other sites.) It only has a few things but they are unique. The trio of statues are similar to those in other sites, but the guardian statues of the two tombs are coloured - nowhere else you find any such sculptures.
Turn left after the gate.
Turn right at the sign.
Turn left at this junction.
The junction from a different angle.
At the sign, you have to turn right...
... to get on this road.
A couple of cafés / shops are found opposite the entrance.
The entrance.
La Chaquira
Leaving El Purutal la Pelota, you have to turn left upon exiting the site and start uphill. After a longer walk you get to an asphalt road where you have to turn right. The tricky part then is spotting the gate which you have to open to continue. La Chaquira is a combination of an archaeological and a natural site: a group of rocks with carvings can be found here, plus you have a truly amazing view of the Magdalena River valley running far below.
You have to carry on the same dirt road...
... until you get to an asphalt road. Turn right here.
When you reach a ranch, Finca el Cielo, on your right, the gate will be a little further along on the other side, on the left.
The gate which you have to open to carry on a dirt walking path. The gate is only to keep animals from escaping, visitors are permitted to pass.
Another gate to open.
Finally you get to a junction where you have to turn left.
Parking for vehicles and horses.
You have to climb back to the top to continue the walk to El Tablón.
El Tablón
After leaving La Chaquira, you have to back-track along the same dirt road you came. But when you get to the junction of the gated path, instead of turning right onto it, you have to carry on straight (left). From here there is only one way until you reach El Tablón, and then the outskirts of San Agustín. El Tablón is not an outstanding site compared to the others, but it is next to the road leading back to town so it is a convenient stop.
Shortly after the bridge, on top of a steep climb, there is a road-side shop on your left. The entrance to El Tablón is right opposite of this.
The entrance.
From El Tablón you have to continue on the same road until you reach a T-junction where you turn left. It is already the agglomeration of San Agustín and soon you will be in the centre.
