Colombia · TATACOA DESERT TOURS
Every trip has one free day too few. These 7 tatacoa desert tours justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part of planning.
Explore Colombia’s Tatacoa Desert from Neiva with hikes, a Magdalena River boat ride, local lunch, sunset, swimming, and stargazing.
“Seraffin and Camilo as our tour guide where amazing! very knowledgeable a lot of information that really added to the experience they really wanted we enjoyed it at our own pace. Ivery worthwhile! you can buy cold water along the way:)”
Review of the 14-hour Tatacoa Desert tour from Neiva, with hikes, wildlife, lunch, sunset, optional pool and astronomy.
“This was a really great tour. You don't appreciate the beauty until you see it for yourself. I feel like the pictures don't do it justice. Pro tip, you can get some amazing photos of the galaxy at night at the observatory if you bring a tripod (purchased from someplace like Panamericana) and you use the 30 second night mode exposure on like an iPhone 16. Though obviously it is dependent on whether the clouds cooperate.”
Review of the Tatacoa Desert tour from Neiva, with red and gray desert walks, local lunch, a pool stop, sunset, and stargazing.
“Our guide was Valentina, she was very kind and a wonderful guider. This tour was one of the best experiences here in Colombia and it is definitely a must-go attraction.”
Explore Tatacoa Desert from Neiva with wildlife, fossils, community visits, red canyons, swimming, lunch, and astronomy for $56.
“A great day trip with many beautiful stops and a lot to see. Excellent value for money and a pleasant tour itinerary. Our highlights were the two hikes through the desert. During the boat ride, we saw many animals (including turtles). We were completely satisfied with the tour.”
Explore Tatacoa’s red desert, Xilópalos canyon, Magdalena River, Villavieja, and equatorial stars on a private three-day tour from Bogotá.
“What a wonderful adventure traveling with our 8-year old son from Bogota to Desierto Tatacoa during Semana Santa! Ana and her whole team are warm, knowledgeable, and they take care of every detail with excellent communication. We visited both sides of the desert, hiked the Xilopalos canyon trail, studied fossils in the paleontology museum, explored the plaza in Villavieja including a brief stop in the delightful Totumo Museo before taking a lancha down the Rio Magdalena looking at iguanas and birds, then capped the evening off at the observatory. The delicious food, adorable puppy, and welcoming family made relaxing in the hostel during breakfast and the evening a pleasure. This…”
Review of a private Bogotá to Tatacoa Desert astronomy tour, with fossils, red and gray rock, a natural pool, and long travel days.
“Considering the price (even if it’s a private tour) it was very disappointing. The girl who was our “guide” and translator had such a lazy and indifferent attitude. It all seemed like she didn’t want to do the tour. She spent a lot of time on her phone taking selfies and doing her own videos and photographs. In the desert with a local guide (who seemed eager to teach us a lot about everything) she didn’t bother to translate half of what the local guide said and also she fell behind several times and couldn’t even hear the local guide speaking but didn’t seem to care unless we specifically asked…”
Review of Tatacoa Desert day trip with horseback riding, river boat ride, mineral pools, sunset views, and cactus wine stargazing.
“La nostra guida Maristela è stata premurosa e gentilissima. Molto preparata ci ha spiegato tutto nella parte di passeggiata a piedi nel deserto che è meraviglioso. La passeggiata a cavallo vale per la sensazione di quiete che si prova….anche perché il nostro accompagnatore in questa fase non ha proferito parola. Gli autisti dei tuk tuk sono simpaticissimi ed è stato spettacolare anche il giro in lancia sul fiume Magdalena. Anche qui guida preparatissima. Eravamo troppo stanchi per chiudere con l’osservatorio ma Maristela ci ha offerto un frappè di caffè buonissimo! Bella esperienza.”
From island boats to coffee fincas, and the best of each.
