Tierradentro

Tierradentro is in the department of Cauca in Colombia.

Understand

Tierradentro region famous for is painted underground burial chambers, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

History

There is not much known about the Precolumbian civilacation who created the burial chambers.

Landscape

Flora and fauna

Climate

Get in

San Andres de Pisimbala or simply San Andres is the tiny hamlet where most people stay. From Popayan several busses a day make the 5 hour ride to Tierradentro. Some will drop you off at a place called El Cruz form there it's a 2 kilometre walk to San Andres.

If you come from San Agustín, you first have to go to Pitalito to get a bus to La Plata which leaves at 6am and 10am. From there you can take bus to San Andres at 4pm.

Get around

All sites are within easy walking distance. It's possible to visit all in one day.

See

Near the entrance of the park there are two museums. An archeological museum with pottery, statues and interesting information (in Spanish) and an ethnological museum with interresting information about the Paez indians who nowadays live in the surrounding mountains.

From the entrance there are two walks. One will lead to Sergovia a extensive site with the best preserved burrial chambers and the only ones with light. Further up is the site El Duende with some more burrial chambers. And close to San Andres is El Tablon with statues simular to San Agustín.

The other walk will lead to Aguacata sitting on top of a mountain. The views are amazing, but most of the burrial chambers are not maintained at all. Close to San Andres is the site Alto de San Andres.

Money

There is no bank nor cashpoint. Take enough money espacially in small bills, changing you 20.000 bills can be hard.

Buy

Bring a torch before going to Tierradentro. The ones available in San Andres are bad.

Eat

In San Andres there is only one restaurant, you can't miss it.

Sleep

There are several budget recidencials renting out rooms and cooking meals. One of them is a old lady called Marta which has rooms for COP$8.000 and a meal cost around COP$2.000.

Stay safe

Tierradentro is guerrilla area, but till now they haven't harmed tourist. Armed conflicts between guerrilla and military aren't uncommon, inform the situation before setting off.