Day Trips to Silvia, San Agustin and Tierradentro

Day Trips

silviamarket

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Silvia Market

& Misak Indigenous Community

Nestled high in the central Andean range, the vibrant village of Silvia springs to life every Tuesday as farmers from indigenous communities across the region gather to trade fresh produce and share stories. This is not just a market—it’s a living tapestry of tradition and culture.

Immerse yourself in the rich heritage of the Misak communities, renowned for their colourful traditional dress, preserved native language, and deep-rooted customs. Our journey begins with a departure from Popayan at 8am, and we’ll arrive in Silvia by 9:30am. There, a knowledgeable local indigenous guide will meet us to offer a personalised tour of the bustling market.

Following our market exploration, we’ll ascend into the mountains to the Guambia indigenous reservation. Here, you'll have the chance to visit a local family, where you'll enjoy a traditional lunch and gain deeper insight into the community's way of life.

We’ll conclude our enriching adventure with a return to Popayan around 4pm.

Seize this exceptional opportunity to connect with Andean culture through the eyes of a local guide, who will reveal the authentic traditions and vibrant lifestyle of the region. Don’t miss this chance to experience an unforgettable cultural journey!

ndigenous guide who will provide you with an insight into local tradition and culture.

2025 Prices:
1 person: $210 USD
2 people: $230 USD
3 people: $260 USD
4 people: $290 USD
5+ people: Contact us for a quote!

Includes
Return transport, local indigenous guide, typical lunch, entrance fees, insurance

Doesn't include

additional snacks and drinks (optional)

Recommendations
Bring: warm clothes, waterproof jacket, clothes and shoes suitable for walking, sun protection, money for purchasing items in market.

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puracenationalpark

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Purace National Park

Discover the beauty of the Paramo

This day trip takes in the highlights of the Puracé National Park and the Puracé Indigenous reserve. We leave Popayan at 8am and drive through the lush Andean landscape surrounding Popayan, up into the lower slopes of Puracé volcano. Here we visit the Piedra del Condor where our local guide places meat on the rock to allow us (with a bit of luck!) to see the magnificent Andean Condor close up. We then continue by car to other sites of natural beauty within the reserve such as the Bedon waterfall, The San Juan thermals with their geysers and coloured mosses and the paramo area with it´s unique vegetation and surrounding landscape.

There is an optional, short hike that you can take along foot trails through the community farmlands to the administration building at Puente Tierra. There is a small, rustic restaurant here and a short walking trail with examples of the Andean orchid varieties. We return to Popayan around 4pm.

2025 Prices:
1 person: $230 USD
2 people: $250 USD
3 people: $270 USD
4 people: $300 USD
5+ people: Contact us for a quote!

Includes
Return transport, entrances fees, local guide fee, typical lunch, insurance.

Doesn't include
additional snacks and drinks (optional)

Recommendations
Bring: warm clothes, waterproof jacket, clothes and shoes suitable for walking, sun protection, money for lunch or packed lunch

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sanagustindaytrip

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day

San Agustin Day Trip

Colombia's Archaeological Gem

Step back in time and discover one of South America’s greatest mysteries. With over 500 sculpted statues scattered across verdant coffee-planted hills, San Agustín Archaeological Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — offers a powerful window into pre-Columbian cultures dating back more than 5,000 years.
Set just outside the quiet farming village of San Agustín, this is Colombia’s most important archaeological site and an unmissable experience for anyone interested in history, culture, and nature.

Tour Overview 

We depart from Popayán at 7am, crossing the dramatic Central Andean range to arrive in San Agustín around midday. Our first stop is the well-curated museum, followed by a guided exploration of the main archaeological park.
With clearly marked trails, bilingual signage, and breathtaking surroundings, the park offers a fascinating 3–4 hour visit that covers the main burial mounds, ceremonial sites, and mysterious megalithic sculptures.
Afterward, we begin our return journey, aiming to arrive back in Popayán around 7 PM.

Optional Early Departure & Bonus Sites

 For those eager to explore further, we offer the option of an earlier start (around 5am). This allows time to visit one of San Agustín’s secondary sites, such as:
* Alto de los Ídolos: Home to some of the tallest statues found in the region. 
* Alto de las Piedras: Featuring intricate tombs and lesser-known sculptures. 

While we highly recommend spending a couple of days in San Agustín to enjoy its many hidden corners, we understand not everyone has the time. This express day trip is designed for those on tighter schedules who don’t want to miss out on one of Colombia’s true cultural treasures.

If you have more flexibility, we can also arrange overnight stays to give you time to discover:
* El Estrecho del Magdalena: The narrowest point of Colombia’s principal river. 
* Obando Archaeological Park: Featuring fascinating funerary caves and a small local museum.

2025 Day Trip
1- 2 people: $280 USD (local driver)

1 - 2 people: $320 USD (bilingual driver)

3 - 4 people: $340 USD (local driver)

3 - 4 people: $430 USD (bilingual driver)
5+ people: Contact us for a quote!

2025 Next day Return (not including hotel)

1- 2 people: $350 USD (local driver)

1 - 2 people: $440 USD (bilingual driver)

3 - 4 people: $460 USD (local driver)

3 - 4 people: $540 USD (bilingual driver)
5+ people: Contact us for a quote!

Includes
Return Transport, Insurance, entrance fee to archaeological park, typical lunch (day trip only)

Doesn't include
hotel accommodation, snacks or additional drinks, meals (next day return option), local guide (optional)

(please let us know if you would like us to quote for these additional services)

Recommendations
Bring: warm clothes, waterproof jacket, clothes and shoes suitable for walking, sun protection, money

for snacks/drinks

Would you like to see both the UNESCO world heritage sites in one trip? Consider taking our 'Southern Loop' which combines Tierradentro and San Agustin. Click here for more details

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tierradentrodaytrip

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Tierradentro Day Trip

Colombia’s Hidden Burial Chambers

The UNESCO World Heritage site of Tierradentro is one of Colombia’s true hidden treasures. Its famously rugged access roads have preserved not just its extraordinary pre-Columbian burial chambers, but also the surrounding wilderness, dramatic mountain landscapes, and traditional Andean farming villages.

This journey isn’t just a visit — it’s an adventure through dramatic canyons and spectacular mountain passes that few tourists ever experience. For those looking for an intimate connection with Colombia’s history and nature, Tierradentro offers a rare and rewarding escape from the crowds.

We depart Popayán at 7am, crossing the central Andean range and 'Paramo' area to arrive at the Parque Arqueológico by around 10:30 a.m. While the museum offers an introduction, the real experience lies outdoors. Expect light to moderate hiking between sites as you explore the elaborate underground tombs and mysterious stone statues that have stood here for centuries.

At around 1pm, we stop in the quiet village of San Andrés for a home-style traditional lunch before continuing to another archaeological site. We return to Popayán in the evening, around 7pm.

While we recommend spending at least a couple of days in Tierradentro to fully appreciate its atmosphere, this curated day trip is designed for travellers short on time — but unwilling to miss out on one of Colombia’s most unforgettable and authentic destinations.

For a close-up look at one of the burial chambers - please take a look at the Tierradentro3D project!

2025 Day Trip
1- 2 people: $250 USD (local driver)

1 - 2 people: $290 USD (bilingual driver)

3 - 4 people: $320 USD (local driver)

3 - 4 people: $390 USD (bilingual driver)
5+ people: Contact us for a quote!

2025 Next day Return (not including hotel)

1- 2 people: $310 USD (local driver)

1 - 2 people: $390 USD (bilingual driver)

3 - 4 people: $390 USD (local driver)

3 - 4 people: $480 USD (bilingual driver)
5+ people: Contact us for a quote!

(please let us know if you would like us to quote for these additional services)

Recommendations
Bring: warm clothes, waterproof jacket, clothes and shoes suitable for walking, sun protection, money

for snacks/drinks

Would you like to see both the UNESCO world heritage sites in one trip? Consider taking our 'Southern Loop' which combines Tierradentro and San Agustin. Click here for more details