7 Tatacoa Desert Tours in Colombia Worth the Day

1.Neiva: Guided Day Trip to the Tatacoa Desert with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 76 reviews · 1 day · from $129Our pick

Guided day trip to Colombia's Tatacoa Desert from Neiva, with Villavieja culture, desert swims, boat ride, sunset, and stargazing.

“it was incredible. only myself, a German guy and a Colombian woman but we all got along really well. there's so much value for money AND we even opted out of things. We came for the deserts which didn't disappoint but also the surprise boat ride on the river really broke up the day. I can't recommend this enough!!”

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2.Community and Biodiversity Tour of the Tatacoa Desert from Neiva

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 29 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $64Top rated

Tatacoa Desert day trip from Neiva: grey and red desert walks, petrified wood valley, sunset mirador, stargazing option, lunch.

“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.”

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3.Discover the Tatacoa Desert with a Local

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · 13 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $82

Neiva day trip to the Tatacoa Desert with Villavieja history, grey and red desert walks, an optional pool, and star viewing.

“We had an amazing day in the Tatacoa desert with a really knowledgeable guide. We did a boat ride, visited the grey and red desert, went swimming in a natural pool (optional) and ended the day watching the stars at the observatory. The organization was also kind enough to let us join the tour only in Villavieja and return to Neiva in the evening so we could stay one night in the desert. Only point to be aware of for the non-Spanish speakers: We thought the tour would be fully in English, however both exclusively Spanish speakers and exclusively English speakers were allowed on the tour. Hence, it felt like…”

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4.Community and Biodiversity Tour of the Tatacoa Neiva Desert

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 14 reviews · from $56Best value

Tatacoa Desert biodiversity tour from Neiva: boat ride, red desert fossils, mineral pools, and a sunset astronomy session at Astrosur.

“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.”

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5.Desierto de la Tatacoa: paisajes y observación de estrellas.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · 3 days (approx.) · from $716

Tatacoa Desert and star gazing from Bogotá, with red rock views, Magdalena River wildlife, and a guided observatory session.

“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…”

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6.2-Day Private Tour to the Tatacoa Desert from Bogotá – Astronomy

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 9 reviews · 2 days (approx.) · from $418

Private 2-day Tatacoa astronomy tour from Bogotá: desert fossils, stargazing, Río Magdalena boat ride, natural pool swim, hotel pickup.

“Seeing and hearing about this interesting area was a wonderful experience. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and had a great personality. Be prepared for a long drive because this is quite a distance away from Bogota. I just loved sitting in a comfortable seat and watching the landscape go by.”

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7.Day Trip to Tatacoa Desert (Horseback, Boat, Stargazing, ..)

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 3 reviews · 9 hours · from $265

Horse ride through Tatacoa Desert, mineral soak, Magdalena River boat trip, sunset walks, and stargazing with cactus wine on a 9-hour tour.

“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.”

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