The largest group of religious monuments and megalithic sculptures in South America stands in a wild, spectacular landscape. Gods and mythical animals are skilfully represented in styles ranging from
Divinities with threatening faces, warriors armed with clubs, round eyes and jaguars' teeth of mythical heroes...
Some
three hundred enormous sculptures stand in the region of Saint
Augustin, in the heart of the Andes, the province of El Huila. Classified in the World Heritage List of UNESCO,
this vast park, the largest one of the precolumbian America, opens the
door to an unknown civilization which would have bloomed between the
6th century B.C and 12th A.D.
The
first vestiges were lately discovered in 1940, by the german explorer
K.Th.Preuss, buried under mounds of thirty meters in diameter. It only
was in the seventies that the real excavations started. Carved in
blocks of tuff and volcanic rock, these hieratic guards, some of which
are higher than 4 meters and weigh several tons, protecting the funeral
rooms, the monolithic sarcophagus and the burial sites where corpses,
goldsmiths and ceramics were enclosed.
Officialy place of pilgrimage and worship of the ancestors, this sacred land is now open to visitors. Exuberant forests, wild symphony of waterfalls, a few villages and hamlets around a white church... the scene is somptuous.
The
archeologic site of San Augustin can be discovered by walk, by horse,
or even by jeep extended on a territory of 2000 km2, for an altitude of
only 1800 meters, with snow covering the top. The locals are
hospitable. Guides are available... The visitors infos have good
supplies with easy and also detailed documentations.
What services we offer in San Agustin:
Prices starting at US $ 30
We count with a wide variaty of services to help you planning your visit. Please contact us for a quotation.
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