San Agustín Archaeological Park

San Agustín Archaeological Park

San Agustín Archaeological Park is situated in the Andes Mountains at an altitude of over 1,800 meters in the southwestern part of Colombia, in Huila Province. The area has a warm climate and plentiful rainfall, where one of the indigenous peoples nurtured the distinctive San Agustín culture. The San Agustín culture reached its peak in the 8th century, but like other American civilizations, it declined and disappeared rapidly. San Agustín Archaeological Park is not only a renowned archaeological site, but also a scenic natural landscape area.

For travelers interested in both archaeology and sightseeing, San Agustín Archaeological Park is undoubtedly the best choice. Within a radius of about 500 kilometers, there are numerous burial grounds, temples, and stone statues of the San Agustín culture. The artists of San Agustín crafted stone axes from obsidian and carved exquisite statues and stelae from basalt. Visitors can gain historical insight into the park, and explore on foot the famous statue complex known as the “Forest of Statues,” which includes four small plateaus and a total of 35 statues of diverse styles. Archaeologists classify these statues into classical, naturalistic, expressionist, and abstract sculpture groups. These small plateaus are flat and open, and were gathering places for residents in ancient times.