Getting to and away from San Agustín

By Lorraine Caputo

Buses for the Parque Arqueológico leave from the Central Park every half-hour between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. ($0.50, 20 minutes). Taxis run only until about 9 p.m. and charge $1-3, depending on the diatnce and time of day. Most transportation leaves from Calle 3, between Carreras 10 and 12.

To Pitalito: Pick-ups depart from Calle 3. Frequent 5 a.m.-6 p.m., $2.10, 35-45 minutes.

Pitalito to La Plata: 7 a.m., 10 a.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m., $8.50, 3 hours. Or go to Garzón (bus $4.75, collective taxi $5.30), then to Pitalito (buseta $4.20, collective taxi $5.30). From La Plata, then, you can go to Tierradentro. See that section for more details. From Pitalito service is more frequent to Neiva, Bogota, Isnos and Popayán.

To Neiva: Taxis Verdes—4 a.m., 5 a.m., 8 a.m., 1 p.m., $10.50, 4 hours.

To Bogotá: Taxis Verdes—7 a.m., 7 p.m., $21, 9 hours. Coomotor—5 a.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., $22-27.30, 10 hours.

To Popayán: Coomotor—6 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7:30 p.m., $14.70, 6 hours. Cootranshuila (by way of Coconuco)—7 a.m., 10 a.m., 4 p.m., $13, 6 hours. Coming from Popayán, the bus may leave you at El Cruce, the crossroads for San Agustín. Catch a pick-up truck coming from Pitalito for San Agustín ($0.80).

Chivas: For neighboring villages depart from near the market or from Calle 5. If the road from Popayán gives your wheels a beating, San Agustín does have several bike repair shops. Almacén Taller Miler Motors has parts for and repairs Japanese motorcycles (Calle 12 3-63). For bicycle parts and repairs, check out Taller y Almacén Kalemo (Carrera 11 2-53).