Four major archaeological sites, all dating from 600 to 900 AD, comprise Tierradentro: three burial and one of statures. The tombs were carved by hand from volcanic rock. Some are up to 3 meters (ten feet) deep. Most are painted within, with geometric and figurative designs in red, black, orange, grey, purple and yellow on white. A few also contain burial urns.
Segovia, the first site from the museum, is the crown jewel of the complex. Thirty tombs are open; only 16 are lit. Numbers 8 to 12 are the most impressive. Alto del Duende, the next site, consists of four crypts. The third grouping, El Tabl贸n, is statues stylistically similar to those of San August铆n. Beyond San Andr茅s Pisimbal谩 is Alto de San Andr茅s with more tombs.
Location:
Tierradentro, Colombia
Ruin Types:
Ruins
Getting There
The paths connecting the sites are well signed, and the guards at each site can point the way. You can reach each by foot.
Travel Tips:
Flash photos of the tombs are not allowed. Only a few tombs are lit, and only those at Segovia.
The times between each site are as follow: Museo Etnogr谩fico to Segovia, 20 minutes; Segovia to El Duende, 15 minutes; El Duende to El Tabl贸n, 40 minutes; El Tabl贸n to Alto de San Andr茅s, 30 minutes. The turn-off for the path to Alto de San Andr茅s is midways between Parque Arqueol贸gico and the village; this can be done as a separate hike. If you do the trek reversed, going from San Andr茅s de Pisimbal谩 to El Tabl贸n, Alto del Duende and Segovia, then the walk will be mostly downhill.
Check at Parque Arqueol贸gico for availability of horses (be sure they are in good condition); typical charge is $2.50 per hour.
Price Description:
$5.60 for adults, children under 15 free. The ticket is good for the museums, also, and is valid for two days.
Relative price: Mid-Range
Open Hours from:8 a.m.
Open Hours to:4 p.m.
Travel Skills: beginner/easy.
You Need to Bring:
As most of the tombs are unlit, a flashlight. Water and food; rain gear and or sunscreen, depending on the weather.
Aguacate is another tomb site, over the mountain behind the Archaeological Museum. It is in poor repair and unlit; the path is especially bad after rains, with mud calf-deep (or more). Rubber boots are recommended.
The Archaeological Museum and the Ethnographic Museum. The church in San Andr茅s de Pisimbal谩, and the markets of neighboring indigenous villages, especially Inz谩.
Currencies accepted
Colombian Peso
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