Tatacoa Desert, Desert and Tentative World Heritage Site in Huila Department, Colombia.
Tatacoa is a desert landscape in Huila Department that spreads across two distinct geological zones. The Cuzco area shows ochre hills and ravines, while Los Hoyos features gray clay rocks and deep erosion patterns.
Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada reached the region in 1538 and called it the Valley of Sorrows due to its barren appearance. The name Tatacoa comes from the rattlesnakes that live in the area and made an impression on early visitors.
The observatory offers nightly viewings under one of South America's clearest skies, where visitors watch stars and planets through telescopes. The darkness of the desert makes it a popular spot for stargazing among astronomers and travelers from the region.
Access is through the town of Villavieja, from where local guides organize tours through the canyons. Early morning or late afternoon hours are more comfortable for exploring, as midday heat can become intense.
The gullies form natural labyrinths of clay that reach depths of around 20 meters (66 feet) and guide visitors between high walls. These formations emerged through thousands of years of erosion and create passageways that twist in unexpected directions.
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