Neiva is the capital city of the department of Huila in south central Colombia. It has a population of around 378,857 inhabitants and is located in a valley along the Magdalena River. The city has a warm climate year-round due to its proximity to the equator. Neiva is known as the capital of bambuco music and holds annual festivals celebrating this folk genre. Some top attractions discussed include the Tatacoa Desert, San Agustín Archaeological Park, Betania Reservoir, and the city's traditional cuisine.

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Welcome to the official booklet about
Neiva, here you will find all the
information about our projects and
awesome information about our city,
a beautiful place where you could
find the perfect balance between
calmness and modernity.
Neiva, a city surrounded by water,
bathed in warmth, consisting of
historical and architectural heritage
that dace to the rhythm of bambuco.
That’s Neiva, a city of urban and rural
spaces, all gentleness in its
inhabitants.
If you are looking for what our city is, if
you want to dance to the rhythm of
bambuco, in Neiva you could live a
different and unique experience, so:
¡Pégate la rodadita!
-
través de experiencias
VALORES
Introduction
A beautiful place
where you could
find the perfect
balance between
calmness and
modernity.

3. Neiva: A Warm, Happy City
Neiva’s Flag
Neiva is the Capital of the
Department of Huila. It is located in
the valley of the Magdalena River in
south central Colombia with a
population of about 378,857
inhabitants. It is one of the most
important cities in Southern
Colombia, mainly because of its
strategic geographical location.
Due to its location near the equator and its low altitude, the city has a
hot annual average climate with daytime temperatures ranging from
88 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. It is about 300 kilometers / 186.4 miles
(about a five-hour drive) from the Colombian capital, Bogotá. The city
can be reached by road travel, or by all major national airlines, coming
to the Benito Salas Airport.
Neiva’s Seal Location in the Huila Department.

4. OUR CULTURE!
The city is known as the
Bambuco capital. The Bambuco
Pageant and Folkloric Festival,
festivities held between the last
two weeks of June and early July.
During this time, there are daily
parades through the downtown
area and showings of the
Sanjuanero, a folk dance, where
the participants dress in a typical
costumes and compete for
being the best performers of the
Sanjuanero choreography.
The Festivity is formed by three
events, the Folkloric Festival, the
Bambuco Pageant and the
International Folklore Exposition.
The Festival celebrates Bambuco
music.

5. La Tatacoa Desert: A Party of Stars
La Tatacoa Desert, the second largest dry area in
Colombia after the desert of La Guajira, is one of
Colombia’s most attractive natural landscapes. It
covers an area of 330 km² of gray and ochre soil
interrupted by the green of the cactuses. This
semiarid region is located north of Huila
Department, 38 km from the city of Neiva in
Colombia. It is a rich deposit of fossils and is a
great tourist destination.
-
través de experiencias
MISIÓN
Some Huila places you should visit!
La Tatacoa Desert
San Agustín Archaeological Park: Mystery Carved
in Stone
The San Agustín Archaeological Park, located on
the Department of Huila, is the only place in the
world highlighted by 500 imposing stone statues
carved in accordance to the mythology of their
Indian sculptors. Most of the statues were part of
the funerary paraphernalia of the ancient
inhabitants of the area and were related to
funerary rites, the spiritual power of the dead, and
the supernatural world.
Other interesting sites to visit:
 Magdalena River Strait: Municipality of San
Agustín.
 Cueva de los Guácharos National Park:
Municipality of Acevedo, the first ecological
reserve to be declared a Natural Park of
Colombia.
 Mortiños and Bordones Waterfalls: Located 10 km
from the Municipality of Isnos.
 La Caja de Agua: Municipality of Paicol, in
southwestern Huila, about 90 minutes from the city
of Neiva.
 Huila Snow Peak Natural Park: Located in the
departments of Huila, Tolima, and Cauca at a
similar altitude on the Central Mountain Range.
 Betania Reservoir: Located 35 km south of Neiva.
 Thermal water in Rivera
San Agustín
Magdalena River Strait
Betania Reservoir

6. Our Food!
Gastronomy in Huila is abundant and diverse due to its
varied agricultural production and the confluence of
cultures.
The recipes – carried down from one generation to
another and part of the department’s cultural identity
– attract tourists in search of the particular tastes of
traditional Huila cuisine.
The following stand out among the most
representative food preparations:
Bizcochos de achira (arrowhead biscuits)
Masato (a rice-based beverage)
Huila-style roast pig
Envueltos de mazorca (leaf-wrapped sweet corn
dough)
Mazamorra (a thick, corn-based beverage)uu
Fried mojarra (a river fish)
Huila casserole
Cholupa Juice
Several kinds of stew

7. Some Prices! (Colombian Peso)
Some Useful Words in Spanish!
1USD = Around $1800
Bus Ticket: $1500
Movie ticket: $8000
Pizza (medium): $10000
Lunch (restaurant): $5000
Bottle of Water: $1500
Bottle of Juice: $1500
Coke (400ml): $1700
Milk box (1 Liter): $2000
I’m hungry: Tengo hambre.
I’m thirsty: Tengo sed.
I don’t speak Spanish: No hablo
español.
Yes: Si, No: No.
Did you understand?:
¿Entendiste?
Good Morning : Buenos días.
Good Afternoon: Buenas tardes.
Good Evening: Buenas tardes .
Good Night: Buenas noches
How are you?: ¿Cómo estás?
Help me!: Ayúdame.
Thank you!: Gracias.
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