Memorials - Monuments - Museums - Parks - Statues

Mar. 22 New Facilities in Colombia's Mysterious Archaeological Zone Pitalito, Colombia - The 60-guest Timanco Inn was inaugurated here in Southern Colombia - the gateway to the fabled San Augustin Archaeological Park. This 150-square mile are, located 5, 600 feet above sea level in the heart of the Andes, near the headwaters of the Magdalena River, is filled with hundreds of imposing stone statues, many of them giant monoliths-traces of civilizations that flourished and disappeared mysteriously centuries before the arrival of the Spaniards. The park also contains ceremonial fountains carved in rocky brook beds and tombs lined with great slabs of stone. In a citadel recently discovered are burial mounds built for men who must have been seven feet tall - a sacred burial ground for a race of giants according to archaeologists. Such is the fascination of San Agustin;s archaeological riddles - rivalling those of Easter Island - that more and more U.S. and European tourists are visiting this vast park, located five hours by road from Neiva, which is only an hour's flight from the Colombian capital of Bogotá. The Colombian Tourist Corporation is rapidly developing facilities in this new tourist destination. In nearby Garzon the 30-room Ambeyma Inn will be completed next year. The Yalconia Inn, in the Park itself, will be expanded to 50 double rooms. A restaurant and lodge will soon be ready on the Hill of the Idols, one of the most fascinating sites in the area. Several local tour operators in Bogotá feature two and three-day tours to San Agustin and other surrounding archaeological areas, such as San Andres de Pisimbala, whose underground tombs rival those of the Incas. And Avianca, the Colombian national airline, flies you to Bogotá from New York, Miami and Los Angeles, with a choice of 25 weekly departures. In Bogotá, many flights continue on to other Colombian destinations, while others connect with Avianca's international routes serving all of South America. This huge fanged stone statue us one of many in San Agustin - all of mysterious pre-historic origin

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13210623

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46964288

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4444px x 5546px (1.5MB)

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Editorial Use Only - No Property or Model Releases. For any non-editorial use, please contact Mary Evans direct

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Keystone Pictures USA