Neiva is the capital of Huila department, sitting in a broad valley on the east bank of the Magdalena River about 300 kilometres south of Bogotá. It's primarily a commercial city but serves as an excellent base for the remarkable landscapes and archaeological sites of the surrounding region.
The Tatacoa Desert, one of Colombia's most striking landscapes, is just 45 kilometres north — a dry scrubland of red and grey eroded formations popular for stargazing. The thermal springs at Rivera and the pre-Columbian statues at San Agustín Archaeological Park (a UNESCO World Heritage site) are both within easy reach.
Neiva is famous within Colombia for the Festival Folclórico del Bambuco, held each June around the San Pedro celebrations — one of the largest folk music festivals in the country, drawing visitors from across Colombia. The La Gaitana Monument on the Malecón commemorates the Timana indigenous leader who became a symbol of resistance against the Spanish conquest.