One of Colombia's travel highlights, Tierradentro's principal attraction are the ancient man made burial caves and tombs that are painted with mysterious geometric patterns of the Tierradentro Archaeological Park. There are a total of four caves sites to explore, and hundreds of actual tombs have been discovered. Allow a full day to explore the tombs. The mountainous scenery is very scenic, and one could easily spend a few days hiking in the area, which is also very good for birdwatching. Horseriding tours can easily be arranged locally, and there are a few museums worth visiting.
Paez Indians live in this region of Colombia and hold interesting indigenous Saturday markets at both Belalcazar and Inza. Numerous small indigenous villages can be visited for those who want to go on off the beaten track trekking or horseback riding tours.
There aren't many hotels in the area, and all are relatively basic. There's hotel options both at Tierradentro itself (down the valley) or in the nearby Paez Indian village of San Andres, which is a more pleasant place to stay. El Refugio is one of the best hotels in the area, while others include Residencias Pisimbala, Hospedaje Luzerna, Los Lagos and El Cauchito.
Tierradentro is about 5 hours travel overland from Popayan (take a bus via Inza). Alternatively, it's about 10 hours from Bogota (via La Plata) or 5 hours from San Agustin (via La Plata again). Check the safety situaion locally as this part of Colombia has seen guerilla activity in the past, though it is now frequented by tourists.
Travel tip: It's best to bring a torch when exploring the caves.
