Through the Eyes of a Guide: San Agustín, Huila – Historical World Heritage of Humanity

My name is Aníval Ordóñez, and I have been a professional tour guide for 22 years. Over the past eight years, I have worked in the commercial sector, and before that in the public sector. But beyond titles and years, there is something that has never changed: my deep connection to San Agustín and its history.

For me, the Archaeological Park of San Agustín was, is, and will continue to be the most important meeting point in the south of what we now call Colombia. This is confirmed by the archaeological remains of a civilization that existed from approximately 4000 BC and that continues to be the subject of research and wonder to this day.

This ancient people left us an invaluable legacy: their worldview — a way of understanding the world, life, and death — that has managed to endure through the centuries. It is this legacy that allows us, as guides, to tell their story today, interpret their symbols, and connect visitors with a past that remains alive among mountains and stone sculptures.

But San Agustín is not only archaeology. As a guide, I have always felt that my work goes beyond explaining statues and dates. It also means showing the other side of San Agustín: its present-day people, its living community. In every face carved in stone, I see the reflection of the artisan, the musician, the cook, the farmer — men and women who today keep the essence of this land alive.

That is why I say that San Agustín was and continues to be a meeting point, because people from all over the world still converge here, arriving with curiosity, respect, and a desire to truly know us. Each visitor brings a story, and each story crosses paths with our own.

For me, as a guide, beyond the spiritual connection that exists between this place and my soul, San Agustín has also been a life opportunity. It allowed me to build a second profession, generate dignified income, and improve my family’s quality of life by doing what I love most: sharing the history and the heart of my homeland.

Guiding in San Agustín is not just a job. It is a privilege, a responsibility, and above all, a way of keeping a legacy alive — one that continues to speak to the world.