Altamira is a town and municipality in the Huila Department, Colombia.Category:Populated places in the Huila Department Category:Municipalities of Huila DepartmentAltamira is a small pueblo in the department Huila, with a population of about two thousand. It is about an 8-hour bus trip south of Bogota. The largest city in Huila and its capital is Neiva, which is 89 miles north, with a population of about 370,000. The highway is two lane and paved. It is located in the Eastern Range of the Andes Mountains at about 3,540 feet elevation. The Central Range of the Andes converges in this part of the country so the mountains of that range can be seen just north of the town. On a very clear day when there are no high altitude clouds obscuring the view, the volcano Nevado de Huila can be seen to the north. At 18,865 feet it is the highest volcano in the country and is permanently snow covered with a glacier and it stands out well on a clear day even though it is about 50 miles north of Altamira.There are some hotels. A very nice one is the Porta de Altamira at the north end of town on the highway. About US $12 per night. There is a small grocery store as well as a few other shops that sell fresh produce, and grocery items. Many little stands selling food items, as well as a small shoe store.About a half hour ride north is Garzon, the closest city to Altamira. An hours drive south of town is the larger city of Pitalito(69,000). The highways are paved two lane and very winding and steep in parts. Beautiful scenery meets the eye at every turn. It is also the nearest city to San Agustin where a famous archeological park is located that is known for its pre-Columbian statues and artifacts. A lesser known archeological site with similar artifacts is in the vicinity of the little town of Isnos.