One Of The World's Most Underrated Tiny Hotels Is A Cozy Desert Oasis Under A Starry Sky

When considering Colombia, we often think of lush jungles, rugged mountains, tropical beaches, and colorful colonial towns that make you feel like you've stepped back in time. What doesn't usually spring to mind is the idea of deserts. Though the vast arid landscapes of Chile's Atacama or the American Southwest may get the lion's share of attention, Colombia is also home to a beautiful desert region that flies well below most travelers' radar.

Situated some six hours south of the capital city of Bogota, the Tatacoa Desert is a 127-square-mile area of stunning dry canyons and rock formations. The sands and stones of the Tatacoa are punctuated by tall cacti and tough desert plants, and by day, the otherworldly landscape comes alive in vivid shades of red, ochre, and grey. At night, however, the Tatacoa is enveloped in impossibly dark skies, making it an ideal spot to gaze up at the light show of the universe.

While the Tatacoa natural assets remain the main attraction, it also possesses some not-so-natural charms, including Tubo Hotel, La Tatacoa. This fun and funky compound is made up of 37 brightly painted rooms built from concrete sewer pipes and is a little oasis on the edge of one of Colombia's most notorious badlands, making it the perfect base for exploring this unique and enthralling piece of real estate.

Named for local rattlesnakes, the Tatacoa Desert is the second-largest arid zone in Colombia after the Guajira Peninsula. Sometimes referred to as "The Valley of Sadness," it's technically not even a desert, but rather a tropical forest that eventually dried out. This once-verdant environment was home to free-flowing water that sculpted the gnarled landscape we see today. Whatever you want to call it, the Tatacoa is a place of stark beauty and incredible stillness and is yet another reason to visit one of South America's most enthralling countries.

The unique landscape of the Tatacoa is also home to some incredible wildlife. While you're there, keep your eyes open for iguanas, spectacled bears, condors, eagles, snakes, turtles, scorpions, ocelots, and even pumas. These creatures can best be spotted while hiking, but for safety, consider joining a group trip with a local guide, and make sure to pack plenty of water and sun protection, as daytime temperatures can sizzle in excess of 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Due to its remote location near the equator, the Tatacoa Desert is blessed with extremely dark night skies, so it should come as no surprise that stargazers flock there to marvel at the heavens. For a close-up view of the solar system and beyond, make sure to stop by one of the local observatories: The government-run Observatorio Astronómico VYCTORIASTARS is a modern, fully-equipped complex, while the Observatorio Astronómico Astrosur is more of a DIY affair run by a single man whose passion for the cosmos is infectious.

While there are a number of fine places to stay in and around the Tatacoa, Tubo Hotel is a standout. This multichromatic collection of reconfigured pipes is reminiscent of a Japanese capsule hotel, only placed firmly on the edge of one of South America's most unique and surreal pieces of real estate. Each air-conditioned room comes equipped with a double bed, and given the concrete capsules' diminutive sizes, guests must share restrooms. While an inconvenience for some, this just adds to the hotel's communal vibes, as visitors are also encouraged to mingle in the bar, restaurant, and lovely outdoor shared swimming pool. 

The shock of pastel colors that grace each structure at Tubo Hotel just accentuates its desert environs. And while the complex makes for a terrific refuge during the day, it's at night when magic really begins to cook. That's when the heavens open up, offering visitors a glimpse into a beyond that is almost too massive to contemplate and too beautiful for words. For some of the best stargazing in the U.S., check out these dark sky campsites.