Termales de Rivera
Thermal pools in the hills above Neiva, developed as a resort village and used mainly by Huila families at weekends.
Updated 14 October 2026
The springs rise in the foothills of the Eastern Cordillera above Rivera at around a thousand metres, mineralised and warm, and several complexes have been built round them - pools, changing facilities, restaurants and cabins, run commercially and aimed squarely at domestic weekend visitors from Neiva and the wider Huila region rather than at foreign travellers. The setting is wooded hillside above the hot Magdalena valley, which is cooler than Neiva below and part of why people come up. Rivera itself is a small town on the main road south. It is a straightforward domestic leisure destination rather than a natural site - the water is real but the experience is a resort one, and the complexes vary considerably in quality and upkeep.
What's there
- Warm mineralised pools - in the cordillera foothills.
- Several separate complexes - varying in quality and upkeep.
- Wooded hillside above the valley - cooler than Neiva below.
- A domestic weekend destination - aimed at Huila families.
When to go
December to March; weekdays are quieter. Half a day.
Things to know
These are commercial resort pools rather than natural springs in a wild setting. Weekends and holidays fill them. Quality between complexes varies a lot. Neiva below is very hot.
Nearby
Neiva is north; the Tatacoa desert is beyond it.
What to pack for Termales de Rivera
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Loose, light, long clothing - Covering up beats bare skin in the desert - and locals dress this way for a reason. Find on Amazon
- Swimwear - Needed at most public thermal pools; some traditional baths are nude and single-sex. Find on Amazon
- A wide-brim hat + sunglasses - Shade for your face and eyes where there is none overhead. Find on Amazon
- Quick-dry towel + flip-flops - For wet changing areas and hot poolside stone. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
