La Mano del Gigante (The Giant’s Hand) is a gorgeous viewpoint 4,855 feet above sea level with incredible views over the Huila Department, including El Quimbo Dam and El Nevado del Huila. The massive hand is a fitting work of art, as the town of Gigante is named after the Cerro Matambo (Matambo Hill), which resembles a giant’s face lying down.
The hand is part of an exciting new tourism project to draw people into the area, with activities such as paragliding available and many others planned. After a gorgeous walk or ride through coffee plantations, you will arrive at the top to drink a cup of freshly roasted, locally grown coffee and be greeted with some of the most breathtaking views in Colombia.
You can easily arrive in your own vehicle or by bike. There are tour companies offering transport from the town of Gigante. Jeeps are also available from Gigante to the entrance. From there, it is a beautiful 50-minute walk up to the top. Alternatively, there are some mototaxis available for approximately 10,000 COP or you can easily hitchhike with the transport jeeps. As of May 2019, the entrance to the viewpoint is 5,000 COP.
