Barichara and San Gil: Private Day Tour

From $188 USD per person

Barichara is one of Colombia’s official Heritage Towns and it looks it: stone-paved streets, rammed-earth walls, and the Camino Real running out of town toward the Suárez River canyon. San Gil, half an hour away, is the other half of Santander, the place people come to raft, fly and jump off things. This day puts both in one itinerary.

Six to eight hours, private. The range is transfer time. Santander is a big department with no airport at either town, so where you sleep decides how much of the day you spend in the car.

Check live availability and prices — or read on for how the day is built.

How the day works

• Pickup and the drive to San Gil (about 2 hours). From your hotel, with the landscape shifting from town to canyon country on the way.
• San Gil on foot (about 2 hours). Plaza Mayor, the Santa Cruz cathedral, and the gorges that made this the adventure capital of the country. Your guide covers the traditions and the history rather than just the sights.
• Barichara (about 2 hours). Puente Grande, the Camino Real, the churches, and the artisan workshops working in stone, fique paper and hand-woven textile.
• The drive back. Roughly the same again, depending on where you started.

What’s included

• A private English-speaking guide
• Private hotel pickup and drop-off
• A gastronomic experience
• Entry to all activities on the itinerary

Not included

• Breakfast and lunch
• Extra purchases

Good to know

• Sturdy, comfortable footwear. A good amount of this day is walking on uneven ground and cobbles.
• The drive is about two hours each way depending on where you are staying, and that time is inside the total.
• Sunscreen, a hat and water. Santander is warm, especially in the lower ground around San Gil.
• Adventure sports are not part of this tour. You will see where paragliding, rafting and bungee happen. If you want to do them, they cost extra and need arranging in advance.
• It runs in all weather. Pack a light rain jacket anyway.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the day?

Six to eight hours, of which roughly two each way is driving. Your private guide adjusts the pace in each town to fit what is left.

What should I wear?

Walking shoes with grip. Barichara is cobbled and the ground is uneven in places. Layers plus sun protection.

Is it in English?

Yes. Your private guide works in English and Spanish, so you get the commentary in whichever you prefer.

Can I add rafting or paragliding?

Not inside this tour. You will see where they run. They cost extra and have to be arranged in advance. If flying is the reason you are coming, book the Chicamocha paragliding tour separately.

What is the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation up to 12 hours before the start time. Inside that window it is non-refundable.

How do we get to San Gil and Barichara in the first place?

We drive it. Bogotá to San Gil and Barichara is the long haul; from the nearest airport it is Bucaramanga to San Gil or Bucaramanga to Barichara, and San Gil to Barichara between the two towns.

Ready? Check your date and lock it in