Travel in Colombia

San Gil   Extreme sports capital of Colombia More information and reservations  Barichara   The most beautiful village in Colombia  More Info... Ecohostels San Gil - Oro de Gaque  Barichara - La Pacha Hostel   Hiking The Camino Real     More Info...

San Gil is a bustling market town in the heart of Santander surrounded by native forests and lush mountains. It may not have the trendy cafés and busy nightlife of other Colombian destinations, but its magic is in the surrounding countryside. This is coffee, cacao, sugar cane and citrus country with a perfect climate, always hovering between 20 and 30 degrees with lots of sun, and rain (but not too much). It's rightly considered the adventure sports capital of Colombia, but with its glorious landscape, including the biggest canyon in South America, and historical villages there is so much more here for the outdoorsy traveller. So let's dive right in and have a look at what San Gil has to offer.  White Water Rafting   The Suarez River offers the most exciting rafting experience in Colombia for both beginners and experienced rafters. Ranging up to level 5 rapids, this is high adrenaline stuff and brilliant fun. We spoke to guys who've done rafting all over the world and said ...

Colombia is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world with various environments, from dense rainforests and vast mountain ranges to cold paramos and sandy beaches. Nestled within these beautiful landscapes, the following eco-hostels offer a haven for conscious travelers seeking to connect with nature, and themselves, while leaving as little environmental impact as possible. All of these hostels tick most of the following boxes: -Family or community owned and run. -Beautiful natural surroundings -Practice permaculture or environmentalism -Benefit the local community -Serve vegetarian food -Provide healing or spiritual practices -Offer cultural or nature-based activities. Jaba Jan  - Palomino ​Brilliant hostel - away from the noise and surrounded by glorious wildlife but still a wonderful atmosphere where everyone gets on and you feel like a family. So laid back but helpful staff with really good food with lots of veggie options, a  private stretch of beach that is nice...

View of the Cathedral of Barichara. This extraordinary village is famous for its breathtaking views and beautiful colonial architecture. A village so well cared for there isn't one scrap of garbage, no overhead cables and every single house is carefully decorated. It has a welcoming local community practicing cultural, artistic and healing traditions from Colombia's incredible diversity and beyond. It's perfect for spending a few days to relax, go hiking, biking or paragliding, enjoy the art, architecture and natural surroundings, get creative, work on yourself and eat some really good food. My number one advice for enjoying Barichara is to go inside any building wherever it seems allowed! The town is beautiful on the outside but can give the impression of being empty. That's because everything is happening on the inside! Every building by law must have an open courtyard, so even when you go in, you'll invariably find yourself outside again! Have a look round the ho...

This glorious route passing through Boyaca and Santander, two departments north-east of Bogotá, is now being rediscovered by a new generation of Colombia travellers, looking for beauty, adventure and stunning countryside. Here are some of the places we know and recommend, but I'm sure there are plenty more gems to discover! El Cucoy National Park Zipaquirá   Salt Cathedral - Descend into the mesmerizing underground Salt Cathedral in Zipaquirá, an architectural marvel carved within the depths of a salt mine.                                                 Guatavita lake - One of the sacred lakes of the Muisca, Guatavita Lake captivates with its mystical allure and rich historical significance.        Suesca - A popular rock climbing spot, Suesca boasts impressive cliffs and breathtaking landscapes, offering adventure and adrenaline for ...