Things to Do Around San Gil
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 this was the best. The rafts have 6 passengers and one guide, with more guides in kayaks riding alongside to rescue anyone who falls out. It's a really good group activity , both for meeting other travellers or enjoying with your friends and it's run by an extremely professional and safety conscious team.
For a gentler ride, try the River Fonce, ranging between levels 1 to 3. You can relax, enjoy the scenery and the light rapids and jump in for a swim in the calmer waters. Suitable for kids over 5 years old.
Paragliding in The Chicamocha Canyon
This is the biggest canyon in South America. You get taken to the top of the mountain and fly high over the canyon in tandem with a guide. It's surprisingly tranquil up there unless you opt for the Adrenalina option, which includes spinning and loop-the-loops. Again, run by a professional and safety-first team. Great fun! Kids from 10 years old can do it but there's a minimum weight requirement of 30kg.
Visit Barichara
Barichara has a diverse local community offering a variety of outdoor, cultural and creative activities for all ages, and it has some of the best restaurants in Colombia. Some visitors come just as a day trip from San Gil, but you could easily stay here for a week. For more information click here.
The other colonial villages in the region are Guane, Cabrera, Pinchote, Paramo, Valle de San José and Jordán. They are virtually untouched by tourism and so you can experience the authentic country life of Santander.
Next to the bungee, the Zipline takes you across the canyon and another one brings you back. With the Bicicable you can take it slower which makes it a little scarier but a great way to take in the mountains surrounding San Gil. The extreme swing sends you over the cliff for a mini adrenaline rush with a view of San Gil below. Minimum age 13.
This is the best way to see all of the San Gil region in a day. The guides can take you to the best rivers, waterfalls, canyons, historical villages, small farms, coffee forests , citrus orchards and trapiches (sugar cane factories), often to remote places that no bus or taxi will take you. The more independent minded can hire a bike and do it alone. You must have a car or motorbike licence.
Downhill Biking
A great way to enjoy the stunning scenery, there are a number of different routes to choose from in the region, some more relaxing, including lots of stops for picnics and rivers, and others more breathtaking and adventurous taking in the Suarez or Chicamocha Canyons. The van will take you and the bikes to the top of a mountain and the guides will lead you down along paths and dirt roads. Great fun but be warned, it's not all downhill. There are short bursts of uphill too, but your effort will be rewarded!
Pescaderito River
A rocky mountain river with clear waters and over twenty different bathing spots. There is some great tobogán style tubing, a beach (with sand and shallow water for little kids), high diving spots with very deep water and wide expanses of smooth metallic rock - ideal for sunbathing with no vegetation and therefore no bugs!
With a great restaurant at the river and the Colonial village, Curiti, and caving nearby, this makes an amazing day out. Go during the week and it'll be much quieter. Weekends are fun but very crowded. There are lots of swimming spots all over the region but we think this is the best.
The Highest Bungee in South America!
There's a small canyon in the mountains overlooking San Gil. A cable car crosses the canyon 180m above the forest and you jump off the cable car. Probably the most extreme activity on offer in the region! It's also great fun to watch from the cliff edge.
Bicicable, Zipline, and Extreme Swing
Next to the bungee, the Zipline takes you across the canyon and another one brings you back. With the Bicicable you can take it slower which makes it a little scarier but a great way to take in the mountains surrounding San Gil. The extreme swing sends you over the cliff for a mini adrenaline rush with a view of San Gil below. Minimum age 13.
They have a typical local restaurant and bar from where to enjoy the spectacular night time view of San Gil.
Juan Curi Waterfall
The scenic 30 minute climb through lush vegetation takes you up to this 80m high waterfall crashing into a clear pool where you can take a refreshing dip.
For the adventurous, try the torrentismo, abseiling straight down the waterfall. It's absolutely breathtaking! If you're in a group, anyone who doesn't want to do it can hang out in the pool below and watch. Nearby are the unspoilt colonial villages of Paramo and Valle de San José.
Motorbike Tour
This is the best way to see all of the San Gil region in a day. The guides can take you to the best rivers, waterfalls, canyons, historical villages, small farms, coffee forests , citrus orchards and trapiches (sugar cane factories), often to remote places that no bus or taxi will take you. The more independent minded can hire a bike and do it alone. You must have a car or motorbike licence.
Caving
The region is full of caves and underground tunnel systems but the two most popular to visit are the Cueva del Indio in the village of Paramo and La Cueva de La Vaca in the village of Curiti. We'd recommend combining the former with a visit to the Juan Curi Waterfall and the latter with the Pescaderito river. In both caves there are underground rivers that you have to swim in, so take dry clothes to change into afterwards. It's very cheap and adventurous fun, but never go without a guide or you could get lost forever! Suitable for kids of 7 upwards.
Parque Nacional de Chicamocha (Panachi)
Very popular with Colombian families, so try to avoid in early January and Holy Week when there'll be long queues. Not to everyone's tastes, Panachi is a large concrete amusement park plonked on top of a site of extraordinary natural beauty. It has local and exotic animals, adventure rides like ziplines but the best thing is the cable car that goes down into the floor of the canyon and up the other side. It's a great way to see the canyon. There are activities to do for kids of all ages. There's also a (basic) waterpark with spectacular views.
La Plaza de Mercado
It's the sheer energy, the vibe, the noise of this place that make it so fun to visit. It's the heart of San Gil and it's where you will meet the Santander culture head on. The people are just amazing, so animated and joyful making the best of their hardworking lives. You can find fruit and veg, meat and fish, herbs, juice bars, traditional restaurants and general shopping, including some great second hand clothes too! It's also one of the cheapest and best places to have lunch in San Gil. It's open from 5am to 2pm and is especially vibrant on Sundays when all the country folk come to town to sell their produce.
Hiking the Camino Real
The Camino Real refers to the original indigenous trails used by the Guane people of the region, which were built up by the Spanish and then restored. The trail connects the towns of Cabrera, Barichara, Guane, Villanueva, Jordan and finally La Mesa de Los Santos, taking in both the Suarez and Chicamocha Canyons with their spectacular views. The most popular section is the Barichara - Guane hike which visitors often include in a day trip to Barichara.
The whole route takes 2-3 days. A fun start-off point is La Pacha Hostel, from where you can hike to Cabrera or Barichara in 2-3 hours. You'll find accommodation in all of the villages on the route and responsible wild camping is very doable. You can come back from Los Santos using the Panachi cable car and then bus.
Conscious Tourism
This region has a diverse ecological and spiritual community, offering accommodation in environmental hostels and eco-communities, plus yoga and healing workshops, sweat lodges, community and charity events, plant medicine, ecstatic dance, retreats, environmental projects, vegetarian food, community markets and permaculture farms.
There is so much here for the conscious traveller! There are volunteer opportunities in special needs education, earth regeneration and permaculture. For links to amazing eco-hostels in other parts of Colombia, click here .
For any more information about this page, please send me, Justin Kirkham, a WhatsApp on
+57 3115896111
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