Have you ever arrived at a location while traveling and felt like it could be a place where you could settle down? That’s exactly how we felt when we arrived in San Gil from Bogota. It stole our hearts so much that we ended up extending our stay by 2 days, in addition to the 5 days we had already booked. While there’s nothing extraordinary about San Gil compared to other towns and cities in Colombia, it has a certain vibe that completely captivated us. In this post, we’ll tell you all about San Gil, the things to do in this lovely town, how to get there, where we stayed, etc. Here we go!

INTRODUCTION

San Gil is a picturesque town located in the Santander department of Colombia about 8-9 hrs bus from Bogota. With a population of about 60.000 inhabitants, San Gil isn’t exactly a small and dreamy town but it has a certain ‘no se que’ about it that you’ll absolutely love.

San Gil is called the adventure capital of Colombia because you can go(as it offers various activities like) rappelling, paragliding, white water rafting or bungee jumping here. But it’s so much than that. San Gil, with it’s excellent public transport, is an ideal place to base yourself for a few day to explore nearby attractions and sites in the area including swimming holes, colonial towns, and waterfalls.

Furthermore, San Gil has many restaurants, shops, and fantastic supermarkets. It’s a great place to get groceries if you are staying at a self-catering accommodation to cook yourself.

BEST TIME TO VISIT SAN GIL

San Gil has a mild climate, with temperatures hovering between 18°C to 28°C (64°F to 82°F) throughout the year. The weather is pleasant and it’s not too hot to go on hiking adventures in the surrounding mountains and villages. It can get hot in the colonial towns nearby during the afternoon.

It rains quite often in San Gil and this is something you should take into consideration when visiting this region. The best months to visit are from December to March when the weather is relatively dry and sunny.

We visited in the month of September and got some great deals on stay and it did rain a little bit but mornings were always clear and very less tourists. Other months to avoid lot of tourists would be February and March.

THINGS TO DO IN SAN GIL

There are plenty of activities to enjoy in and around San Gil, and most of them are easily accessible by public transport. The main bus station for long-distance buses is located outside the center of San Gil. However, in the heart of the center, you can find ‘Terminalito,’ a small transport station with local buses that connect all the surrounding villages in the area.

Below, you will find a list of the main activities to do in San Gil. Whether you’re eager to experience as much as possible in Colombia or prefer a leisurely slow travel adventure, immersing yourself in Colombian culture and daily life, take your pick!

Parque El Gallineral

Parque El Gallineral is a picturesque park in San Gil, Located on the southeastern edge of town. It is situated on an island formed by the convergence of the Fonce River and the Curiti River and covers about 4 hectares (about 10 acres) of area. The entry fee for foreigners is COP18,000. The park is open daily from 8am to 5pm except Tuesday as of September 2024 .

The park is mainly known for its Gallinero trees, which are covered in moss, creating a mystical atmosphere. Aside from that, you can find walking trails and picnic areas inside the park making it the perfect place to spend an afternoon with family and friends.

There are a couple of bridges that cross over the roaring Quebrada Curití. The first is the “Bridge of Love” (Puente del Amor). When you finish walking through the park, you can have a meal at the restaurant, get some snacks at the cafeteria, or take a swim in the pool for an extra fee.

RAPELLING AT JUAN CURI WATERFALL

The Juan Curi Waterfall is a wonderful waterfall located about 24 kilometers (15 miles) from San Gil and makes for an excellent day trip. Juan Curi is not just a single waterfall but it is the main attraction inside an eco-conscious park that can be explored via lush hiking trails. The best thing about this waterfall is you can see the waterfall from the road and the view was absolutely mind blowing.

Inside the park, you can find many smaller waterfalls and swimming holes, adventurous pathways that you can traverse by holding onto ropes, and even ladders to climb over rocky boulders.

We went rappelling for the first time and, although we were scared at the start, we had a great time. It was a thrilling experience descending 80 meters. The cost for rappelling was COP 80,000 per person. We booked the activity with Colombia Rafting Expeditions and were really happy with the service. We would recommend them and suggest booking multiple tours through them; they are likely to provide a discount if asked.

To reach Juan Curi Parque Ecologico, take a Charala-bound bus from Terminalito and ask to get off at Juan Curi. The bus cost COP 8000 one way per person.

PARAGLIDING AT CHICAMOCHA CANYON

Chicamocha National Park is one of the most impressive sites in Colombia and it’s located only about 50 kilometers (31 miles) from San Gil. The Chicamocha canyon is one of the largest canyons in the world and is often compared with the Grand Canyon in the US.

Public transport is readily available from San Gil and tours on offer are plenty too which include transportation, entry fees, and guided activities. The bus ride from San Gil to the canyon is incredibly scenic but note that there are a lot of hairpin turns on the road and it’s easy to get car sick.

Activities in the Chicamocha Canyon include hiking, trekking, paragliding, ziplining, and one of the largest cable car rides in the world. We went paragliding with Colombia Rafting Expeditions, and it was an amazing experience from pickup to drop and the glide. Apoorva and myself felt a little sick with the constant turns while paragliding, but nevertheless, it was a good experience, although we enjoyed rappelling down the falls more. The activity cost us COP 200,000 per person, including pickup and drop-off.

DAY TRIP TO BARICHARA

If you fancy visiting beautiful colonial towns in Colombia then you are in luck! Just a 40-minute bus ride from San Gil, you can find Barichara, often described as Colombia’s most beautiful town. The town is very scenic, with white colonial buildings adorned with colourful accents, flowers and plants, and cobblestone streets that give it a timeless and rustic charm.

Barihara is also one of Colombia’s ‘Pueblos Patrimonio’ (which translates to Heritage Town). This is a label that is awarded to small heritage towns in Colombia that represent Colombia’s true character through its architecture, history, and natural landscape.

What we found particularly impressive about Barichara is its location on the top of a canyon!

If you visit Barichara, be sure to take a walk along the “Camino Real” from Barichara (a trek)to the small town of Guane. The trail is approximately 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) long and takes about two to three hours to complete. It begins with a descent from Barichara and leads to a lovely walk down into the valley to the town of Guane.

During this relatively easy hike, you will pass through farmland, rolling hills, and beautiful rural scenery. The path is paved with large stones, making it easy to follow, even without navigation. We did this hike, but we felt that we should have started early in the day, around 9 am, as it got too hot in some places along the trail. Especially if you’re doing this trail in the drier months from January to April, we would suggest starting early.

At the end, you arrive in Guane, a sleepy town with only 500 inhabitants that consists of just a few blocks. We couldn’t find any good restaurants, so we took a tuk tuk to Barichara for lunch. There are also buses that run from Guane to Barichara, but we weren’t sure about the frequency and were feeling a little tired and hungry from the hike.

CERRO DE LA CRUZ

At the top of Cerro de la Cruz, you are rewarded with beautiful views over San Gil and the surrounding mountainous landscape. Furthermore, you can also explore a lesser-known part of San Gil here, away from the more busy and touristy areas in the center. We found the place to be not maintained so well and since it is little bit off the main tourist sites we suggest to visit during day time. Other fellow travellers suggested that La gruta hike on the other side of the town is better.

If you are looking for an easy and short hike from the center of San Gil, make your way to Cerro de La Cruz. Cerro de la Cruz is a hilltop site featuring a large white cross. It was originally built in wood by Jesuit monks in the 19th century but today it has been replaced with a new cross made of concrete.

Here is the location of Cerro de la Cruz.

THE MAIN PLAZA

The main square of San Gil is the central point of town where both locals and tourists gather to socialize, rest under the shade of the trees, and watch daily life go by.

Beside the relaxed atmosphere, the plaza is also home to the San Gil Cathedral (Catedral de la Santa Cruz), a cute 18th-century stone church.

La Bodeguita is a great place to have a coffee and you can find several ATMs, shops, and food stalls around the plaza. Our recommendation for ATM in Colombia will be Davivienda and there is one near to the main plaza.

STAY AT MERAKI BOUTIQUE HOSTEL

If you are still looking for accommodation in San Gil, stop right here: Meraki Boutique Hotel is by far the best place to stay in San Gil! Although it’s called a hostel, this place is more like a big house with only eight double  bedrooms, an amazing communal area, a clean and big kitchen, and a great host.

We were received at Meraki Boutique Hostel by Tatiyana, and she was the most attentive and caring host we came across during our travels in Colombia. Even though we arrived at 8am in the morning, she immediately gave us the room even though our checkin was at 2pm. That’s very rare in current times.

Another interesting fact is that the house is situated on the quieter side of the main town, making it less crowded and, in our experience safer and more peaceful. There is also a nearby mall, which is great for grocery shopping as it houses a large supermarket. During our visit, we even had the opportunity to witness a local Colombian dance performance as it was the Second-year anniversary celebration of the mall. Overall, it was the best accommodation we experienced in Colombia. The price in September was COP 70000 per night for 2 people, including breakfast. Although the breakfast is basic (eggs, bread, and juice), we felt it was well worth the price.

RESTAURANTS IN SAN GIL

Are you a vegetarian traveller, just like me? As you probably know, Colombian vegan food is not that hard to come by (beans and rice are nutritious and available everywhere) but it’s so much fun when you come across a place with an authentic vibe and a fully vegan lunch menu.

Miel Y Trigo offers cheap almuerzo meals consisting of soup, a main plate with vegetables, carbs, and a source of protein, an additional plate of self-made protein (like vegan meat loaf for instance), and a drink.

We went here one day for lunch when we were in San Gil and it was some of the most nutritious meals I have found traveling across the country. They also run a small bakery.

Note that they are actually a vegetarian restaurant. They are also open for just a very short timeframe, between 12 and 2 P.M. It costs ard COP 20000 for a meal.

Gringo Mike Even though I wouldn’t ordinarily recommend a Western restaurant in Latin America (let alone as its own entry on a ‘best of’ list), Gringo Mike’s is honestly just that good.

If you find yourself craving some flavourful American or Tex-Mex favorites while in San Gil, this awesome spot in town owned by a Seattle expat has truly delicious burgers, burritos, frozen margaritas, milkshakes, and even a giant hot cookie served with ice cream.

Gringo Mike’s is a bit pricier than eating at a local restaurant. Just to give you an idea, a burrito costs around 30,000 COP and a beer is 4,500COP. However, the portion sizes are quite generous. We ordered two dishes and had enough left over for dinner as well.

Restaurante El Maná After our paragliding trip to the Chicamocha Canyon, we were very hungry and decided to have food at a restaurant. The ambiance of the restaurant was fantastic, and the service was the best we had experienced in Colombia. They only offered Menu Del Dia (Menu of the day) for lunch, with one vegetarian option and one non-vegetarian option.

We tried the vegetarian option, which came with spaghetti, potatoes, and salad. Additionally, all Menu Del Dia in Colombia comes with a drink, usually ginger lemonade, which was lovely and they were constantly refilling it. All dishes also come with a dessert, which was also great. The price was COP 23,000 per dish which was quite reasonable.

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San Gil is known as Colombia’s adventure sports capital and for good reason. A large array of activities is on offer here, from bungee jumping to white water rafting and even paragliding.

Various small tour operators near the entrance of Parque El Gallineral offer half-day and full-day tours but we didn’t find them particularly trustworthy.

Your best bet for a professional and safe experience is to book your extreme sports adventure with Colombia Rafting Expeditions, a reputable company in the area. We suggest not to book tours with hostels or hotels as they generally are higher priced due to the commission involved.

HOW TO GET TO SAN GIL, COLOMBIA

For destinations further away, you’ll need to make your way to Bogota or Bucaramanga first. If you’re coming from Villa de Leyva, a popular colonial town near Bogota, you’ll need to transfer buses to Tunja.

Traveling by bus is the most obvious choice of travel in Colombia if you want to keep it eco-friendly. San Gil can easily be reached by bus from Bogota in about seven-eight hours and also from Bucaramanga in about two hours and a half.

Bus tickets can be bought at the bus stations in Colombia or you can buy them online on Busbud or Redbus. Generally people in Colombia book buses at the bus stations. We found a great deal while traveling that Redbus offers a discount if you book the bus within 4 hrs of your Journey start time and we used it extensively while traveling in Colombia. One can easily save around COP10000 to COP25000.

HOW TO GET AROUND SAN GIL

To reach locations further, you can use Terminalito, the bus station on the corner of Calle 17 and Carerra 10. Buses run from Terminalito to places like Charala, Curiti, Mogotes, Socorro, Barichara, Villanueva and much more.

You don’t need any transport to get around San Gil itself besides your own two feet. The town is very walkable and pedestrian-friendly except for the steepness of the streets!