Surrounded by mountains and cut in half by a river we’ve finally reached San Gil, a touristy village with much to offer. A beautiful town center, friendly locals and up & down roads san francisco style are just a few things which makes this place worth exploring for at least a couple of days.
Today we’ve been travelling from Bucaramanga and the relatively short ride to get here has probably been one of the prettiest we’ve seen so far on our trip. About an hour away from our destination, the road winds up high on the mountain ridge and the views on the Chicamocha Canyon, the main reason for us visiting San Gil (read our post about Walking the Camino Real | Self-Guided Hike to Chicamocha Canyon), are something unreal. If you happen to drive to San Gil, make sure to make a few stops on the several miradors along the road, it will be well worth it!
Highway View of the Canyon
The bus terminal of San Gil is located at a 20min walk or a 4000COP taxi ride along the river from the city center but even with big backpacks its kinda of a relaxing walk, especially after hours of sitting down on a bus! Crossing the river and walking a couple blocks more we arrive in the heart of San Gil, the beautiful Parque de la Libertad and the Catedral de la Santa Cruz.
On the streets around the park is full of bars, restaurants, the info point (same street of the Cathedral) and many more shops selling all you could ever need. But today is an important day: Colombia plays against Poland in the Fifa World Cup 2018! Everybody is wearing yellow shirts, talking about what could happen but most importantly looking around for the best place to see the match!
Top Colombia Fan
In and around San Gil there are many activities to do and whether you’re an adventure junkie in love with paragliding, a loyal trekker or someone who just want to spend the day wandering the streets, this town got it all!
Things to do in San Gil
Visit the Chicamocha Canyon – Trekking all or a part of the Camino Real through gorgeous little villages to reach the edge of the Canyon is something to put at the top of the bucket list. The breathtaking landscapes will be something unforgettable to bring home! Read our post on Walking the Camino Real | Self-Guided Hike to Chicamocha Canyon!
Wander the street of Barichara – Located just less than an hour away from San Gil, this beautiful little town is nothing but a little jewel of the Boyocà region. Even though it has become quite touristy over the last few years, it still retains that amusing traditional and local feeling. From here you can also hike down to Guane, an even smaller village practically tourist-free where time flows slower than anywhere else!
Do some adventure sport – San Gil is the pumping heart of the region for extreme sports. Paragliding, kayaking, rock climbing and many more tailored activities in the surroundings areas are offered on a daily basis. Just choose an adventure company and tell them what you want: they’ll organize everything for you!
Explore the streets of San Gil – Last but not least, spending a full day roaming around town is also a great and cheap activity to do. Enjoy the colorful murals, walk around the big Ceibas trees in Gallineral park, have a pint of Colombia beer, take in the views from the higher part of town and don’t forget to stop by the cemetery to see a very flowery reality.
Cemetery of San Gil
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