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Barichara guide
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Local guide · Barichara, Santander
Barichara is safe, peaceful and almost everything is within walking distance. This is the guide we give our guests: the places that are truly worth it, with walking times from our guesthouse and the tips only someone who lives here can give you.
Barichara sits 1,300 meters above sea level, overlooking the Suárez River canyon. Its stone streets and rammed-earth houses are remarkably well preserved, which is why its historic center is a National Monument. We've organized the guide by type of plan: use the filters to see only what interests you, or open the map to plan your route.
The heart of town. Around it you'll find the Cathedral, the town hall, cafés with outdoor tables and the tuk-tuk stand. It's where everyone meets, day and night, and the best place to sit and watch Barichara go by. It's also home to a bust of Aquileo Parra, the local boy who became president of Colombia.
Local tipCome back at night, when the Cathedral is lit up.
Built from the region's golden sandstone, its façade changes color with the light and glows at sunset. Inside, ten monolithic columns hold up the nave in front of a gilded altarpiece. It's Barichara's postcard view, right on the Main Square.
Local tipCome late in the afternoon, when the stone turns honey-colored.
Barichara is made for walking: stone streets, whitewashed rammed-earth houses, wooden doors and bougainvillea. Calle Real climbs from the square to the Santa Bárbara Chapel, lined with craft shops and cafés. Just past the chapel is Calle de las Novias, the town's classic photo spot.
Local tipSidewalks are high and some streets are steep: wear comfortable shoes.
One of Barichara's most photogenic streets: cobbled and sloping, lined with white houses and bougainvillea, with the mountains behind. It's a favorite spot for wedding photos and the view you'll find on many of the town's postcards.
Local tipIt's on Calle 5, a block from the Santa Bárbara Chapel. Go early in the morning or late in the afternoon for softer light and fewer people in your shot.
Said to be the town's first church, it sits at the top of Calle Real, facing a small plaza shaded by a huge tree. It's the favorite chapel for weddings, and the Calle de los Miradores viewpoint walk starts here. Former president Belisario Betancur's house is just around the corner.
Local tipPair it with the Parque para las Artes next door.
A small, very photogenic stone chapel next to the cemetery. Its bell gable is one of the most recognizable sights in town, and its wooden roof rests on massive beams. It sometimes opens its doors for art exhibitions.
Local tipVisit it together with the cemetery, right next door.
One of the most beautiful cemeteries in Colombia. The graves are stone sculptures carved by local artisans, and many tell the trade of the person buried there: the teacher, the gravedigger, the musician. An open-air museum to walk quietly and respectfully.
Local tipClosed on Tuesdays; mornings only on weekends.
The simplest and most out-of-the-way chapel, in the lower part of town, whitewashed and unlike its stone sisters. Inside are images of Saint Anthony and Our Lady of Fátima. It's close to the paper workshop and the Aquileo Parra house museum, so they make a nice walk together.
Local tipIt usually only opens on Sundays for mass.
Calle 1 runs along the edge of town with views over the Suárez River canyon and the Yariguíes mountains; on clear days you can see the villages of Galán and Zapatoca. Along the way is the Media Torta, an open-air stone amphitheater. It's the sunset walk, and it starts right around the corner from us.
Local tipHead out half an hour before sunset and bring a drink.
Barichara's most dramatic viewpoint: a rock ledge above the Suárez River canyon, with the village of Galán across the valley and mountains as far as you can see. It's free, a short walk from us, and stunning at sunrise and sunset.
Local tipThere are no railings: stay back from the edge and skip it during thunderstorms.
A garden at the top of town, next to the Santa Bárbara Chapel, with fountains, stone sculptures by local and international artists, and valley views. Next door is the Móncora Bio-park, seven hectares of dry forest being restored, with a short, peaceful trail.
Local tipThe park is closed on Tuesdays and hours can vary; the view from outside is still worth it.
Local women make paper by hand from fique and other plant fibers, dyed with natural colors. The guided visit shows the whole process and the garden of plants they use; the ticket is very cheap and the shop is perfect for souvenirs.
Local tipClosed at midday (1–3 pm) and on Sundays.
An arts and crafts school where young people and women from town learn traditional trades. You can walk through the workshops, buy pieces made by the students in their shop and eat at their restaurant, which is very reasonably priced.
Local tipTake your time: the service is run by apprentices.
A creative workshop on Calle Real where you learn about the region's colored earths and the earthen building techniques that make Barichara unique, then paint your own piece with them. Great for couples and kids.
Local tipYou take your painting home as a souvenir.
Birthplace of Aquileo Parra, president of Colombia from 1876 to 1878. Today the highlight is the group of elderly locals who weave and sew fique in the courtyard: they sell their work at fair prices and every purchase supports the community.
Local tipIt's in the lower part of town, near the San Antonio Chapel.
One block from us, the Bee Sanctuary shows you how Colombia's native bees live, why they matter so much to nature and how they make their honey. It's a hands-on guided visit with honey tasting and workshops like making your own beeswax candle. Perfect for little ones 🐝
Local tipTours come in different lengths: ask for the one that best fits your plans.
A stone-paved trail of about 6 km that descends from Barichara to Guane through canyon scenery. The Guane people walked it long before German engineer Geo von Lengerke rebuilt it in the 19th century; today it's a National Monument. Allow about 2 hours, mostly downhill. It starts by the Simón Bolívar statue.
Local tipStart early with water and sunscreen: there are no shops on the way. Take a bus or tuk-tuk back from Guane.
Ready for an adrenaline rush? Pedal the sky bike more than 170 meters above the ground or fly down Santander's longest zip line, high above the Suárez River canyon. There's also an extreme swing, bungee jumping and plenty more to leave you breathless.
Local tipMessage us: we'll share the plans and prices and help you book with operators we trust.
Paragliding is one of Santander's signature experiences. The closest flights take off in Villanueva, about 40 minutes away, and also in Curití and over the Chicamocha Canyon. You fly in tandem with a pilot, so no experience is needed, and the view of the canyons from the air is unforgettable.
Local tipFlights depend on the weather: keep a spare day in case it needs to move.
San Gil is Colombia's adventure capital. The Fonce River has rapids for beginners, while the Suárez is for experienced paddlers, with class V sections. There's also canyoning, caving and zip-lining nearby.
Local tipFirst time? The Fonce is perfect.
A ropes park among the trees, a few minutes from Barichara, with treetop circuits of different difficulty levels for adults and kids. Before you start, the guides explain everything and fit you with a harness and safety gear.
Local tipOpen daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wear comfortable clothes and closed shoes.
See the surroundings without wearing yourself out: horseback rides along country trails, ATV tours, and the tuk-tuk tour of the viewpoints, chapels and hidden corners of town, with a driver who tells you the stories along the way.
Local tipMessage us and we'll connect you with drivers and guides we trust.
You can't leave without trying arepas santandereanas made from grandma's recipe, which you can enjoy at our breakfast. Make sure to try cabrito, carne oreada, pepitoria and mute too, and to drink, chicha and sabajón in different flavors.
Local tipStaying 2 nights or more? You can also ask for a tamalito santandereano with our breakfast. For everything else, the restaurants below make it best.
Santander's most famous snack: toasted leaf-cutter ants, crunchy and salty, already eaten by the Guane people centuries ago. They're harvested in the April–May rainy season and sold in small bags near the square. There's even a sculpture in their honor at the entrance to town.
Local tipBe brave and try them: it doesn't get more Santander than this.
Several restaurants on Calle de los Miradores have terraces overlooking the valley. One of the most recommended is Independencia (Calle 1 #9-52), serving Colombian and creative dishes with a balcony made for watching the sunset over the canyon.
Local tipArrive before sunset to get a table on the terrace.
Our favorite restaurants, the ones we recommend to our guests. Almost all of them are a few blocks from the guesthouse.
Half a block from the square, with a balcony over the street. A great first taste of Santander cooking: goat, carne oreada with arepa and fresh juices.
Where locals go for lunch: a hearty homestyle set menu, and goat with pepitoria if you want the most traditional dish.
Homestyle cooking with their own products: arepas with goat cheese, beef rib broth and tamales. They also sell their cheeses and yogurts.
Traditional food on a breezy terrace across from the bus terminal. Mute on Sundays.
A good-value homestyle lunch with soup and a main, in an open patio near the square. Ask and they'll make a vegetarian option.
The crafts school's restaurant, set in a colonial patio. Generous Colombian dishes like sobrebarriga; take your time.
Chef-driven cooking with regional ingredients, in a house around 240 years old, served on clay plates from Guane. Order the carne oreada croquettes. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Local cooking with a modern twist and good vegetarian and gluten-free options, in a small, cozy space.
Asian–Colombian fusion: sushi, curry and ramen with local touches, like a tartare with hormigas culonas. Vegetables come from their own garden.
A terrace facing the canyon on Calle de los Miradores, perfect at sunset. Colombian and creative cooking.
A countryside grill with a lovely view: generous mixed platters and mute, a pottery shop and a swing for photos. Open Saturdays and Sundays only.
A German-inspired gastrobar on the main square, with craft beer and sausages. It's named after Geo von Lengerke of Camino Real fame.
Middle Eastern cooking in a calm setting: hummus, mezze and spiced dishes. They also sell spices, nuts and seeds.
A menu for every taste, from Colombian plates to pizza and seafood stew, with excellent service.
$ budget · $$ moderate · $$$ special occasion. Hours and prices can change: check before you go.
A tiny village of cobbled streets and white houses at the end of the Camino Real. It has a colonial stone church, Santa Lucía, and a paleontology and archaeology museum with marine fossils, Guane artifacts and a centuries-old mummy.
Local tipHike down the Camino Real, have lunch there and come back by bus or tuk-tuk.
A quiet, authentic town with few tourists, also reachable on foot by a Camino Real. For lunch, Villa Chala is a must: a generous, homestyle set menu. And don't leave without trying an unusual ice pop flavor, like yuca or avocado, at Heladería El Nevado.
Local tipA great half-day trip off the beaten path.
Beyond the adventure sports, San Gil is home to El Gallineral Park: a forest on the banks of the Fonce River with giant trees draped in hanging moss. It's a cool, peaceful walk with an inexpensive ticket.
Local tipCombine it with rafting on the same day.
Curití is known for fique weaving and crystal-clear water. Pescaderito has natural swimming pools with free entry, and La Vaca Cave is a caving adventure with tight passages and a waterfall at the end.
Local tipBring a swimsuit and shoes that can get wet.
An hour and a half from us, on the San Gil–Bucaramanga road, this park sits on the rim of the Chicamocha Canyon, about 2,000 meters deep. Its star attraction is the 6.3 km cable car that crosses the canyon to Mesa de los Santos. It also has viewpoints, the Santandereanidad Monument, a water park, paragliding, an extreme swing and a zip line.
Local tipOpen Wednesday to Sunday and on holidays; closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Bring sunscreen: it gets hot in the canyon.
Tap a point to jump to it in the guide or get directions. Our guesthouse is marked with the house.
Aquí Estoy Bien is in the viewpoints district, 4 blocks from the Main Square: 2 minutes from Calle de los Miradores, 3 from the cemetery and 11 from Salto del Mico. Rooms with mountain views, homemade breakfast and a 5.0 rating on Google.
You can see the town in a day, but 2 or 3 nights is ideal: one day for the town, viewpoints and cemetery; another to hike the Camino Real to Guane; and, if you want adventure, an extra day for San Gil or Curití.
On foot: almost everything is less than a 15-minute walk away. For the uphill bits or a guided ride there are tuk-tuks at the Main Square, and buses or private transport for nearby towns.
For traditional Santander food, try El Puntal, El Compa or La Peñita & Bachué; for a special dinner, Elvia; and for a meal facing the canyon, Independencia on Calle de los Miradores. This guide has the full list, with addresses and directions.
Yes. It's a small, peaceful town where you can walk around day and night. Just be careful at viewpoints without railings, like Salto del Mico, and with the strong midday sun.
Barichara is one of the Colombian towns that inspired the design of the Madrigal family's village: white houses, red-tile roofs and cobbled streets. The film is animated, so it wasn't shot here, but you'll see the resemblance on every corner.
Several photos in this guide come from Wikimedia Commons and are used under Creative Commons licenses. Thanks to their authors:
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors.
