City · Central Andes
San Gil
San Gil on your own: rafting on the Fonce and Suárez, paragliding over Chicamocha, Juan Curí waterfalls and El Gallineral, getting there, prices and tips.
In this guide
San Gil is Colombia’s adventure-sports capital: a warm, lively town in Santander, at about 1,100 metres, and the starting point for rafting on the Fonce and Suárez rivers, paragliding over the Chicamocha canyon, the Juan Curí waterfalls, caves and bungee jumping. The town itself isn’t as pretty as nearby Barichara, but it’s the most convenient and cheapest base for activities. I’d allow 2-3 days. Here’s how to get there, which activities to choose with prices, how to organise things on your own and where to stay.
How to get to San Gil
- From Bogotá: direct buses in 6-8 hours. Companies on the Bogotá-Bucaramanga route stop in San Gil.
- From Bucaramanga: about 3 hours by bus, on a road that crosses the Chicamocha canyon.
- From Villa de Leyva: about 5-6 hours in total, with one or two changes (via Tunja or via Barbosa). It’s the stop after Villa de Leyva on the Central Andes itinerary.
- By air: the nearest airport is Palonegro in Bucaramanga, with flights from Bogotá, Medellín and other cities.
San Gil has two bus stations: the main terminal, for long-distance buses, and the Terminalito (Carrera 10 and Calle 17), where local buses leave for Barichara, Charalá (for Juan Curí) and Curití. To compare buses and flights, read getting around Colombia.
Adventure sports in San Gil: what to choose
| Activity | Where | Who for | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rafting on the Río Fonce | starts near town | beginners, class II-III rapids | from about 70,000 pesos |
| Rafting on the Río Suárez | about an hour away | experienced rafters, class IV-V rapids | up to about 250,000 pesos |
| Rafting in the Chicamocha canyon | about an hour and a half away | class III-IV, you must be able to swim | about 250,000-280,000 pesos |
| Tandem paragliding | Chicamocha canyon or hills near San Gil | everyone, no experience needed | 150,000-300,000 pesos |
| Canyoning (abseiling down a waterfall) | Juan Curí waterfalls | good fitness | varies |
| Caving | Curití and Páramo | anyone comfortable in tight spaces | varies |
Rafting on the Fonce takes a couple of hours including transfers and suits almost everyone. The Suárez is one of the most challenging rivers in the country: only do it with experienced operators and when the river is in the right condition. Paragliding over Chicamocha offers the most spectacular flights, above one of the deepest canyons in South America; near San Gil there are shorter, cheaper flights.
The Juan Curí waterfalls
The Juan Curí waterfalls are about 22 km from San Gil, on the road to Charalá: a series of falls in the middle of the forest, with a pool at the bottom where you can swim.
- Getting there: bus towards Charalá from the Terminalito, 40-60 minutes, 5,000-8,000 pesos depending on the source. Ask the driver to drop you at “Las Cascadas”, then follow the trail for about 20 minutes.
- Entry: about 12,000 pesos according to 2024 sources, paid at the park entrance.
- Canyoning: you can abseil down the waterfall with an operator, booked in San Gil.
Parque El Gallineral and the Pescaderito pools
Parque El Gallineral is a park on an island in the Río Fonce, in town, with trees draped in barbas de viejo, a grey moss that hangs from the branches like long beards. It’s an hour’s walk, ideal for the afternoon after rafting; entry costs a few thousand pesos.
Pescaderito, near the village of Curití (about 30 minutes by bus from the Terminalito), is a series of natural river pools where Colombians go swimming at weekends. Access is free.
Parque Nacional del Chicamocha
Parque Nacional del Chicamocha (Panachi) sits on the rim of the canyon, about an hour from San Gil towards Bucaramanga. It has viewpoints, a monument and a cable car of about 6.3 km that drops into the canyon and climbs the opposite side. It isn’t a national natural park but a tourist park: check current prices and opening hours on the official website before you go, as the cable car closes from time to time for maintenance.
A 3-day itinerary
- Day 1 – arrive, explore the centre and Parque El Gallineral, and book your activities.
- Day 2 – rafting on the Fonce in the morning and the Juan Curí waterfalls in the afternoon, or a full day of paragliding and the Chicamocha park.
- Day 3 – Barichara and the Camino Real to Guane; stay in Barichara or return to San Gil.
Where to stay in San Gil
| Where | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Centre, near the Parque Principal | restaurants, bus station and operators on foot | noisy at weekends |
| Outside town | hostels and farms with pools and views | you need a taxi into town |
| Barichara | a prettier, quieter town | 45 minutes by bus to the activities |
San Gil has plenty of hostels and simple hotels and is cheaper than Barichara.
How much San Gil costs
| Item | Indicative price |
|---|---|
| Rafting on the Fonce | from about 70,000 pesos |
| Rafting on the Suárez or in Chicamocha | about 250,000-280,000 pesos |
| Tandem paragliding | 150,000-300,000 pesos |
| Juan Curí waterfalls (entry) | about 12,000 pesos |
| Bus to Charalá (Juan Curí) | 5,000-8,000 pesos |
| Bus San Gil ↔ Barichara | 6,000-7,600 pesos |
Activity prices vary a lot between operators: always ask what’s included (transport, gear, lunch, photos).
When to go
San Gil is warm all year round: T-shirt weather by day, a light sweater in the evening. The driest months are December to February and July to August. Rafting runs all year, but river levels change with the rain: when the water is very high, operators may cancel the Suárez. On long weekends and during Holy Week the town fills with Colombian visitors. For other regions, read when to go to Colombia.
Mistakes to avoid
- Choosing an operator on price alone: for rafting and paragliding, safety matters more than a few thousand pesos.
- Making the Suárez your first rafting trip: start with the Fonce.
- Travelling without insurance that covers adventure sports.
- Forgetting a change of clothes and sunscreen: you’ll be wet after rafting and the Santander sun is strong.
- Mixing up the bus stations: local buses to Barichara, Charalá and Curití leave from the Terminalito, not the main terminal.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do in San Gil?
Rafting on the Fonce and Suárez rivers, paragliding over the Chicamocha canyon, canyoning at the Juan Curí waterfalls, caving, bungee jumping and Parque El Gallineral. Barichara, one of Colombia’s most beautiful colonial towns, is 45 minutes away.
How much does rafting cost in San Gil?
On the Río Fonce, suitable for beginners, from about 70,000 pesos. On the Río Suárez or in the Chicamocha canyon, for experienced rafters, about 250,000-280,000 pesos.
How do you get to San Gil from Bogotá?
By direct bus, in 6-8 hours: companies on the Bogotá-Bucaramanga route stop in San Gil. Alternatively, fly to Bucaramanga and continue by bus for about 3 hours.
How many days do you need in San Gil?
Two or three days: one for rafting, one for the Juan Curí waterfalls or the Chicamocha canyon and one for Barichara.
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