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5 Best Things to Do in San Gil, Colombia (Adventure Guide)

Nestled in the heart of Colombia, San Gil is famously known as the adventure capital of Colombia. This town offers everything from white water rafting and paragliding to caving and canyoning. Beyond the adrenaline, there are plenty of things to do in San Gil for nature lovers, including visiting the breathtaking Chicamocha Canyon. Nearby, you can take a scenic Barichara day trip from San Gil to stroll its charming cobblestone streets. With a variety of San Gil budget activities, this town promises unforgettable experiences for adventurers and travellers alike.

Read my 3 Week Ultimate Colombia Travel Guide here!

Traveler walking through the cobblestone streets of Barichara, Colombia

San Gil

5 Best Things to Do in San Gil, Colombia (Adventure Guide)

Generally, San Gil is very safe for travellers and has a relaxed, small town atmosphere. Because it is the adventure capital of Colombia, the main risks here are related to outdoor activities rather than crime. You will feel perfectly comfortable walking around the main square during the day, but you should follow these essential tips:

Cash for Tour Agencies: While San Gil is a larger town with working ATMs around the plaza, many of the best local adventure operators and street food stalls do not accept card payments. To avoid being caught out, I would suggest withdrawing plenty of cash when you see a reliable ATM so you do not miss out on booking your activities.

Adventure Activity Insurance: San Gil is famous for extreme sports like white water rafting, paragliding, and bungee jumping. Before you book any tours, you must ensure your travel insurance specifically covers extreme or high risk adventure activities. It is also wise to check recent company reviews to ensure they use professional, certified guides and high quality safety gear.

Night-time Taxis: The central plaza is well lit and buzzing in the evening, but the side streets leading up the steep hills can get very dark and quiet. If your hostel or hotel is located outside the immediate town centre, you should not walk home alone at night. Taxis are incredibly cheap and plentiful, so girl maths says spending a few thousand COP on a safe ride home is basically free!

Getting from the Caribbean coast down to the adventure capital is a proper journey, but it is incredibly straightforward if you are on a budget. Taking the bus will take around 14 to 15 hours in total. However, doing this overnight means you save on a night of accommodation and sleep through half the travel time.

Here is exactly how to do the budget route step by step:

  1. Tayrona to Santa Marta: Step out of the Tayrona National Park main entrance (El Zaino) and catch the frequent local public bus heading toward Santa Marta. The ride costs around 10,000 COP and takes roughly one hour. Tell the driver you want to get off at the main Terminal de Transportes de Santa Marta.
  2. Santa Marta to Bucaramanga: Once inside the main terminal, look for the official ticket counters for reliable long-distance companies like Copetran or Expreso Brasilia. You will want to book a night bus to Bucaramanga, which takes about 11 hours and costs around 90,000 to 110,000 COP. These coaches are modern, have reclining seats, and the air conditioning is usually freezing, so make sure you pack a thick jumper in your hand luggage!
  3. Bucaramanga to San Gil: You will arrive at the terminal in Bucaramanga early in the morning. Head straight over to the ticket booths where local companies like Cotransangil run smaller minibuses to San Gil. Tickets cost about 25,000 COP, buses leave every hour, and the scenic journey through the spectacular Chicamocha Canyon takes around two and a half hours.

You will arrive at the main bus terminal in San Gil, which is located just a short taxi or local bus ride away from the central plaza.

If you are wondering where to stay in San Gil for the first time, you have two main options depending on the kind of vibe you want. You can stay right in the heart of the action or choose a peaceful eco lodge just outside the centre. However, I personally recommend staying within a five minute walk of the main square (Plaza de la Libertad). While some blogs might suggest staying way out in the hills for the nature views, staying in town makes it much easier to walk to the best local restaurants, catch cheap taxis and visit the adventure tour offices to book your activities without any hassle.

Alternately, you could look at a stay in a smaller town nearby called Barichara. It is a stunning, whitewashed colonial village and is widely known as the prettiest town in Colombia. While it is much quieter than San Gil, Barichara is the absolute best place to start the famous Camino Real hike, making it a perfect base if you prefer a slower, more peaceful travel experience.

Generally, San Gil is very safe for travellers and has a relaxed, small town atmosphere. Because it is the adventure capital of Colombia, the main risks here are related to outdoor activities rather than crime. You will feel perfectly comfortable walking around the main square during the day, but you should follow these essential tips:

Cash for Tour Agencies: While San Gil is a larger town with working ATMs around the plaza, many of the best local adventure operators and street food stalls do not accept card payments. To avoid being caught out, I would suggest withdrawing plenty of cash when you see a reliable ATM so you do not miss out on booking your activities.

Adventure Activity Insurance: San Gil is famous for extreme sports like white water rafting, paragliding, and bungee jumping. Before you book any tours, you must ensure your travel insurance specifically covers extreme or high risk adventure activities. It is also wise to check recent company reviews to ensure they use professional, certified guides and high quality safety gear.

Night-time Taxis: The central plaza is well lit and buzzing in the evening, but the side streets leading up the steep hills can get very dark and quiet. If your hostel or hotel is located outside the immediate town centre, you should not walk home alone at night. Taxis are incredibly cheap and plentiful, so girl maths says spending a few thousand COP on a safe ride home is basically free!

Getting from the Caribbean coast down to the adventure capital is a proper journey, but it is incredibly straightforward if you are on a budget. Taking the bus will take around 14 to 15 hours in total. However, doing this overnight means you save on a night of accommodation and sleep through half the travel time.

Here is exactly how to do the budget route step by step:

  1. Tayrona to Santa Marta: Step out of the Tayrona National Park main entrance (El Zaino) and catch the frequent local public bus heading toward Santa Marta. The ride costs around 10,000 COP and takes roughly one hour. Tell the driver you want to get off at the main Terminal de Transportes de Santa Marta.
  2. Santa Marta to Bucaramanga: Once inside the main terminal, look for the official ticket counters for reliable long-distance companies like Copetran or Expreso Brasilia. You will want to book a night bus to Bucaramanga, which takes about 11 hours and costs around 90,000 to 110,000 COP. These coaches are modern, have reclining seats, and the air conditioning is usually freezing, so make sure you pack a thick jumper in your hand luggage!
  3. Bucaramanga to San Gil: You will arrive at the terminal in Bucaramanga early in the morning. Head straight over to the ticket booths where local companies like Cotransangil run smaller minibuses to San Gil. Tickets cost about 25,000 COP, buses leave every hour, and the scenic journey through the spectacular Chicamocha Canyon takes around two and a half hours.

You will arrive at the main bus terminal in San Gil, which is located just a short taxi or local bus ride away from the central plaza.

If you are wondering where to stay in San Gil for the first time, you have two main options depending on the kind of vibe you want. You can stay right in the heart of the action or choose a peaceful eco lodge just outside the centre. However, I personally recommend staying within a five minute walk of the main square (Plaza de la Libertad). While some blogs might suggest staying way out in the hills for the nature views, staying in town makes it much easier to walk to the best local restaurants, catch cheap taxis and visit the adventure tour offices to book your activities without any hassle.

Alternately, you could look at a stay in a smaller town nearby called Barichara. It is a stunning, whitewashed colonial village and is widely known as the prettiest town in Colombia. While it is much quieter than San Gil, Barichara is the absolute best place to start the famous Camino Real hike, making it a perfect base if you prefer a slower, more peaceful travel experience.

5 Best Things to do in San Gil

1. Take a Day Trip to Barichara from San Gil

One of the best things to do in San Gil is taking a day trip to Barichara. Often called the most beautiful town in Colombia, Barichara is known for its perfectly preserved colonial architecture and charming cobblestone streets. It has a European feel that offers a peaceful contrast to San Gil’s adventure energy and makes it a photographer’s dream.

To get there, take the bus from Terminalito bus station in San Gil. Direct buses to Barichara depart roughly every 20–30 minutes throughout the day. You can just show up and purchase a ticket, but be aware the bus will not leave until it is full. A one-way ticket costs around 6,000–7,000 COP and the journey takes approximately 45 minutes.

I started the day with breakfast at Nona’s Bread Panaderia Artesanal, then wandered the streets for a couple of hours, getting lost and taking endless photos. After exploring, we grabbed ice cream at a little shop near the plaza before heading to the viewpoints overlooking the canyon.

Traveler walking through the cobblestone streets of Barichara, Colombia
Whitewashed colonial streets of Barichara with cobblestones and red-tiled roofs

2. Experience the Best San Gil Adventure Activities

San Gil is not called the adventure capital of Colombia for nothing. From white water rafting down rivers to paragliding over valleys, caving and canyoning, there is no shortage of adrenaline experiences.

What makes San Gil even more appealing is how affordable these adventures are compared to other destinations in South America. For example, a full day of rafting or paragliding can cost just a fraction of what you would pay in places like Peru, Brazil or Chile, without skimping on quality or safety. Whether you are a seasoned thrill seeker or trying your first extreme sport, San Gil offers unforgettable adventure at a price that will not blow your budget.

You can book some of these activities before you arrive on Viator here.

3. How to get from San Gil to Medellin: The Tiny Plane Flight

If you are looking for how to get from San Gil to Medellin, skip the 10-hour bus and look for the Satena flight. It is a total hidden gem. One of the most unforgettable experiences I had in Colombia happened completely by accident on my way from San Gil to Medellin. After finding out that Tayrona National Park was closed for two weeks and having to change my plans, I booked a random flight with Satena for just £50 to take me to Medellin.

When I arrived at the tiny San Gil airport, and when I say tiny I mean there is no separate check-in or passport control, it is literally all in one room, I had no idea what to expect. I was buzzing (and scared) to board a small propeller plane that seats no more than 19 people. It was so small that I could see straight into the cockpit, and as we descended toward Medellin’s runway, I could see the whole landing from the pilot’s point of view. It was insane!!

To make it even more special, our flight took us right over the famous canyon landscapes I had explored the day before, giving me what felt like a free tour on the way to Medellin.

  • Read my post on the top things to do in Medellin here
Small Satena propeller plane at San Gil airport, Colombia.
Aerial view of Chicamocha Canyon in Colombia taken from a small plane

4. Marvel at the Chicamocha Canyon Viewpoints

Seeing Chicamocha Canyon in real life was honestly one of the most jaw dropping moments of my time in Colombia. I had seen photos beforehand, but nothing prepares you for just how vast and dramatic it is when you are standing there in person.

I visited the viewpoints near Barichara, where you can look straight out over the canyon and really take it all in. It felt untouched and completely different from anywhere else I had visited in South America. Because a lot of travellers skip San Gil, it was incredibly quiet and we were the only ones there, which made the experience even more special.

Person standing at a viewpoint overlooking Chicamocha Canyon in Colombia
View of Chicamocha Canyon from a viewpoint near Barichara, Colombia

5. Hiking the Camino Real: Barichara to Guane

One of the most famous things to do in Barichara is the Camino Real, a historic stone trail that links Barichara with the village of Guane. Unfortunately, we did not have time to do this hike ourselves, but Laidback Traveller has a really detailed and helpful blog covering the route, what to expect, and how to plan it if you want to add it to your itinerary.

  • You can read Laidback Travellers post here

What is Next?

Tayrona Natioanl Park Best things to do drone shot of beach
Days

Ultimate 3 Week Travel Itinerary

3 weeks is the “sweet spot” for Colombia. This perfect Colombia travel guide breaks down your daily stops, transport tips, and hidden gems to help you navigate the country like a pro. Grab the full itinerary and start packing, your ultimate South American adventure starts here.

See the Full Route
Days

Ultimate 3 Week Travel Itinerary

3 weeks is the “sweet spot” for Colombia. This perfect Colombia travel guide breaks down your daily stops, transport tips, and hidden gems to help you navigate the country like a pro. Grab the full itinerary and start packing, your ultimate South American adventure starts here.

See the Full Route

Where to next?

I am constantly discovering new hidden gems and sharing the magic of the world in real time. If you would like to follow my journey through 44 countries and beyond, join me on social media. Whether you are looking for daily travel inspiration or honest travel advice for your next big adventure, I would love to have you as part of the Where Katie Goes community. Let us explore the world together.

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