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Voykit pocket guide · Colombia
Barichara
One night is enough to see the colonial centre and walk to Guane; two if you want to relax or add a day trip to San Gil.
Barichara is a well-preserved colonial village in Santander, 45 min from San Gil. Its stone streets, whitewashed buildings and three chapels can be seen in a few hours. The main draw is the 3-hour walk to Guane. Most travellers visit as a day trip from San Gil or stay one night.
- Country
- Colombia
- Best months
- Dec–Apr
- Avoid
- Oct–Nov (rainy)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- COP
- Money
- Currency is the Colombian peso (COP, $). Cards work in hotels, malls and many restaurants; cash is needed for small shops, markets and rural areas.
- Daily spend
- Budget COP$40,000–70,000 excl. bed · Mid COP$70,000–120,000 excl. bed · High COP$120,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Claro (best coverage), Movistar and Tigo SIMs in malls and at airports; passport required and IMEI registration may apply for longer stays — check.
- Emergency
- Police 123 · Fire and ambulance 123
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 110–120 V · 60 Hz · US-style plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% propina voluntaria offered on the bill.; Guides: COP 20,000–50,000 per person per day.; Taxis: Round up.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in Bogotá and Medellín; drink bottled on the coast and in rural areas.
- Toilets
- Put paper in the bin in most places; bring tissues for bus stations.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bus San Gil–Barichara | COP$6,500 |
| Hostel dorm bed | COP$15,000–40,000 |
| Hormigas Culonas (bag of ants) | COP$5,000–10,000 |
| Arepa Santandereana | COP$3,000–6,000 |
| Coffee in a café | COP$2,000–4,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BGA · Palonegro International Airport (Bucaramanga)
- About 2.5 h by bus or taxi from Barichara
Typical fares
- Bus San Gil → Barichara
- COP$6,500, 45 min
- Mototaxi Barichara → Guane
- about COP$10,000
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Barichara is compact and walkable. To reach Guane, walk 3 h or take a mototaxi (check). Buses to San Gil leave from the terminal every 20–30 min.
See and do
Known for
- Colonial stone streets and whitewashed buildings
- San Antonio's Chapel
- Santa Bárbara's Chapel
- Church of the Immaculate Conception
- Hormigas Culonas (big flying ants)
- Walk to Guane
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| San Gil | Bus from Barichara terminal, 45 min | About 1 h |
| Guane | Walk 3 h on a stone path | About 3 h one way |
| Bucaramanga | Bus via San Gil, about 2.5 h | About 3 h |
| Cúcuta | Bus via San Gil and Bucaramanga, about 6 h | About 7 h |
Sleep
- Town centre
- Most hostels and hotels are within a few blocks of the main plaza; everything is walkable.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | HolaOH-lah |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-see-ahs |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAN-toh KWES-tah |
| Where is the bus terminal? | ¿Dónde está la terminal de buses?DON-deh es-TAH lah ter-mee-NAL deh BOO-sehs |
| Can I pay by card? | ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?PWEH-doh pah-GAR kon tar-HEH-tah |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, cheek kiss between women and mixed pairs; avoid: Launching into requests without a greeting
- Politeness: 'Con gusto', 'a la orden'; avoid: Blunt commands
- Topics: Coffee, football, food; avoid: Escobar jokes, drug talk
- Showing valuables: Keep phones away; avoid: 'Dar papaya'
Scams and watch-outs
- Hormigas Culonas are a local speciality; they are sold in the main plaza.
- The walk to Guane is on a stone path with some steep sections; wear sturdy shoes and bring water.
- Buses to San Gil stop around 7:10 PM; check the last departure if you are returning the same day.
Barichara is one of the safest towns in Colombia. The main risks are uneven stone streets (watch your step) and sun exposure on the walk to Guane.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Barichara yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Colonial stone streets and whitewashed buildings
- San Antonio's Chapel
- Santa Bárbara's Chapel
- Church of the Immaculate Conception
- Hormigas Culonas (big flying ants)
- Walk to Guane
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Barichara, revision 5189098 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5189098
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/barichara). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.