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    San Gil
    Pedro Alejandro Ariza Rubiano / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Colombia

    San Gil

    City

    San Gil liegt in Santander, rund 300 Kilometer nördlich von Bogotá und 95 Kilometer südlich von Bucaramanga.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Colombia
    7. Santander
    9. San Gil
    San Gil liegt in Santander, rund 300 Kilometer nördlich von Bogotá und 95 Kilometer südlich von Bucaramanga. Die Stadt ist die Basis für Rafting, Canyoning und Paragliding in der Region und Ausgangspunkt für Barichara und den Chicamocha-Canyon. Die 1689 gegründete Stadt am Río Fonce hat rund 60.000 Einwohner; mitten im Ort liegt der Park El Gallineral.

    Sights in San Gil

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Attraction

    1Río Fonce

    San Gil's local river is the city's classic rafting spot. Its rapids are rated moderate and are suitable even for beginners.
    Open in Google Maps
    National Park of Chicamocha
    National Park

    2National Park of Chicamocha

    The theme park at Chicamocha Canyon is located about an hour from Bucaramanga. A cable car crosses the canyon, along with viewpoints, a water park, and the Monumento a la Santandereanidad. Open Wednesday to Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM, on weekends and public holidays from 9 AM; the cable car temporarily closes for maintenance.
    Open in Google Maps
    Cascadas de Juan Curí
    Park

    3Cascadas de Juan Curí

    The over 200-meter-high waterfall is the region's most important spot for canyoning, abseiling along the rock face. At its foot lies a natural pool.
    Open in Google Maps
    Cathedral of the Holy Cross
    Church

    4Cathedral of the Holy Cross

    18th-century cathedral on Plaza Principal, surrounded by whitewashed colonial buildings.
    Open in Google Maps

    Videos & Travel Reports

    13 of the best places to visit in Colombia

    13 of the best places to visit in Colombia

    Lonely Planet article by Steph Dyson, last updated in March 2026, covering Cartagena, the Amazon, the coffee region, Tayrona, the Sierra Nevada, La Guajira, San Gil, Providencia, Caño Cristales and…

    Restaurants in San Gil

    1

    Gringo Mike's

    A traveler-favorite restaurant with US and Mexican cuisine. Burgers are the specialty; vegetarian options available.
    Show on Google Maps
    2

    Restaurante Don Alipio

    Santanderan cuisine near the center, such as pepitoria, goat meat, carne asada, and soups, along with limonada with panela.
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    Food and Drink in San Gil

    San Gil is a good place to try Santander's cuisine, from ant snacks to thick corn soup. Meals are hearty, ideal for long days of rafting and hiking.

    Big-bottomed ants

    Geröstete Ameisen, die in San Gil auf Märkten und in Läden verkauft werden. Die Saison liegt etwa im April und Mai und dauert nur rund drei Wochen, danach steigen die Preise deutlich.

    Mute santandereano

    Dicke Suppe mit Rippchen von Rind und Schwein, Mais, Kartoffeln und Kichererbsen. Sie ist fast eine vollständige Mahlzeit und vor allem an kühlen Abenden beliebt.

    Masato

    Cremiges, vergorenes Getränk aus Reis, Mehl, Wasser und Zucker, oft mit Zimt und Nelken gewürzt. Du bekommst es in Bäckereien und Läden der Region.

    Arepa santandereana

    Arepa aus gelbem Mais, der mit in Wasser gelöster Holzasche verarbeitet wird. Das macht sie trockener und knuspriger als die Arepas aus weißem Mais im übrigen Land.

    Adventure and Region

    Rafting is available on the Fonce, Suárez, and Chicamocha rivers. The Fonce features moderate rapids, while the Suárez is considered significantly more challenging.Other activities include paragliding, bungee jumping, abseiling, and caving. In 2004, San Gil was officially declared the region's tourist capital.

    Getting There & Around

    Bus from Bogotá: Direct buses depart multiple times daily from Terminal Salitre, taking around 7 to 8 hours.From Bucaramanga: Around 2.5 to 3 hours by bus.Chicamocha: Buses heading towards Bucaramanga stop at Parque Nacional del Chicamocha.Tours: Rafting and canyoning can be booked with operators in San Gil, usually including hotel pick-up.

    Accommodations in San Gil

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    Plan your trip to San Gil

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      Sunrise over alpine peaks and a sea of clouds
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      Trip to San Gil

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      • 1Río Fonce3 days
      • 2National Park of Chicamocha4 days
      • 3Cascadas de Juan Curí5 days
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      San Gil
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    Nearby

    Santander

    Santander

    Santander is in the northeast of Colombia, its capital is Bucaramanga. Visitors come for the Chicamocha Canyon, for rafting and canyoning around San Gil, and the colonial town of Barichara.
    Barichara

    Barichara

    Barichara is a colonial town in the mountains of Santander Department, northeastern Colombia, 21 km from the adventure town of San Gil. You come for its yellow sandstone houses, cobblestone streets, and the hike on the Camino Real to Guane. Founded in 1705, the town is at around 1,300m; its historic center is a National Monument since 1978.
    Villa de Leyva

    Villa de Leyva

    Villa de Leyva is a colonial town in Boyacá, about 165 kilometers northeast of Bogotá and 40 kilometers west of Tunja. You come for its white houses, cobbled streets, and the Plaza Mayor, which, at about 14,000 square meters, is among South America's largest squares. The town, founded in 1572, is at 2,149 meters and has been a National Monument since 1954; its dry surroundings hold fossil finds and a Muisca site.
    Zipaquirá

    Zipaquirá

    Zipaquirá, about 49 kilometers north of Bogotá, is famous for its underground Salt Cathedral. The trip from the capital can be easily combined with a stroll through its colonial center. Founded in 1600, the city has over 160,000 inhabitants; white facades and wooden balconies earned it the nickname 'ciudad blanca' (white city).
    Bogotá & Boyacá

    Bogotá & Boyacá

    The region comprises the capital Bogotá and the Andean highlands of Cundinamarca and Boyacá to its north. You come here for museums and colonial architecture in the capital, the underground Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, and Boyacá's white colonial towns. Bogotá lies at 2,640 meters, making the climate throughout the highlands accordingly cool.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • Video reportages: 13 of the best places to visit in Colombia
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI