A Full Guide to Barichara, Colombia

Named one of Colombia’s most beautiful towns, Barichara is a small pueblo in the heart of the Santander region, about 23km from the adventure town of San Gil and a popular day trip destination.

It’s known for its colonial architecture, peaceful pace of life, craft workshops, and the Camino Real hike: a cobbled path that links Barichara to the sleepy town of Guane in about 2 hours on foot.

I’ve visited Barichara twice, staying in the town and in the countryside just outside, and both times were incredible. It’s one of my favourite towns in the country (which is a bold claim as I LOVE Colombia), and has so much to see for such a small place.

Santander in general is absolutely stunning, with rolling green hills, mountains, cowboys and little colonial towns dotted throughout. It may be a little out of the way of popular destinations like Medellín and the coffee region, but it’s well worth the trip.

Check out my Medellín Travel Guide for more information on travelling through Colombia.

What To Do in Barichara, Colombia: Why People Visit

The real draw of Barichara is its beauty, and my recommendation when visiting is to take the time to wander and take it in rather than ticking off a packed itinerary. That being said, there’s still plenty to see and experience in this town.

Most people come to visit Barichara for the Camino Real hike, the surrounding nature, and to enjoy the architecture. There are beautiful cemeteries, old warehouses and factories like paper mills and ceramics workshops, beautiful artisanal design shops and lookout points with views of mountains and canyons.

It’s a popular organised day trip from San Gil, but in my opinion it’s worth staying longer to fully soak in the beauty without feeling rushed or tired from a 6am bus.

Camino Real Hike

Arguably the most well known activity in Barichara, this is a stunning hike to the town of Guane, set down an old paved road built by the indigenous peoples of Colombia before Spanish rule. It’s a perfect beginner friendly hike as this section of the path is relatively well-paved and signposted, with little opportunity for veering off or taking wrong turns.

The Camino Real (or Royal path) from Barichara to Guane is actually a part of a much larger multi-day hike which passes through six neighbouring towns, but this is the most common section and can be done in one day.

For those interested in the Camino Real, I would recommend doing it self-guided and don’t necessarily think you need a guide, unless you’re completely new to hiking. I went off my hostel hosts’ advice, AllTrails and the kindness of locals if I was unsure, and never got lost (and I don’t have the best internal GPS).

I’d advise starting in the morning to beat the midday sun, and celebrating with an ice cold beer in Guane when you arrive. You can then either walk back the way you came or take a shared van/bus from Guane town square back to Barichara, just make sure to check the last bus times.

Exploring the Old Streets

The best free activity in the town. Spend an afternoon meandering through the streets of the white, single storey buildings set on cobblestone streets. You’ll come across a variety of different coffee shops, gift shops, restaurants and bars. I don’t think Barichara is the place to come if you’re looking for crazy nightlife, but the cafes and coffee shops are brilliant. Nona’s Bread is a great bakery with really good focaccia (hard to find in South America), and Café Barachá Artesanal has the sweetest staff and delicious coffee local to the region.

Of course, like every town in Colombia, the main plaza sits at the heart of the town, with a beautifully crafted church. This is likely where you’ll be dropped off if you’re on a day trip or arrive by bus. It’s worth hanging out here for a while, peeping into the churches and just relaxing, people watching and enjoying the sleepy pace of life.

Barichara also has a beautiful cemetery surrounded by beautiful nature which I’d recommend taking a stroll through. A lot of the headstones are intricately carved depictions of the deceased’s professions, personality or interests. A lot of these are also made by local stone carvers with rock from the region.

Craft Workshops and Warehouse Visits

Barichara is home to a great paper mill which hosts paper making classes from natural fibres, and ceramics workshops where you can make your own pieces, a great souvenir and memory.

The paper workshop is a permanent warehouse in the old Colombian Tabaco Company building in Barichara. It has a beautiful garden where staff harvest natural fibres to make their own paper, in the Japanese paper-making technique. You can take part in this paper making process, or there are beautiful souvenirs made from this delicate paper, from lamps to children’s toys, to art prints and stationery to buy.

I never took part in the class but I would have loved to bring home my own paper to sketch on!

For ceramics, there’s a whole host of different shops, workshops and classes to choose from. It’s best to get in touch with them directly via Instagram or WhatsApp to arrange classes:

• La Embarrada is one option that sells handmade ceramics and offers courses for adults and children
• El Chircal is another great option to get in touch with if you’re interested in purchasing artisanal, handmade ceramics from the area

Juan Curí Waterfalls

Another day trip option from Barichara is the Juan Curí waterfalls and adventure park, which is doable but in my opinion makes more sense to visit if you’re in San Gil, not Barichara, as you’ll need to take a longer transfer.

I have a whole blog post on my Favourite Activities To Do In San Gil in 2026, which includes Juan Curí.

Where to Stay in Barichara, Colombia

Barichara has a huge selection of hotels, hostels and Airbnbs to choose from. Expect local, charming architecture and real Colombian hospitality over luxury resorts here.

My top recommendation is also not to be afraid of staying outside town and in the countryside, some of the best accommodations are out in the mountains, such as La Pacha, an eco homestay where I stayed for 2 nights.

I love the hotels in the Barichara countryside. This part of Colombia is incredibly safe and beautiful, and in my opinion a missed opportunity if you don’t visit. There’s something about being in the mountains breathing in that fresh air that leaves you completely relaxed. You’ll connect with the property owners, other guests, and feel a deep sense of calm here, and there are incredible options from eco hotels to gorgeous private guest houses. You just need to be okay with walking a little further off the beaten path to find them!

However, if you prefer to be in the middle of it all, or don’t plan on spending too long in this area, the town centre is the best option. I stayed at Trip Monkey Barichara for a night and had a great time meeting other travellers, as well as a good night’s sleep for the price.

For staying within the town Barichara, here are my top recommendations:

• Hotel Mision Santa Barbara: 4 star hotel with a restaurant, hammock relaxation area and gym.
• Hotel Casa Canela: beautiful hotel set in a traditional Colombian family house, with a pool and breakfast included
• La Casa del Diseñador: An artisanal design shop with guest rooms on the second floor and shared kitchen. Attentive host with clean, beautiful and traditional rooms.

For staying outside Barichara, here are my favourite hotels and hostels:

• NOMAD hostal: Affordable, secluded hostel outside the town with incredible views, and a peaceful atmosphere
• Casa Alamanda B&B: Rustic yet cosy hotel in the middle of nature with great amenities and thoughtfully designed.
• La Pacha: An eco hostel with converted buses, wagons and huts for guest rooms and eco toilets, with delicious homemade communal dinners.

How Long Do You Need in Barichara, Colombia

In my opinion, a couple of days is enough for most people visiting Barichara, but it really depends on how much you want to slow down. A day trip in my opinion doesn’t do the town justice, you’ll need at least one night to fully appreciate everything.

You’ll need a day to walk through the streets, spend time discovering the different businesses, enjoying the day drinking coffee, hanging out in the square and visiting the cemetery. I’d then recommend an afternoon craft workshop, which leads you into dinner and drinks in the evening.

Once you feel like you’ve seen the town, I’d use the following day to either set off from Barichara on the full multi-day Camino Real hike, or I’d spend the morning hiking to Guane, passing the time there and getting the last bus back to Barichara for a final night.

Honestly, I could spend 2-3 days here just visiting the different cafes and restaurants if I really wanted to slow down. It’s a great pit stop in between busier travel stops or major cities, so don’t be too hasty to leave, even if you think you’ve seen everything.

How to Get to Barichara, Colombia

Barichara has made a name for itself in the world of Colombia travel and so is fortunately pretty well connected for a tiny town. The best route would be getting the bus from San Gil, which is only a 45 minute journey and would set you back about 5,000 COP (£1.20) per person.

Read my posts on The Best Places To Stay In San Gil in 2026, and my San Gil Transport Guide here.

Bogotá also has a direct bus to Barichara, though this will take about 7.5 hours. A one way ticket on this route costs about 90,000-100,000 COP, but is a great option if you’ve based yourself in the capital like many do.

There is no airport in Barichara, so if you’re looking to fly in, the nearest airport is Bucaramanga. From there, you’ll need to get a 3 hour bus to San Gil, and then repeat the previous step of getting a local bus from San Gil to Barichara.

There are, of course, private transfer options too if you’d prefer not to take public transport in Colombia. I like to use daytrip.com to secure any private car rides, and this is a great option for larger groups or family holidays because of how convenient it is.

From Bogotá to Barichara, you’re looking at about $300 USD for a private transfer for 3 travellers. A lot more expensive, but faster and you don’t need to stress about navigating the Colombian bus terminals.

My Experience and Advice For Visiting Barichara

Barichara and the surrounding area was truly one of my favourite places in the country. I feel like I say that in every destination but it’s really true. It feels so authentically Colombian, there’s no luxury or super modern resorts which I honestly think keeps the character and charm of a location. It feels a little frozen in time in the best way, and people are some of the nicest I’ve ever met.

I think what I liked so much about Barichara was that the craftsmanship and artisans feel more unique than the rest of the country, with no mass produced markets selling the same stuff. Everything feels a lot more rustic and handmade, and you can appreciate the quality a lot more. This goes from everything from the coffee to the ceramics to the leather goods to the paper, even to the cobbled streets. It all feels incredibly rich in texture and craftsmanship.

I’ve also mentioned it a million times already, but getting out into nature is one of the best things to do here. You don’t need to do the 2-3 day Camino Real, but there are so many great hiking trails around here and even a one hour walk really resets your mind.

Frequently Asked Questions About Barichara, Colombia

I hope you enjoy Barichara as much as I did, happy travelling!