Barichara: Best Things to Do in Colombia's Prettiest Town
Barichara, Colombia, is one of the prettiest colonial towns in the country, featuring cobbled streets, picturesque scenery, whitewashed buildings with red-tiled roofs, colorful shutters, and a laidback vibe. Our travel guide includes the best things to do in Barichara, how to get there from San Gil, tips on the best hotels, and a hike to Guane.
When traveling around Colombia, it is hard to avoid visiting many colonial towns. And every colonial town has an adequate superlative.
Apparently, Barichara, an upscale town, only 20 kilometers from San Gil alias the adventure capital of the country, is the prettiest one.
Yes, the word is catchy, and we could not miss the opportunity to visit Barichara as we like to see the best places every country has to offer.
Even though sometimes our experience does not live up to the expectations, Barichara stole our hearts.
We spent in the prettiest town in the Santander department one day, and if there's one thing we regret, it is that we did not book an overnight stay here.
Even a whole day in Barichara was interesting enough, and we hope this post will show you its beauty and make you consider whether it’s worth including in your Colombia itinerary or not.
It is the truth that Barichara does not offer that many things to see and do as other touristy destinations, but it was probably its laidback atmosphere combined with the picturesque cobblestone streets, that made us like this town so much.
Simply put, that day in Barichara took us back to Spanish colonial times.
BARICHARA, COLOMBIA
The architecture of the town is similar to another of Colombia's villages such as Villa de Leyva or Salento, but Barichara seemed to us cleaner, more tranquil, and more consistent.
And once we walked further away from the epicenter of the town, which is the square, streets were almost abandoned.
Barichara is very compact, and you can easily explore its highlights on your own within a few hours.
Due to the fact, that Barichara is one of the best places in Colombia, the village itself is a popular tourist destination, however, it doesn't feel that way.
Barichara gained its popularity just recently, and the main square can be a bit busy because it serves as an arrival and departure point, but walk only a few steps away, and you will barely meet anyone.
Colonial houses are perfectly preserved, that's why walking the streets, discovering cute little balconies, colorful doors, and shutters is the main feature and joy here.
It is one of those places, where you do not need a plan where to go, and you do not a list of the must-visit places. Every traveler will find here what interests him or her the most.
We absolutely loved wandering Barichara's streets, discovering the small little details, and for once we felt no obligation to chase perfect photo spots.
These spots found us. Barichara lies on a dry plateau, it means that the afternoon temperatures can be unbearable.
When this happens, that's time to discover shady courtyards with coffee shops to take a break and cool off.
If you are looking for information on the best things to see and do in Barichara, you've come to the right place.
Our travel guide also includes practical tips on where to stay, how to get to Barichara, or where to eat.
WHAT TO DO IN BARICHARA
We've already touched on the subject briefly, but we have to say it here more loudly. Barichara is a wonderful destination, but it does not offer as many obvious things to do as other places.
It is more about the vibe and taking in the colonial architecture.
If you prefer to have at least a rough plan that will take you around the place that should not be missed, we put together this travel guide.
Here, we share best places in Barichara we think you must-see during your time there, including our favorite hike from the town to Guane.
In case you prefer to be accompanied by a guide and learn more about the history of the region, check out this Barichara Guided Tour.
PARQUE PRINCIPAL BARICHARA
Like every town in Colombia, also Barichara has a representative square. This park is a lively place.
First of all, it is where the bus from San Gil stops, it is where local people meet, try to find a parking place.
But it is also a square lined with restaurants, shops selling local handicrafts, and you will also find here one of the architectural gems.
It is, unsurprisingly, a church. Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepcion is an imposing cathedral from 1838, and a photo on the stairs leading to the entrance is a must.
EL MIRADOR
El Mirador alias the viewpoint is one of the best places in the town from where you can appreciate the wonderful area where is Barichara located.
Barichara sits on the brim of Suarez Canyon, so the scenery from here is absolutely breathtaking.
El Mirador is on the western side of the town, close to the corner of Calle 1a and Carrera 6. If you are staying in Barichara overnight, it is the place where you want to be when the sun sets.
This brings us to the topic of safety.
Is Barichara safe? And can you walk around at night?
We found this town one of the safest we've visited in Colombia, so there's less to worry about than in Bogota or Medellin.
Sure, stick to the well-lit streets and watch your belongings, keep your valuables at hotel room, but it is probably a part of your travel drill anyway.
WANDER AROUND THE STREETS
The visit to Barichara would not be complete without walking its streets. This is, at least according to us, the absolute highlight.
The town is small, so do not worry you get lost.
Or do you know what?
Do not fight it, forget the map for a while, and go whether it feels natural.
The real highlight for us in Barichara was photographing facades of houses the same as discovering hidden courtyards.
Discovering the streets of Barichara is the time to slow down.
When you head north from the main square, make sure you turn around, because Calle 5 that leads downhill together with a wonderful landscape at the backdrop is one of the best photo opportunities in the town.
CHAPELS OF BARICHARA
When you walk the streets of this colonial town, make sure you do not stick only to the very center.
If you do not have enough of architecture, we recommend you to visit two photogenic chapels.
Chapel San Antonio alias San Antonio Capilla is south of the main square, while Capilla de Santa Barbora is by the town's northern edge.
Both look very well taken care of, and if you find them open, it is worth it to explore the interior as well.
STAY IN BARICHARA OVERNIGHT
Even though we visited Barichara on a one-day trip from San Gil, if you have time, check out the option of spending in this colonial town at least one day.
Not only every town always feel different when most of the day-trippers have left, but Barichara has one of the most upscale little hotels in Colombia.
Most of them have lovely courtyards, tasty cuisine, but also a pool! More about the best hotels in Barichara below!
EL CAMINO REAL - HIKE FROM BARICHARA TO GUANE
Is it a bit unusual to consider hike outside Barichara one of the best things to actually do in the city?
Well, it possibly is, but when we think of the day spent in this town, we cannot stop remembering El Camino Real hike.
Before we hit the streets of Barichara, we wanted to stretch our legs and decided to hike an easy but spectacular trek to an even smaller village called Guane.
The trail starts near Barichara's viewpoint overlooking the canyon at the north end of Calle 4.
The whole 6 km long trail originally built by Indigenous people is stone-paved and leads mostly downhill (that's why this direction is preferred, and most travelers go back from Guane to Barichara by bus).
On the way down, you'll be enjoying views of canyon and valley filled with cacti.
It often gets hot, and the sun in Colombia can be brutal, make sure to bring a sunscreen for the hike.
Closer to Guane, there's a very short detour to a viewpoint (Mirador de la Pierda) which is worth it.
Don't be discouraged by the fact that you must walk through someone's house, the family who lives here welcome visitors and you can even purchase cold drinks there.
Once you reach Guane, you can explore this charming town for a bit, then wait for the bus to Barichara on the square.
Buses run irregularly but roughly once in an hour. We took a jeep, which leaves when full (usually 6 - 10 passengers) and paid COP 5 000 each.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
WHERE TO STAY IN BARICHARA
Barichara is a super-tiny pueblo, which is awesome. You can reserve a hotel that suits best your budget and needs, and you do not have to worry about how to get around or what district is the best.
The only downside of hotels in Barichara is the price, we found them, in general, more expensive than those in San Gil, which was also the reason why we traveled to this bigger city later in the afternoon.
On the other hand, we think that staying in Barichara is part of the experience, and next time we travel to Colombia, we will do that.
Below, you can find the best hotels in Barichara, and also tips on where to stay in San Gil, in case you will follow our footsteps.
Budget | Hostal Casa Nacuma - Set in Barichara, this hotel features pretty rooms, a garden, terrace, lounge, continental, and vegetarian breakfast, and the owner can also organize many travel activities for you.
Mid-range | Achiotte Hotel Boutique - A beautiful airy boutique house has an outdoor pool, and all rooms are equipped with a balcony with garden views. Some of you might appreciate that this hotel is adult only.
Luxury | Hotel Hicasua y Centro de Convenciones - Right in the city center, this upscale colonial-style house has perfectly clean and comfortable rooms, an outdoor pool, garden, and hot tub. Tasty breakfast is a standard.
Alternatively, search for your accommodation in San Gil.
Budget | Bacaregua Hostel - Situated right in the heart of the historic center of San Gil, this budget-friendly hostel offers modern rooms, both private and dormitories with lockers - it is actually not a norm in South America.
Mid-range | Hotel Campestre Casona del Camino Real - Surrounded by a picturesque landscape, this hotel has a spacious room and outdoor pool where you can chill.
WHERE TO EAT IN BARICHARA
Restaurants are a bit tacky and way too much touristy than we would've appreciated and expected.
We found only a few restaurants, where was served a daily menu (menu del dia), other restaurants did not offer it or cooked Italian pasta and other international dishes, which is not exactly what we were looking for when in Colombia.
After few unsuccessful attempts, we found a tucked (and also surprisingly overcrowded) local restaurant El Compa where we paid only COP 10 000 for good lunch.
It is popular among other travelers and especially local tourists, so you must wait to be seated (it can take up to 20 minutes, or pretend you know what you are doing and grab the first chair available.
Waiters sometimes tend to overlook gringos - probably only because they know there will be a language barrier.
HOW TO GET TO BARICHARA
It seems that there's no direct bus to Barichara from other destination than San Gil, so no matter where you travel from (usually from cities such as Bucaramanga, Bogota etc.), buy a ticket to San Gil, and continue to Barichara from here.
In San Gil, look for a bus terminal called Terminalito that is within walking distance from the center.
The bus leaves every half an hour, approximately from 5 AM to 6:45 PM (to get back, try to leave Barichara around 5 PM to make sure you won't get stuck here).
There's no need to buy the ticket in advance, though the bus was completely full, and we had to stand the entire journey.
The drive takes a little bit less than an hour, and the ticket cost COP 5 000 per person.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
