Transfer approx. 4 - 5 hours

Pick up at Villa de Leyva and transfer to the town of Guadalupe, Santander. You will also have some time to go out for a walk, visit the central park, different churches or one of the bars in town. We will provide all the information you need and the guide will show you around.

We can also provide you the transfer from Bogotá with or without stops at “Puente de Boyacá” and in Villa de Leyva for a tour through the town.

The total trip with the mountain bikes to get to the waterfalls take you about 1.5 to 4 hours depending on your speed. It is around 18 km (11 mi).

The tour starts in Guadalupe from where you will take a ride onto the top of the hill for about 6 kms on a well-paved street (approx. 300 meters of altitude). On top of the hill, you will have a beautiful view on the scenery of Guadalupe and surroundings. The trip continues on an approx. 10 km long unpaved road with some ups and downs before the last 2 kms are downwards to the bottom of the waterfall.

If the weather conditions permit, you will be able to visit a little beautiful cave on the way to the waterfalls.

The Caballeros Waterfall is a stunning waterfall of approx. 100 meters (328 ft.) in height which is not frequently visited by tourists. At the bottom of the waterfall you will see the house of a family who also has a small store to offer you some refreshments. You will have the opportunity to swim in the water at the bottom of the waterfall or you can even get closer to the fall where you feel the enormous power of water.

It is highly recommended to take a small trail that leads you to the top, since there you can take amazing pictures at the edge of the waterfall. One part is located behind the waterfall which means you can see the waterfalls from all perspectives.

After enjoying the waterfalls you will have to take the same road back to Guadalupe to get to town before the sun goes down. This means a steep slope upwards for the first 2 kms, 10 km with some ups and downs and 6 kms letting the mountain bike roll until you arrive in town.

NOTE: Please bring additional shoes that can get wet since the rocks might be very slippery. It is not recommended going barefoot.

Before arriving to the natural swimming holes “Las Gachas” you will have to take a walk for about 25 minutes crossing grasslands with beautiful mountainous landscape in the background.

Las Gachas are unique waterholes in a river that runs upon reddish rocks. The region of Guadalupe is located on a big rock platform and at the place of the river you can see how the whole region looks beneath the grasslands. The holes that are up to 5 meters deep make it an impressive setting.

The first part to arrive at las Gachas is not known by tourists but it is a perfect place to take fantastic pictures without any people in the background

From this part you will be walking down the river for about 400 meters to get to the part of Las Gachas where the rocks are very slippery and where you can slide into the holes.

Walking further down for 300 meters you will arrive at a small 15 m waterfall where Las Gachas end. Here you can have a little break on a typical Colombian farm and get to know the live in the countryside.

On the way back before taking the 25-minute walk to the car you will have time to lay down in the sun, use more rock slides or just chill in the waterholes.

NOTE: Please bring additional shoes that can get wet since the rocks might be very slippery. It is not recommended going barefoot

Transfer approx. 10 minutes

Socorro is the town where the Insurrection of the Comuneros took place, the first revolt against the Spanish Empire in 1781, 29 years before the Colombian independence. The town used to be the capital of Santander for a short time period and had more influence than Bucaramanga.

During the walking tour you will get to know the setting of the revolts for independence and you will be given the chance to imagine how such a revolt may have looked like. 

El Socorro is together with Girón and Barichara one of the three national heritage towns in Santander. That makes Santander together with Antioquia the department with most national heritage towns in Colombia.

During the tour in the historic museum will learn a lot about the history of Santander that had an enormous influence on the independence of Colombia and Latin America. In the museum you will also get to know the whole history after 1781 including the Spanish reconquest and the official declaration of independence. Important historical figures of El Socorro known in the whole country are Manuela Beltrán and José Antonio Galán.

Optional: Sometimes the religious museum “Convenio de los Cappuchinos” opens its doors to public. It will give you an even more detailed view on the Colombian history in El Socorro.

Approx. 30 min transfer to San Gil, approx. 1 hour to Barichara

After hiking for about 20 minutes in the forest, you will see the impressive Juan Curí Waterfalls. The total height of the waterfall from the highest to the lowest point is approx. 250 m and it is divided into several smaller waterfalls.

The hike takes you to the bottom of a 50-meter high waterfall where you will have the opportunity to jump into the water. If the weather conditions permit, you will be able to climb down the lower parts of the waterfall which is pure adventure.

Optional for an additional cost (80.000 COP): Rappelling down the 50-meter high part of the waterfall.

NOTE: Please bring shoes that can get wet. After the hiking back to the entrance, you will have time and a place to change your wet clothes.

List of the Optional Activities with approximate prices per person (updated Dec. 2019):

•    Gallineral Park: park famous for its local tree El Gallinero (non-extreme,76.000 COP)
•        River Rafting:

1. Fonce River: medium class (50.000 COP)   
2. Chicamocha River: advanced to extreme class (220.000 COP)
3. Suarez River: extreme class (140.000 COP)

•   Bungee Jumping: 70-meter platform (80.000 COP); 140-meter platform (100.000 COP)
•        Caving: Cow Cave in Curití and Indian Cave in Páramo (both 35.000 COP)
•       Zip Lining: 500 meters to the other side of the mountain and 600 m back (35.000 COP)
•     Paragliding: 10 to 15 minute tandem flight in Curití (90.000 COP) or in the Chicamocha Canyon (190.000 COP)
•        Mountain Biking: Chicamocha Canyon (270.000 COP); Curití (180.000 COP)

The Camino Real is a trail that was build 150 years ago and has a lot of history. It was built by the German immigrant Geo von Lengerke who lived in different parts of Santander and made trade routes to import and export goods.

The hiking trail is about 5 km long and takes you about 2 hours. It offers you a great view into the Suarez Canyon and you will hear different bird during the hike which is mainly going down the Suarez Canyon.

At the end of the hike you will arrive in a town called Guane which still has an old colonial architecture and a picturesque central park. Guane is known as the capital of the indigenous tribe of Santander “Los Guanes”. Therefore we really recommend visiting the archaeological museum which counts with a well-conserved mummy of the Guanes but also more than 10.000 fossils found in the Suarez Canyon. 

From Guane you will take back the bus to Barichara (approx. 15 minutes).

Barichara, known as the most beautiful town in Colombia, is famous for its colonial architecture, the quiet cobbled streets, adobe houses and artisan workshops and its craft shops among other things. You will see amazing churches, chapels, graveyards, sculptures and parks.

Besides, you will be entering the stores where the handcrafted goods are made and sold. These handcrafted goods include baskets, paper, clothes, bags, shoes, little figures, dreamcatchers, etc. and are great souvenirs you can take back home.

One part of the walking tour is getting to know the Paper Workshop which is a foundation for single mothers that make artisanal paper and other products out of the sisal plant. As you get to know the whole processing you will also be able to make your own sheet of paper.

In addition, we can offer you gastronomic experience getting to know Santander´s most typical dish, the Hormiga Culona. Translating it directly into English it´s “big-ass ant” and Santander is known for its farmers that love to eat the roasted ants. You will receive the whole processing experience from taking apart the wings and legs of the ants until eating the roasted ants.

The park is divided into 3 different parts:

The lower part at the cable car station is a tiny town representing the colonial town Barichara. Here you can find restaurants, shops, and shops for souvenirs, a little chapel and the Guane Museum. The Guane Museum shows the culture of the indigenous Colombian tribe “los Guanes”, including information about their culture, items they used and even come skulls that show the cranial deformation. 

Going up about 100 stairs from the town you will arrive at the Santander Monument “Monumento a la Santandereanidad” which represents the first step of the Colombian independence. The monument is build upon a large tobacco leave which represents a very important economic element of the region. The monument shows angry statues that all appoint at the Spanish Empire since they wanted to gain their independence. The reason why the monument is located in Santander is that the first revolts for the independence of Colombia and other Latin American countries took place in El Socorro which used to be the capital of Santander.

Walking up the hill for about 400 meters you get to the 360 degrees viewpoint where you can enjoy the majestic view on the canyon from different angles.

Additionally to these 3 parts, you will find different activities in the park such as canyoneering, an extreme swing, zip lining, an ostrich park, virtual reality, buggies, etc. (not included in the price).

Enjoy the cable car ride through the Chicamocha Canyon going more than 1000 meters down the canyon and up on the other side (total length 6.3 km; duration of the ride 30 minutes).

Enjoy the unique landscape during the ride through the canyon which is with 2000 m even deeper than the Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA and has a total length of 227 km. The Canyon was formed more than 60 million years ago from what once used to be a great sea.

You will walk the paths of the Hacienda El Roble, a coffee estate with more than 100 years of tradition of producing one of the world’s finest coffee (officially the most expensive coffee of Colombia).

During the walk (approx. 1 hour) you will get to know the outside coffee museum including the coffee plants, the coffee planting and growing, and various types of coffee.

After the walk you will arrive at the production facilities where you will learn about the different steps of the coffee processing.

The tour will end with the coffee tasting where you have the possibility to taste the coffee grown on the farm and distinguish between the different tastes, aromas and attributes.

The coffee farm is certified by the Rainforest Alliance, ensuring that Los Santos Mesa coffee conserves biodiversity and ensures sustainable livelihoods for 127 species of birds that can be found within the Hacienda El Roble. The completely organic coffee is grown under a dense forest canopy and is certified by BCS ÖKO-Garantie, a leading international certifier.

If you are staying the night at La Hacienda El Roble, you will enjoy the quiet atmosphere of the coffee farm at night and hear the birds early in the following morning.

The hike usually starts in a sector of the canyon called “La Mojarra”. At the beginning of the hike you will be at the edge of the canyon at a height of about 1500 meters above sea level and 1000 meters above the canyon river.

The hike ends in Los Santos, a town with a beautiful central park located at the edge of the canyon. Starting a steep hike down the canyon for about 300 meters in altitude you will gradually go up along the canyon in order to arrive at Los Santos. The advantage of this hike is that you will not have to stand the heat at the bottom of the canyon since you won´t go down all the way to the river. The total hike takes you about 2 to 5 hours depending on your speed and on the trail you take.

Optional for an additional cost (approx. 90.000 COP): Climbing in Colombia´s largest climbing park at La Mojarra

Transfer approx. 2 hours from Los Santos

If this day is a weekend day (Friday/ Saturday/ Sunday), there is the possibility to stop at the farmer´s market on the way back to Bucaramanga.

“El Mercado Campesino” (Farmer´s Market) is a market that promotes fair trade. It is a place where the farmers can offer their fruits and vegetables among other products directly to locals. In addition, you will find entrepreneurs from the regions that offer their products in restaurants, bars, handcraft shops, etc. The Arepa de Chocolo is one of the famous dishes on this market

We will provide you with the information about different options for dinner (dinner not included).

We really recommend to enjoy the nightlife of Bucaramanga. People love to go out for drinks or to dance in one of the nightclubs. Due to the warm weather in Bucaramanga, most bars and clubs are have some space outside, so you will already see much of the nightlife just walking down the streets. There will be several clubs and bars in the vicinity of your hotel

The City Tour in Bucaramanga starts out with a short walking tour in the center of Bucaramanga. During this walking tour you will get to know the central park of Bucaramanga where the city was created, different government building, churches, a chapel. This tour will show you how Bucaramanga used to be in history and how it started to grow. You will also learn to understand the difference between a typical Colombian city and a small Colombian town.

After the short walking tour and the visit of some other sights, you will be free to choose whether you want to get to know Bucaramanga´s historical museum, walk through the shopping streets in the city center where you will find cheap clothes, visit a fancier shopping mall or visit the part of Bucaramanga which is famous for its leather shoe production. If possible, you will even be able to do a tour through the production facilities of the leather shoes.

Transfer approx. 30 minutes

In order to reach the Eco Park Santísimo you will have to take a cable car from the parking lot that takes you almost 500 meters up the mountain.

Arriving at the top you have a great view of the whole metropolitan area of Bucaramanga.

The main attraction in the eco park on top of the hill is the Christ Statue Santísimo that has about the same height as the famous Christ Statue “Christo Redentor” in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil (27 m vs. 30 m). The great thing of the Santísimo is that you can take an elevator behind the back that even offers you a greater view.

In addition, the park counts with various souvenir stores, a store where you can try self-made beer and wine made of oranges and raspberries, stands selling typical candies of the region and cafés.

After enjoying a stunning sunset above the city of Bucaramanga (if the weather permits), there will be a light and water show in the park.

Transfer approx. 30 minutes

Also, every Sunday morning there is a “Run and Roll Day” on the main street of Bucaramanga which is closed until noon. People enjoy the wide empty street to go for a walk, to do sports, to go inline skating, to ride a bicycle or even to take public dancing classes.

We invite you to be part of the “Run and Roll Day” before having lunch in Bucaramanga

Transfer approx. 30 minutes

In Girón you will walk through the picturesque streets and pass by buildings with a typical well-conserved colonial architecture. Because of the architecture Girón was declared as one of 17 towns in Colombia as national heritage.

In contrast to Barichara Girón is a busy city and you have the perfect setting to imagine how Colombians used to live here 200 years ago. The town has a high religious importance and all houses in the historic center are white colored.

One thing you should not miss are the tasty fruit-ice cream creations such as Maracumix and Piñamix.

Evening

Transfer to the Hotel in Bucaramanga

Transfer approx. 30 minutes

Lebrija is known for the best pineapples in Colombia. National and international pineapple buyers like to pay higher prices if they know that the pineapple comes from Lebrija. The pineapple tour will last maximum 2 hours.

Arriving at the pineapple farm you will be surprised by the sweet taste of the pineapple type “honey gold” (“oro miel”) which is mainly cultivated in this region and which is recognized by its bright golden color. Getting the pineapple samples, you also will get to know and interact with the farmers who live in the countryside and whose lives completely depend on the cultivation and commercialization of the pineapples. The owner or one of his family members will show you the cultivations and you will learn a lot about the stages of growth and about the plants and treatments of the plants. In contrast to coffee or cacao, pineapples do not have processing stages after harvesting. However, passing through the pineapple cultivations there are much more interesting facts to tell than about coffee and cacao. You won´t miss the information of how to choose the most delicious pineapple, how to recognize if it´s cultivated organically and how to pick out a rotten pineapple.

The Lake Topocoro is an artificial lake which was formed due to the new Dam Hidrosogamoso in 2015. Because of the fact that it is new lake it is not known by a lot of people and therefore, you will not see a lot of tourists. You won´t even find the lake on Google Maps.

Arriving at the lake you will take a private boat ride to 2 different small waterfalls that can only be reached by the boat.

The first one is depending on the water level up to 20 meters high and will be reached entering a part of the Chicamocha Canyon where you will have an amazing view.

The second place you will visit consists of several small waterfalls that are set up in various steps. Here you can enjoy climbing up the waterfalls and jump into the different ponds.

The Lake Topocoro has a high water temperature (as warm as the Caribbean Sea) which makes it a great place to swim.

The overall time on the lake and at the waterfalls will be about 3 hours. Getting back to the parking lot you will have the opportunity to take a shower and change clothes.

Transfer approx. 25 minutes

The Airplane Cave is the perfect place to have a fun day full of adventures with adrenaline. It is not just a cave; it is a place with various natural swimming holes, natural slides and caves. Some of the swimming ponds have crystalized water and offer you a neat setting to take pictures. At some parts the ponds are within the caves. The first thing you see for example is just a tiny entry into a hole but as you enter you will be impressed by the formations of the inside of the cave. At one place there is even a waterfall inside the cave. The Airplane Cave is not known by a lot of tourists and therefore it seems to be like a magical virgin place.

In the Airplane Cave you can spend 2 to 4 hours getting to know all the interesting spots. The guide will show you everything and he also makes sure that you have a save experience

The Memorial Museum in San Vicente de Chucurí was built to honor the people that lost their lives during the war with the guerrilla groups and the paramilitaries. San Vicente used to be one of the hot spots of the guerrilla groups such as the FARC and the ELN. Although today San Vicente de Chucurí is one of the safest towns in Colombia, due to its dark history it used to be one of the most dangerous places in the world approx. 20 years ago. The number of almost 2,000 people killed from the 60,000 inhabitants that lived in the region show the horrible impacts of the civil war.

Usually a military will offer you the tour in the museum and explain you about different events that occurred in the past. The advantage of a local military doing the tour is that he will be able to tell you personal experiences of the civil war. The tour last about 1 hour depending on your questions and interest.

We will provide you with the information about different options for dinner (dinner not included).

The Reinita Cielo Azul Bird Reserve was created in 2005 with the purpose of preserving the habitat of the migratory bird Reinita Cielo Azul (Setophaga cerulea), being the first Colombian and South American reserve created by the aim of preserving a migratory bird.

Upon arrival you will have a short introduction and then you will continue with a hike on a colonial path observing the landscape of San Vicente de Chucuri, its surroundings and the tropical rainforest of the reserve. This cobblestone path was built about 150 years ago by the German engineer Geo Von Lengerke, with a length of 40 kilometers going from San Vicente de Chucurí to Zapatoca.

The tour lasts approx. 4 hours and the distance you will walk is about 4 kilometers or less with an elevation of up to 300 m. At one point you will have the opportunity to watch an endemic hummingbird from Santander: Black Inca (Coeligena prunellei) among other birds, especially hummingbirds.

NOTE: After the hike you will have the opportunity to take a shower and change clothes.

Transfer approx. 25 minutes

This region of San Vicente de Chucurí is Colombia´s largest producer of cacao producing 13% of the cacao in the country. It is located right next to the National Park Serranía de los Yariguies, an unique ecosystem and source of income for the people regarding the cacao, coffee and fruit growing, among others.

The region is also well known for the quality and the sustainable production of cacao, especially for the fair-trade product “Chocolate Santander”, a dark-chocolate bar that promotes the sustainable production of cacao in this region and that has won the Great Taste Award (UK) a few times among other international awards.

Arriving on the cacao farm you will meet the owning family that welcomes you with a home-made hot chocolate and/or coffee. They will explain you the importance of the cacao in the region and how their entire life is influenced by the production of cacao.

The tour will continue in a cacao tree forest on the farm, so you can learn about the agronomic management and you can admire the biodiversity of the crop. After the walk you will learn about all the steps of the cacao production from the harvest to the finished chocolate. At the end of the tour you will receive a short presentation of the finished products that can be made from cacao and you will have time to enjoy the quiet atmosphere at the farm.

A home-made lunch will be included at the cacao farm.

Different options for departure and continuing your tour in Colombia:

1. Transfer to the Airport of Bucaramanga approx. 2 hours
2. Transfer to the Airport of Barrancabermeja approx. 3 hours (additional cost)
3. Transfer to a hotel in Barrancabermeja to take a 4-hour boat ride to Mompox the following day (additional cost)

Transfer to Mompox by vehicle approx. 9 hours (additional cost)