Crossed by two massive gorges, and teeming with rivers, caves, waterfalls and a National Park, Santander is perfectly situated for adventure. From the fertile highlands, to the subtropical forest and onto the dry lowland gorges, Santander offers world class biking, rafting, hiking and paragliding.
Highlights
Tour Bogota and learn about its Spanish and pre–Columbian heritage
Explore the colonial city of Barichara and its surrounding farms by bike
Venture through a limestone cave and swim through an underground river
Plunge through the rapids ranging from class III-V on the Suarez River
Activities that provide a reasonable level of physical challenge and elevate the heart rate. Focused on more active pursuits including multisport tours. Travelers may be active 5-7 hours total each day. Recommended for travelers with active lifestyles.
Bogota is one of the most important cities in South America. It was settled in an Andean savanna and connected to the Caribbean by the great Magdalena River. Bogota was once the main trade center between South America and Europe. Visit the colonial city to learn about its Spanish and pre–Columbian heritage. Today's City tour includes the Plaza of Simon Bolivar, colonial churches, bohemian La Candelaria neighborhood and the Gold Museum which is regarded as the most important gold museum in the World. In the afternoon, depart to Villa de Leyva, one of the most beautiful colonial villages in Colombia. Declared a National Monument in 1945, this town has been preserved entirely with cobblestone streets, tiled roofs and whitewashed buildings. While exploring Villa de Leyva, discover one of the most important paleontological regions in South America. Here you can find dinosaur fossils and thousands of ammonites from the Cretaceous period. These have been used to decorate buildings and floors in the area. Tonight spend the night in a colonial hotel.
The adventure continues today with a full day of biking. Rated as one of the best rides in Colombia, this route into the Suarez gorge is an ideal mix of downhill and cross country biking. Start high over the town of San Gil at 2,000 meters, where explore the area on high-end dual suspension Kona Brand bicycles. Begin along a gorgeous agricultural landscape, filled with fruit and tobacco farms, and stop along the way to interact with local farmers and learn about their way of life. Later, reach the charming town of Barichara, considered by many to be Colombia’s top colonial city. Explore Barichara’s perfectly maintained 15th century architecture and fine cobble stone streets as you learn about the city’s rich colonial history. Enjoy refreshments in the central park and continue your ride along the edge of the Suarez Canyon. With spectacular and far reaching views, the pace quickens as you descend through the steepest part of the canyon. Reach the bottom of the gorge after dropping 1000 vertical meters. Here the 4x4 support vehicle helps you ascend to the other side of the canyon to visit more colonial pueblos. Next enjoy lunch as you take in sweeping views over the canyon. Continue the ride back down to the gorge, along a section of the Royal Roads. Cross several streams along the way as you traverse the gorge headed north. Your day ends with celebratory beers before returning to the hotel.
Set out today to explore one of the most spectacular water features in the region. Juan Curi is a 180 meter waterfall surrounded by a lush forest. Hike along the 4km trail to the top of the falls along the river as you learn about the forest’s unique species. At the top of the falls, begin an exhilarating descent while exposed to the thrilling mist and wind. Upon reaching the bottom, you will swim in the natural river pool and enjoy the gorgeous setting. After lunch, the adventure continues underground. Reach the entrance of the Cueva del Indio (Indian Cave), where you will suit up with hard hats and torches. Enter the mysterious limestone cave system. As you move along the cave, learn about the local wildlife and natural history as well as the large formation of stalactites and stalagmites. Next swim through an underground river to get to the exit. Return to the hotel for the evening
An adventure in Santander is not complete without a day of whitewater rafting. The Suarez River has one of the best high-volume runs in Colombia. Located just one hour from San Gil, the river starts with quick rapids at class III level. Midway through the run is the most challenging rapid, known as Labyrinth. Upper Labyrinth is class IV, followed by the class V Lower Labyrinth. The adventure continues until close to the end with a class V rapid. After this adrenaline rush, enjoy lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon at you leisure.
Day 6: Hiking the Royal Road to Guane
1 Breakfast
Your last day of adventure starts with the history of Santander on a hike along a historic trail to the heartland of the Santander’s pre-hispanic culture. Declared a National Monument, the trail starts on the edge of the escarpment where Barichara ends, and undulates through beautiful countryside, offering fabulous views and great bird watching, before finally arriving in tranquil Guane. The town itself is unreal, a picture-perfect and pocket-sized quintessential colonial village. The original inhabitants of this town are now extinct, but the remains they left behind attest to the grandeur of their culture. Visit the local fossil and anthropology museums to learn more about the history of the Guane. During the colonial era this trail was rebuilt in stone by the Spanish Crown for the export of gold and exotic American products. This walk is an authentic rural Colombian experience, framed by history, classic scenery and a backdrop of old stone farmland. Around mid-day transfer from San Gil to Bucaramanga airport to connect with and internal flight, back to Bogota or to continue your travels in Colombia.
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Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 178 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 178 reviews on
8 hours ago
I received a quick and friendly response from my contact, Christina Mayo, both in email and phone calls. My request for information was provided in less than a day. She took a few minutes to chat about family and events. Dealing with her has always been a pleasure!
Mary Ann
1 day ago
First class all the way. Enjoyed our Guide, Karla, Driver Mark so much. Personalized tour of Antigua during Easter was like a National Geographic in person. Trip of the Lifetime. Such a spiritual and magical tour. Many Thanks.
Ben Shaver
Ben Shaver, Jr.
3 days ago
Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.
Scott Trochim
5 days ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
1 week ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.