Would you like to explore the mountainous lands of Santander? Do you want to discover its natural, historical and cultural beauties? Don’t hesitate and discover the most beautiful village in Colombia and its surroundings. Extreme sports, hiking, cultural discoveries and natural landscapes… Barichara and the department of Santander have a lot to offer you.
Historia de Barichara
Although the arrival of the Spanish practically wiped out the indigenous Guane culture, the department is nonetheless full of traces and remains. It was in this department that the idea of Colombian independence was born with the revolt of the Comuneros, which proves that Santander’s motto “always forward” is well justified.
The history of the department is directly linked to that of the Guanes culture, an ancient local culture linked to that of the Muiscas. The history of the village of Barichara is also directly linked to the pre-Columbian era.
The arrival of the Spanish in the region practically wiped out its entire population. Today, many places still preserve the memory of this culture. The Santander region played an important role in the country’s independence movement.
The region is part of the historical route of the comuneros, covering all the key places representing the idea of independence from the Kingdom of Spain.
At the end of the 19th century, the region was greatly affected by the extremely violent 100-day war. Barichara was a very conservative village at that time.
The region of Santander is also a region producing a lot of tobacco (and hand-rolled cigars) and tobacco (paper, crafts).
When to visit Barichara ?
The region can be visited all year round. However, we advise travelers wishing to practice extreme sports activities to favor the dry season, from June to September and from December to February. Also, on weekends, the city of Barichara is busier than during the week.
Seasons and weather in Barichara
Located at an altitude of 1300m, Barichara has a dry and very pleasant climate all year round. Temperatures generally vary between 18°C and 24°C. They rarely fall below 16°C and never exceed 28°C.
The best time to visit Barichara is during the summer season, from June to the end of August or from December to the end of February.
Health and equipment needed to go to Barichara
Those prone to motion sickness should bring the necessary medication for the trip (the roads are winding, especially in the Chicamocha Canyon). Bring sun protection: cream, sunglasses, hat, hiking shoes and sports clothing for this type of activity.
Events in the county of Santander
- End of July: folk music festival, Bucaramanga.
- Mid-August: Bucaramanga International Film Festival.
- Late August – early September: Bucaramanga International Piano Festival.
- Mid-September: Bucaramanga fair.
- End of April: stone carving festival, Barichara.
How to get to Barichara?
BY AIR: Palonegro International Airport is located 30km from Bucaramanga. Flights are available from all major Colombian cities. Avianca, LATAM, CopaAirlines and EasyFLy operate daily flights.
BY BUS: the journey to Barichara takes about 7 hours from Bogotá, 4 hours from Villa de Leyva and 3 hours from Bucaramanga.
Our Suggestions: As it can be difficult to complete the whole program in one day, especially if there are scheduled stops, we suggest spending one night in Girón before connecting to Bucaramanga airport. Travelers wishing to take advantage of an evening to go out and the party will prefer accommodation in Bucaramanga.
Contact a Travel Agent now
Design the trip of your dreams today with one of our country experts:
