San Gil

如何抵達

1 Bus terminal. The bus terminal to major Colombian cities is 2 km west of the city center. A taxi between there and the town center costs COP$3,000 or take one of the frequent busetas. San Gil is on the road between Bucaramanga and Bogotá, hence there are frequent buses to towns along this axis. For other destinations, you'll most likely have to change buses in Bucaramanga. * From Bogotá : COP$40,000, 6-7 hours (June 2019) * From Cartagena : COP$70,000, 14 hours * From Cúcuta : COP$40,000, 9-10 hours * From Medellín : COP$60,000, 11 hours * From Santa Marta : COP$70,000-80,000, 12 hours (Copetran, Brasilia) (feb 2016) * From Tunja : COP$20,000, 4 hours, 200 km Buses to Bucaramanga leave from the corner of Carrera 11 with Calle 10 on the river front (COP$23,000 - every 30 minutes, 2½ hours, 90 km, as of March 2023). You could also catch them the buses from the main terminal. If possible, try to sit on the right side for the best views of Rio Umpala. Consider stopping at the Chicamocha Canyon National Park on the way. 2 Terminalito (Local Bus Station), Corner of Carrera 10 and Calle 17. Local buses from surrounding towns like Barichara (every 20-30 minutes between 6:15 AM and 8:30 PM, COP$6,500, 45 min, as of Mar 2023), Charalá or Curiti leave from a small terminal operated by the company CotraSangil. (updated Mar 2023)

必看景點

1 Parque El Gallineral, Malecón at calle 6. Daily 8AM to 6PM; pool 9AM to 5PM. Pleasant park for a stroll. Also has a swimming pool or you can dip in the Rio Fonce. COP$7,000 (Nov 2023). (updated Nov 2023) 2 Cascadas de Juan Curi, ☏ +57 3114893272 - 3168233920 - 3114716121. Beautiful 180-meter-high waterfalls outside of town. To get there, get a bus to Charalá from the local terminal and ask to be dropped off at Las Cascadas (COP$5,000, 40 min). There are two entrance on the right handside of the road, the second one (blue and yellow sign) offers a more scenic walk along the river and you'll get to see more waterfalls (COP$7,000). It's a nice 20-minute walk to the bottom of the Juan Curi waterfall where you can swim. Your shoes will get wet crossing the water several times and there are ladders and ropes to help you climb. 100 meters before the waterfall, a small track on your right will lead you up to the middle of the waterfall. Rappelling is possible from there. During rainy weather, consider going early and/or enquire by phone on the flood risk as there may be too much water to walk up the trails to the pools.

體驗活動

Tour companies generally offer similar activities and are clustered around the entrance of park El Gallineral. If you plan to go rafting or kayaking on rapids of class 3 and over, check that the guides are certified by the International Rafting Federation (IRF).

Colombia Rafting Expeditions, Carrera 10 No.7-83, ☏ +57 7 724 5800 - 311 283 8647, [email protected]. Organizes all adventure activities as well as being the experts at big rapids and kayaking. Planeta Azul (At the parque El Gallineral), ☏ +57 7-724-0000, +57 310-771-7586, fax: +57 7-724-7679, [email protected].

Mountain biking Colombian Bike Junkies. Mountain Biking Tours, Calle 12 No 8-35 first floor, ☏ +57 316 327 6101, [email protected]. The mountains and canyons around San Gil make this a great area for mountain biking. You can find bikes for hire in town, but for a guided tour ask at Gringo Mikes. They run full-day tours under the name Colombian Bike Junkies including new full suspension Kona bikes and protective equipment, 4WD transfers, breakfast, lunch and drinks and snacks along the way. You get to see some great scenery, and best of all it's about 95% downhill so you can let gravity do most of the work. You don't need to be a downhill guru, but should be comfortable with riding on dirt roads. COP$160,000-180,000 (depending on group size).

Rafting

San Gil is the pioneering place for white water rafting in Colombia :

Rio Fonce, This is the river going through San Gil, it offers an 11-km trip lasting 1hr 15min on class 2-3 rapids depending on the season. It suits all kind of public. COP$25,000. Rio Chicamocha, An 1hr 30min rafting trip with rapids from level 2 to 4. More adrenaline and amazing scenery going through the canyon. Possible to organize expeditions up to 3 days long. Rio Suarez. Considered the most advanced, this is a 3-hour and 20-km trip of non-stop class 4-5 rapids. Rafters must have prior experience with class 3 rapids and be under 50 yea

美食

Some of Santander's Famous Regional Foods:

Hormigas Culonas (literally "big ass ants" roasted with salt, tastes kind of like popcorn) Arepa Santandereana (a thick corn arepa mixed with salt and pork) Carne Oreada (traditional thin steak) Carne Seca (a dry pulled steak) Cabro (goat) Mute Changua (milk soup with egg) Fritanga (fried food snacks) Chorizos del Valle de San José (specialty spicy sausage) Arroz de Peñaflor (specialty rice) Restaurants

Bendito Sabor for exceptional Menu del Dia, El Especial Mani for bakery treats, Coma Rico for fast food next to the plaza, and Kikirisan del Ponce for rotisserie chicken. See them all in a visit here. Gringo Mike's, Calle 12, 8 - 35, ground floor of the Casa Lopez. Daily 8AM-noon, 5PM-10PM. A sandwich place opened by an awesome guy from Seattle. Serves up delicious sandwiches, burritos, salads, and burgers. Also offers big breakfast burritos in the mornings. Try the roast beef sandwich with cinnamon pear and cream cheese! El Mana, Calle 10 at Carrera 9. lunch and dinner. El Maná has amazing set lunches and dinners which include soup, fruit, meat, rice, beans, juice and dessert for around COP$9,800. Las Esteras. Famous for their goat dishes! Restaurante Vegetariano Saludable Delicia, Calle 11 no 08-40. M-Th 8AM-7PM, F 8AM-5PM, Su 8AM-3PM. Delicious vegetarian restaurant with good prices: menu of the day at COP$8,500. There is also a shop for meat substitutes.

飲品與夜生活

Any Store Near Parque Principal. Grab a cold beer at any of the stores around the central square park and sip it on a bench or stairs for great people watching and the feeling of being a local. Bar Con Versano, Calle 12 near Carrera 7. One of the only cool bars in town with art deco themes and contemporary art prints in a colorful setting. Try any of their awesome cocktails or beer selection.

住宿

Prices in most San Gil hotels double on long weekends and places are heavily booked. Book in advance for Easter, Christmas and all long weekends.

Hotel Alcantuz, Carrera 11 No 10-15, fax: +57 97 7243159, [email protected]. Friendly local hotel with nice, clean rooms starting at COP$25,000 per night. Cable TV, Wi-Fi, large windows. Hotel Capri, Calle 10 No 9-31, ☏ +57 7 724-3767, [email protected]. Very nice spotless hotel with a range of rooms and prices. Rooms with balconies are recommended. Cable TV, hot water, Wi-Fi. Hotel San Carlos, Carrera 11 No 11-25, ☏ +57 7-724-2542. Cheap but clean. A single room costs COP$17,000 with private bathroom and COP$12,000 with