Barichara to Guane: El Camino Real Hike
Hike from Barichara to Guane alias El Camino Real and enjoy the easy walk between these two colonial villages in Colombia. This guide includes a trail description, how to get to Barichara, what to expect, and where to stay.
It must be said, that our days in San Gil, that is often nicknamed Colombia's adventure sports capital, passed very quickly, and it seemed that we explored all the options on the best things to do within the city limits.
It was time to get beyond San Gil, and our eyes were caught by a nearby village Barichara, which is supposedly the prettiest of all colonial towns in Colombia.
We cannot even count how many times we've heard it.
Villa de Leyva, Jardin, Salento, all of those small colonial towns were considered to be the best.
You might think that after a while, a traveler can get tired of similar cobblestone streets and whitewashed houses with colorful door and window frames.
And you are kind of right. But luckily, every town had something that made the visit a bit different, something that spiced up our trip a bit.
In Barichara, it was the hike to Guane, also known as El Camino Real.
This super-easy trail (well, it depends on which direction you decide to walk) takes only a couple of hours.
Regardless of how beautiful Barichara is, and the fact, that it is righfully on the list of best places in Colombia, we liked the chance to escape the crowds and the heat of narrow cobblestone streets.
If you want to explore two picturesque towns, but also you are also longing to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Santander region, hiking from Barichara to Guane is a no-brainer, and you will hardly find a better way of how to spend a few hours of your time.
El Camino Real from Barichara to Guane is very easy to follow and suitable for all hikers.
Still, we know that hiking in a foreign country can be sometimes daunting.
That's why we've put together this travel guide, where we share tips on how to get to Barichara, how to get from Guane, what should you pack, where to stay, and more practical tips.
Hopefully, you will enjoy El Camino Real the same as we did.
BARICHARA TO GUANE TRAIL INFORMATION
Before you start hiking, you should decide in which direction you prefer to walk El Camino Real.
It is a one-way hike, which starts either in Barichara or Guane.
The majority of travelers, ourselves included, start the hike in Barichara and end in Guane, for one simple reason.
When you opt for this direction, you'll be walking downhill for a big part of the trail.
The other direction is therefore much less popular.
Not only because it is much harder, but because the uphill walk in combination with the heat that is quite common in this part of Colombia, is unpleasant.
The trail between Barichara and Guane is 6 kilometers long, and if you plan on following our footsteps and hike in this direction, it should take you under two hours to finish it, at a relaxed pace.
Of course, if you decide to start from Guane, it will take a bit longer, because of the ascend.
HISTORY OF EL CAMINO REAL
El Camino Real was part of a more extensive trail system that dates several hundred years back. And these trails connected nearby settlements and farmlands.
This very part was built by Guane indigenous people, later was used by Spaniards, and then restored in 1864 by a German George von Lenguerke.
The hike from Barichara to Guane is quite exceptional as it is made of stone.
It looks very pretty in photos, but it is quite uncomfortable to walk on this trail when you combine the stone path with many steps.
If you have knee issues, we recommend you trekking poles and sturdy shoes as it helps to keep balance.
HOW TO GET TO BARICHARA
Getting to Barichara from San Gil is super-easy, even if you travel independently. Go to a bus station called Terminalito that is within walking distance from the center.
It is not necessary to buy a ticket in advance, because buses between San Gil and Barichara leave every 30 minutes.
The drive takes approximately 45 minutes, and the ticket costs 5000 COP.
The bus stops on Barichara's main square, and this is where you also catch the bus back to San Gil, buses run roughly between 5 AM and 6:45 PM.
There are also buses that connect San Gil and Guane, in case you would like to hike in the opposite direction.
HOW TO GET FROM GUANE
Once you finish the hike in Guane, you might be wondering how to get back to either Barichara or San Gil.
As this trail is quite popular among both locals and foreigners, there's luckily a regular service available.
Guane is a sleepy village, and buses or jeeps leave from the main square, usually when full, but it should be at least once in an hour.
The more common service is the one to Barichara, that's why we took a jeep for 5000 COP from this town, and once we finished the sightseeing in Barichara (because we decided to do it after the hike), we took another bus to San Gil later in the afternoon.
EL CAMINO REAL TRAILHEAD
To get to the trailhead, simply leave Barichara's square and walk north to a viewpoint overlooking the canyon via Calle 5, once you reach Carrera 10, turn left and walk approximately 1 minute to the end of the street.
The trailhead itself is on the corner of Calle 1a and Carrera 10. There is a very small square with a Simon Bolivar statue in the middle.
Simply put, finding a trailhead of El Camino Real is very straightforward, and you won’t have a problem to find it.
Just in case, we always recommend downloading a Maps.me app that works offline, and it usually shows even trails that are not marked on Google Maps.
The start of the trail is marked by an information board and stone slabs on each side.
The entire hike is well-marked, and we do not remember a single point where we would have doubts about how to continue.
Simply put, follow the cobblestone trail all the way down to Guane, and that’s about it.
EL CAMINO REAL HIKE
The whole trail is basically about enjoying the views of Colombia's countryside combined with walking on a historically significant trail.
You will enjoy the wonderful scenery of a canyon and valley filled with cacti and when lucky, there won't be many people around and you'll be accompanied only by a few cows and sheep.
Even though according to us, Barichara to Guane hike is one of the top things to do in Barichara, more travelers still decide to stick to the highlights this colonial town has to offer.
Which is great for all adventure travelers who like to go beyond the well-trodden path.
The path leads downhill, some of the parts are lined with a stone wall, which makes the orientation easier.
There's actually not much important information you should know about the trail. It is all about the countryside, vegetation, birds, butterflies, and a relaxed atmosphere.
Before you reach Guane, we recommend you to take a short side trip to a viewpoint called Mirador de la Piedra.
The viewpoint is well-marked, you just need to enter private property.
This is nothing unusual, but in this case, you have to literally walk through the kitchen to get to the viewpoint.
The family who lives there is very friendly and this little inconvenience makes them no trouble because they sell cold beverages to tired travelers.
From this point is Guane only a short walk away.
On most days, Guane is a sleepy village that almost seems unreal.
At the time of our visit, we were welcomed by a few dogs, and there were several locals on the square waiting for the transport.
To see the best of Guane, which is the square and Santa Lucia church, you need only a few minutes, but the tranquility of the place is so pleasant, that we could sit under the tree on the square for hours.
In Guane, you have three options.
Return to Barichara (or directly to San Gil) either on foot or by bus.
Another alternative is to extend your stay in the area and hike more trails, one of the more popular ones continues to Villanueva.
Thirdly, if you prefer to enjoy quiet pueblos in Colombia, you can spend the night in Guane.
There are not many accommodation options, but one of your best possibilities is this well-rated La Patagonia de Guane La Pataguane.
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!
GUIDED TOUR
Even though it's perfectly fine to hike El Camino Real independently, it's good to know that you have a possibility to be accompanied by a local guide.
If you want to learn more about this fascinating area from a local, or don't want to hike alone for safety reasons, consider taking this guided tour from Barichara to Guane.
WHERE TO STAY
Barichara is an atmospheric little town, and thanks to its status of being one of the prettiest towns in Colombia, it is quite touristy.
It has its pros and cons. One of the advantages is the number of accommodation options.
Hotels in Barichara are a bit more expensive than in San Gil, so in case you travel on a budget, it makes more sense to return to this bigger city.
On the other hand, if you want to walk the empty streets of Barichara after most of the visitors leave, consider booking a hotel room in one of the accommodations we outline below.
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, or choose from one of the handpicked hotels below.
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.
WHEN TO GO
You can visit Barichara and Guane every time of the year. December to April is the dry season, which is perfect for hiking, on the other hand, you must be prepared for higher prices, more people, and the heat, especially at midday.
On the day we did the hike, it was very hot, and the sun was shining all day.
Well, not exactly Tayrona National Park hot, but still make sure to bring a sunscreen.
The rainy season usually brings showers in the afternoon, that's why it is better to start early in the morning.
It is actually the advice that applies all year round.
The trail is more popular on weekends because many locals want to enjoy the beautiful landscape as well, so if you can, plan your trip on weekdays.
Except for sunscreen, pack also a water bottle and stay hydrated.
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.
