Juan Curi Waterfall: Awesome Day Trip from San Gil
Juan Curi is a stunning 180 meters high waterfall only a short drive from San Gil, Colombia. Read our travel guide on a one-day trip from San Gil to Juan Curi waterfall alias Cascada de Juan Curi, including tips on how to get there, where to stay, and what activities are available by the falls.
Today, we would like to share with you our tips on visiting Juan Curi Waterfall, a wonderful natural spot only a short drive from San Gil.
San Gil is a city in the Santander department, which is slowly making it on every traveler's Colombia bucket list. The reason is simple.
Waterfalls, jungle, canyons, fast rivers, hikes, and colonial towns, and especially a large number of adventure activities. If you are looking for a perfect day-trip from San Gil, consider visiting the Juan Curi waterfall.
This site is perfect for every type of travelers. For those, who like short hikes in the jungle, for those who enjoy taking a dip in a natural pool under the waterfall, but also for adrenaline junkies who want to try rappelling.
Juan Curi is a 180 meters high waterfall that falls down to a pool beneath it.
It was for sure one of the best cascades we saw in Colombia, and one of the biggest surprises.
Sometimes, it is really beneficial to have expectations set quite low. We were looking only for a place to escape the heat for a day but returned to San Gil with a very pleasant travel memory.
In this travel guide, we share with you tips on how to visit Juan Curi waterfall from San Gil individually, together with practical information on how much things cost, when is the best time to visit, or where to base yourself.
HOW TO GET FROM SAN GIL TO JUAN CURI WATERFALL
Getting to Juan Curi waterfall from San Gil is very easy. We recommend getting there independently unless you plan on doing rappelling.
In case you want to get this adrenaline experience, it is possible to take a Juan Curi Waterfalls guided tour that leaves from Bucaramanga, but you can arrange the pick up in San Gil as well.
To get to the waterfall, you need to get to a bus terminal in San Gil first.
There are two bus terminals in the city, but the bus leaves from the one in the center, called Terminalito. The other one is on the outskirt of San Gil and serves long-distance buses.
Terminalito is on the corner of Calle 17 and Carrera 10. Once at the bus station, buy a ticket for a bus going to Charala (stand 4) and ask a driver to be dropped off at Las Cascadas.
Buses leave quite frequently, so we did not bother to search for a timetable.
Las Cascadas is a popular stop for both locals and foreigners, so you will most likely not be the only one there with this request.
The bus stops right in front of the entrance to Juan Curi waterfall. The drive takes approximately 30 minutes, and the falls are about 20 kilometers from San Gil.
To get back from Juan Curi waterfall to San Gil, you need to wait for the bus going from Charala on the side of the road in the direction of San Gil.
The bus ticket costs 5000 COP one way.
If you are not in San Gil yet, depending on your Colombia itinerary, you can get to San Gil also from Bucaramaga, Medellin, or Bogota.
JUAN CURI WATERFALL ENTRANCE FEE
The entrance fee to Juan Curi waterfall is 9000 COP.
Yes, it is not for free, but on the other hand, we think the price is very reasonable, especially when we know it is necessary to work hard to keep the trail well-maintained.
Of course, if you want to rappel down the waterfall, you will pay more for the guide.
By the entrance are toilets and a Colombian restaurant.
JUAN CURI WATERFALL HIKE
Juan Curi waterfall is not the kind of waterfall that appears in front of you in full glory once you get off the bus. Yes, you will see the top of the waterfall in the distance, but to get to the base, it is necessary to walk for a while.
The trail is well-maintained and easy to follow, but we got the impression that most of the traveler did not expect any hike at all.
Well, to get close to the waterfall, you need to walk 20 - 30 minutes, depending on your pace. We did not find the hike particularly hard.
The trail is quite narrow, it leads mostly uphill, and yes, the path can be slippery, especially after the rain, but we think every at least averagely fit traveler should be able to get to Juan Curi waterfall without any problems.
The trail is lined with wonderfully green vegetation, and you can also look for birds, butterflies, maybe even snakes, so the walk is anything but boring.
Once we got to the waterfall, we could already see quite a few people around, so we found a rock where we left our stuff, and we could not wait to jump into the water.
The dip was very refreshing, so we did the routine, that consisted of sunbathing and swimming, a few times.
It was also fun to watch others rappelling down the waterfall.
We did rappelling in Jaco in Costa Rica, so if you've never tried it before, this waterfall is surely a great destination.
After approximately an hour and a half, we decided to return via the trail back and wait for the bus to San Gil.
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!
BEST TIME TO VISIT JUAN CURI WATERFALL
This waterfall is possible to be seen all year round, although the experience might differ during the dry and wet season.
The dry season in Colombia lasts between December and February, followed by July and August.
These months are great for drier conditions, so the trail is not that often muddy and slippery. Also, the waterfall is suitable for rappelling.
When it rains, you can expect a muddier trail, so walk carefully.
The waterfall is more spectacular in the wet season or after rain because of the higher amount of water, but the rappelling tour might be sometimes canceled due to safety.
WHAT TO PACK
The Santander department is often hot and humid, so pack whatever feels comfortable.
For the hike, we had shorts, a t-shirt with short sleeves, and sneakers. We do not recommend wearing flip flops, because the path is often slippery.
Then we, of course, had swimsuit, travel towels, and a waterproof dry bag.
Nowadays, we travel with a compact mirrorles camera, but you might consider bringing GoPro for rappelling.
Pack a snack and water bottle , in case you want to avoid the touristy restaurant by the entrance.
In case you are more active, it pays off to have water shoes. They are very handy, plus you can use them for example in Tayrona National Park as well.
Even though we felt completely safe by the waterfall, you should always watch your belongings, and it is worth it to leave your valuables in the hotel room.
When the weather forecast predicts rain, pack a light waterproof jacket.
WHERE TO STAY
Even though there are a few accommodation options along the way from San Gil to Juan Curi waterfall, we still think it might be wiser to stay in San Gil and visit the waterfall only on a day-trip.
First of all, the hotels in the city are plentiful and cheap, and secondly, you can explore the best things to do in San Gil later in the afternoon after you come back.
We've handpicked the three best hotels in San Gil for every type of traveler - feel free to get inspired.
Budget | Bacaregua Hostel - If you are looking for a budget-friendly hostel that offers modern rooms, this centrally located accommodation is the right pick. You can book either a private room or a dormitory with lockers.
Mid-range | Hotel Campestre Casona del Camino Real - Spacious rooms, wonderful views, and an outdoor pool where you can cool down, are the main features of this reasonably priced hotel.
Luxury | Hotel Alejandria Resort - One of the tops picks in San Gil. Rooms are wonderfully decorated, and guests can enjoy tasty breakfast and air-con, which is an advantage in this part of Colombia.
Alternatively, search for your accommodation via Hostelworld.
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.
