Barichara
Declared A National Monument Of Colombia (1978). A Colonial Stone Town With A Cathedral Of The Immaculate Conception, Regularly Called The Most Beautiful Town In The Country, And The Start Of The Camino Real To Guane. · Barichara, Santander
Barichara is a small, calm hill town in the department of Santander, built almost entirely of pale local stone, whitewashed walls and ochre clay roof tiles. Its streets are steep and paved with flat stone slabs, its houses have deep wooden doors and flower-filled courtyards, and the whole place is protected as a National Monument, which is why nothing jarring has been built in the center. Colombians often call it the prettiest town in the country, and weekenders from Bucaramanga and Bogota fill it on Saturdays, Sundays and holiday weekends. The main sights are simple: the Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepcion on the plaza, the Capilla de Santa Barbara on its hill for the view, the craft and paper workshops, and the old Camino Real footpath that walks down to the village of Guane. It is a quiet place to slow down for a day or two, eat the regional dishes, and use it as a calm base for the adventure sports around San Gil, an hour away by road. It is hot and sunny, so plan walking for the early hours and the evening, and stay overnight if you can.
Hill town of white-washed stone and ochre-tile houses about 20 km from San Gil, linked to Guane by the Camino Real footpath, Barichara, Santander, Colombia
The streets, plaza and viewpoints are open at all hours and cost nothing. The cathedral opens most days around services, with a midday break, and may be closed to visitors during Mass. Shops, workshops and the small museums open roughly mid-morning to late afternoon and often close one weekday, so confirm locally. The town is busiest from Friday evening to Sunday and on holiday weekends, and very quiet and half closed on Monday and Tuesday outside high season.