San Gil

guane - villanueva

To exit Guane, take Calle 6 from the main plaza towards the hill and soon you'll be back on the camino real. At some point there are farms on both sides of the path and right after you get to a crossing with a bigger road, taking that road to the right would bring you back to Barichara, you need to go straight on the good road and keep going uphill the track is not exactly but a bit to the right. Keep on going up through the fields and tobacco farms. Soon after passing a finca named La Ceiba on the left hand-side, you get to a fork with a cross in the middle and a basketball court on the left, take a right there. Less than 5 minutes after, you encounter a needle head turn, take a left towards the house with a white flag. This is a mirador with great views of the canyon and all the ascent you've accomplished. Keep on going up. At some stage there will be two farms on the right and what looks like a road going uphill, do not turn and keep going straight, the road goes down a bit towards bare land for 5 minutes and after that is the final part of the climb. Once you reach the hilltop, you can see the next valley with Villanueva on the left but hidden by a hill. On your right is the road used by cars to reach town but it does a lot of turn. The shorter option is to take a left and look for the path going directly to town. You have to follow the barbwire, it will start dropping towards the valley and what looks more like a ditch will turn in a footpath. After a while you'll exit a field through a door and reach jeep track, take left towards the red and white antenna. From there it's straight to town. You can stay at Hotel Victoria on the main plaza just next to the police station for 10,000 COP per person.

walking time: 3h

villanueva - jordan

The way from Villanueva down to Jordan takes approximately 5 hours. It is best to leave after noon so that you go down the canyon 900m in the late afternoon. Leave Villanueva in north-east direction. You will encounter many crossing. Best thing is to ask locals when they pass by.

After you went down 900m to the canyon you will hit a dirt road. Turn right and it's a 20min walk to Jordan. In Jordan cross the bridge and ask at the house on the other side there is only one for accommodation and food in Feb. 2011 that seemed to be the only option, 15.000 COP for a small dinner and sleeping.

walking time: 5h

cabrera - barichara

Get a local bus from San Gil to Cabrera 4,000 COP, it will drop you on the main plaza of the town. Here check out the church. At the upper left corner of the plaza, take the steepest street up Calle 7 and turn left at the top. Follow the path along the stations of the cross 14 of them. From the top keep on going straight, the path is fairly flat and you'll soon see Barichara in the distance. When you get close to town, you'll encounter the local swimming pool on your right handside 1,500 COP right before a football/soccer field. Across the street you can see upright stones placed in regular intervals under the trees. These are either meant to secure cattle for 'servicing' or possibly used as an abatoir slaughter a long time ago; there are different stories when asking locals. Look out for iguanas taking the sun up on the tree branches. Quite likely you will see several flocks of vultures as well hanging around near the stone bridge. A bit further there is a stone bridge that you have to cross. After a final small climb you're in the town of Barichara.

Walking time: 2,5h

jordan - los santos

The last part consists of a 900m difference climb to get out of the canyon. Cross the bridge over the Chicamocha river. The stone path starts just after, you can't miss it. The path goes up continuously but is never too steep and getting to Los Santos should take around 2 hours. Avoid doing this in the midday heat. There´s a house selling refreshments halfway up. Los Santos is a decent size town compared to Jordan. Buses leave from the main square. To get back to San Gil, you first need to take a Piedecuesta bound bus that will drop you at on the San Gil - Bucaramanga road at a place called Los Curros 5,000 COP. Flota Cachira goes there but Transporte Mesa de Los Santos takes a different route to Piedecuesta, check with your driver to be sure. From there flag down a bus to San Gil 12,000 COP. Other option is to go to the nacional park Chicamocha and cross the canyon with the Teleferico. From there you can flag down a bus going back to San Gil.

walking time: 2h