ElQuindio

Santander, is a department that was named after the distinguished General Santander.  It is located in the North-Eastern area of the Colombian Andes.   This Department is a land of adventure, where the visitor can find natural landscapes and places with traditional architecture. 

Here are many places and many activities to enjoy a few days of rest and adrenaline.

1. Chicamocha National Park

Located in the municipality of Aratoca between Bucaramanga and San Gil, stands the Chicamocha National Park or PANACHI, opened to the public since December 2006.  It offers different activities and attractions such as a cable car, which was inaugurated at the beginning of 2009; it also has 3 stations and 38 cabins that travel more than 6 km long.  The cableway has a panoramic view of the Chicamocha canyon. This Park is dedicated to the practice of ecotourism and to promote the landscape, traditions and culture of Santander.

Telephone: + 57 (7) 6569006
Address: Km 54 via Bucaramanga-Bogotá, Aratoca

Web Site: www.parquenacionaldelchicamocha.com

2. El Gallineral Park

The Park is located in the city; this is why it is an important natural attraction for San Gil. It is characterized by being a natural island, wrapped in the arms of Curiti Stream and Fonce River; it has a vast vegetation of heliconias, ceibas and the famous "Gallinero" tree, which gives the Park its name and is identified by mosses or "beards" hanging from its branches. Their paths are cobbled and they have authentic colonial bridges. It preserves also different statues sculpted in stone and monuments evoking the culture and the typical music of Santander.  Thanks to these, and the extreme sports that can be performed in this place, El Gallineral Park becomes a destination to enjoy the adventure and rest under a “Gallinero” tree, near the river bank.

Address: Carrera 11 No 21 - 1

3. Bucaramanga

The city stands out as one of the most beautiful cities of Colombia, this is why it is known as the Pretty City. It is a versatile metropolis, because it has sports activities and the possibility to visit their green areas represented by its parks; as well as a varied cultural agenda.  Thanks to these and its warm weather, Bucaramanga is a destination that welcomes its visitors with kindness.

 4. Barichara

Barichara is a quite village, a "resting place", as translates the Guane dialect. History, art, culture, traditions and nature converge in this destination, considered a jewel of the colonial architecture, with cobblestone streets and houses made in trodden tapia; for this reason it has been recognized as "the most beautiful village of Colombia" and declared as National Monument in 1975.

5. San Gil

San Gil is known as “the Tourism Capital of Santander” by the Departmental Assembly in 2004. Its streets, parks and surroundings make of this city, a special land for adventure tourism and extreme sports.  Thanks to its geographical location, its weather, the transport accessibility and the short distances between neighboring municipalities, San Gil is a destination for those who want to try a bit of adventure and extreme sports.