Barichara, Colombia: The Most Beautiful Colonial Town You’ve Never Heard Of
Robin•Apr 14, 2025
Colombia is a great place to visit, but within its many beautiful cities, there’s a little town like no other. We’re talking of Barichara, of course. If you’ve never heard of it, keep reading to learn more!
Photo by Ricky Beron on Unsplash
Barichara is a very popular destination, and for many people, it is the most beautiful city in all of Colombia. A title like that might sound a bit ostentatious, but wait until you see it with your own eyes.
The truth is that Barichara is an extremely well-preserved colonial town, so there’s a lot of charm there, and it’s in Colombia! So you have an exotic, tropical, old city, full of history and colorful buildings, what else could you ask for? And there’s so much more, so let’s learn more about the many activities to do and places to see in Barichara, Colombia.
Why visit Barichara, Colombia
Visit the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
In every old city you’ve visited, there’s always an interesting cathedral to visit, and Barichara is no exception to this rule. The Cathedral of Immaculate Conception is a very prominent building, with its bright yellow facade almost glowing under the strong Colombian sun. The interior is no less impressive, with the monolithic stone columns that support the altar, each carved from a single stone.
The cathedral was finished in the 18th century, but there are legends that surround its construction. It’s said that a poor farmer had a vision; he saw the Virgin Mary standing on a hillside rock and knew that a city had to be built there. People still believe that that’s how Barichara was founded, and that’s why the cathedral was dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.
Photo by Juan Pablo Jou-Valencia on Unsplash
Enter the Capilla de Santa Barbara
There’s another historic building in Barichara that you should visit if you’re interested in the local history: the Capilla de Santa Barbara. It’s located in the northern part of Barichara, in the very same yellow stone that has the cathedral. But unlike the cathedral, it’s right at the top of a hill, so you’ll get incredible panoramic views if you visit. On the inside, you’ll find another incredible main altar, carved from stone with an amazing level of detail. If you go with a guide or talk to the locals, they might aid you in deciphering the meaning behind the pictures.
The chapel is quite old, being constructed in the 18th century, and yet, there’s a ceiba tree beside it that’s even older. It’s hard to estimate without cutting it, but it has been on that hill for at least four centuries and lived through innumerable historical dates.
Photo by Juan Pablo Jou-Valencia on Unsplash
Learn about the Barichara Paper Workshop
If you want to explore a different side of Colombia, you can delve into the traditional arts and crafts, like the handmade paper made in Barichara. The Barichara Paper workshop is part of the national initiatives to preserve the techniques and is operated by local women. They are experts in transforming local plants like pineapple and fique into strong and beautifully textured paper. You can pass by and take a tour to see the whole process and learn a bit more, or you can participate! Enter a workshop and try your hand at this craft; make your very own paper from scratch. It’s a unique and immersive experience, and you can keep the paper you made as a souvenir.
Visit Parque de las Artes Jorge Delgado Sierra
To see more of the local culture and the work of the Barichara artists, go to the Parque de las Artes Jorge Delgado Sierra. It’s both a lovely park and an open-air museum, so you can take a stroll through the luscious gardens and admire artwork. The sculptures there are a tribute to the region’s rich tradition of stone carvings. There’s quite a variety of themes in the sculptures, as they’re made not only by Colombians but by international artists as well. To see them all, you just have to follow the stream of water that connects them. A visual representation of the creativity that connects us as humans, which flows just like life, and inspires us to care and create.
The Camino Real: A Hiker’s Journey to Guane
This one is for the hikers! Colombia, in general, is a great place to go on long walks, and if you’re visiting Barichara, there’s no better walk than the Camino Real. It’s an old, stone-paved trail that connects Barichara with its neighbor, Guane. It’s not a long road, only 5.5 km, and also not really hard to hike, but nonetheless, it offers travelers a great opportunity to admire the rich cultural heritage and the stunning natural landscapes of the area.
This route is quite old, having indigenous origins, as the inhabitants of the area used it to trade and communicate between settlements. It was later restored by a German settler and finally declared a National Monument by the Colombian government in 1977. So it’s one of the best ways to explore and experience the historic charm of Barichara.
Photo by Maria Camila Bermúdez on Unsplash
Things to do in Guane
But once you’ve arrived in Guane, stay for a bit. It’s a beautiful town with its own charm, and there are several places you’ll want to visit. If you’re interested in the history of the area, how about exploring the oldest of the oldest registers we have of the local fauna and flora? The Paleontological and Archaeological Museum is right there, and within it, many interesting fossils have been found in the region. Even though the museum is pretty small, there are more than 10,000 artifacts there!
After a long walk from Barichara, you’ll surely be a bit hungry, so why not take the opportunity to try some delicious local food? The Santander region, in general, has many specialties that are worth a taste. If you’re okay with eating insects, you have to try Hormigas culonas (Big-Butted Ants), a unique delicacy. These large ants are roasted and salted and are appreciated for their crunchy texture and nutty flavor. But not everyone would eat something with six legs, so how about the arepa Santandereana? Different from the classic Colombian arepa, as it’s made with cornmeal and chicharron (pork cracklings), or carne oreada, a traditional beef dish often served with yuca and aji.
Photo by Alexandra Tran on Unsplash
Tour Barichara
Walking around by yourself can be a nice way to spend your vacations, but if you truly want to learn more about the region, a guided tour is the way to go. In Barichara, there are several interesting tours you can take, but the most recommended are the guided walking tours of the historic sites and the visit to Juan Curi Waterfalls.
The guided walking tour of Barichara’s historic sites is certainly the best way to explore the past of the city in detail. The local guides are very knowledgeable about the local history, as well as the legends and anecdotes. They have first-hand experience and have lived there their whole life, and that’s a perspective you won’t get just by reading some articles online. This tour will take you through all the major landmarks in town, and it typically lasts around 2 to 3 hours.
Another short trip you can take from Barichara is to Juan Curi Waterfalls. This area is great for hiking and swimming, as well as photography. The waterfalls are very visual, not a single big waterfall but a series of cascading falls nestled in the lush greenery. It’s a fun excursion to make, a change of pace from the civilized into the raw beauty and wilderness of Colombia. If you’re going to schedule this trip, keep in mind that the drive alone is 1 hour each way, and they typically let you stay there for half a day.
Practical tips for exploring Barichara, Colombia
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Best time to visit: Travel during the dry season if you want the best time to explore and enjoy the weather. The best months are from December to March or from July to August, when there’s little rain, even if they are part of the rainy season. From April to June and September to November, there’s usually more rain, which can make it difficult to walk around. The cobblestone streets become slippery the trails get very muddy.
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Stay Connected with Mobile Data: Before you pack your bags, you need a way to stay connected throughout your whole trip to Colombia. With Yoho Mobile eSIMs, you have a stable internet connection guaranteed and without the usual high roaming costs! And just by reading this article, you can get a 12% discount with our promo code YOHO12.
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Get up early: If you want to have the very best views of the city, you’d better be ready early in the morning. Getting up before sunrise and going to one of the many viewpoints in the city to enjoy the spectacle of a Colombian morning is a great way to start your day. Afterwards, you can have an early breakfast with rich Colombian coffee and explore the town more.
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Getting to Barichara: There are a few ways to get to Barichara. If you’re coming from Bogota, you can take a bus ride of 7 hours to Barichara, or fly from Bogota to Palonegro and then take a 3 hour ride. From Bucamaranga, on the other hand, you have to go to San Gil first and then take a short ride to Barichara. From other cities like Medellin or Cartagena you have to go first to Bucamaranga, and go from there.
