The hike from Barichara to Guane via El Camino Real is easy and filled with great views. Read on to learn how to do this fun adventure.
Hiking El Camino Real (The Royal Road) from Barichara to Guane is a must-do activity while visiting the San Gil region of Santander Province in northern Colombia.
The route is an important part of local heritage initially built by the indigenous Guane population as a trade link between towns and later used by the Spanish during their colonisation.
As you walk the easy, non-technical trail you’ll have stunning canyon and mountain views. There’s also a good chance you’ll cross paths with a farmer or 2 herding their flocks.
In this complete guide, I explain how to walk El Camino Real between Barichara and Guane. Find out about the trail conditions, how long the hike takes and my top tips for making the most of it.
Barichara to Guane: El Camino Real overview
Walking El Camino Real is probably the most popular activity with tourists in Barichara. The trail accessibility along with its cultural and historic significance draws foreigners and locals alike and you’re bound to bump into others on the route.
- Distance: 5.8 km (1 way)
- Duration: 2 h
- Elevation gain: 111 m
- Difficulty: easy (from Barichara to Guane) moderate (reverse)
The hike from Barichara to Guane is easy. The route is almost entirely downhill and cobblestoned the whole way. It’s not the most comfortable to walk on, but it’s not difficult. The trail is well marked so it’s practically impossible to get lost.
Pretty much anyone can enjoy this hike. Aside from a few sections where you’ll need to watch your footing for small rocks, and the steep descent from Barichara to the Barichara-Galán road, you shouldn’t have any trouble.
The only thing is that the trail is exposed the entire way. Temperatures are hot in the north of Colombia and the sun intense. I recommend starting early, putting on sunscreen and bringing at least 2 L of water.
El Camino Real trail guidance
The trailhead sits at the very top of Barichara a stone’s throw from Mirador Los Italianos. There are several roads to get here, but if you’re coming from the main plaza, then the most direct route is along Calle 5.
Follow Calle 5 all the way to Carrera 11. As you approach the end of Calle 5 at the top of town, turn back to see the iconic Barichara view of the road leading to the Cathedral and the rolling countryside beyond.
Once you join Carrera 11, head right and shortly after you’ll see the sign marking the orangey-brown trailhead of El Camino Real below some trees. From here on the hike is straightforward.
To get to Guane from Barichara, all you have to do is follow the trail. It’s signposted and also lined by stones the majority of the way, making things nice and clear.
Along the way you enjoy the best of Colombia’s vibrant green countryside. All the action takes place to your left-hand side where you’ll see the huge valley which the Rio Suárez flows through.
There’s the occasional house perched atop a commanding viewpoint too. However, you might get jealous if you dwell too long on how much the owners are winning at life for choosing to live here.
Keep following the trail, taking in the views and hopefully enjoying good weather. The landscapes here haven’t changed much, so you have a decent idea of what the indigenous people and the Spanish colonists experienced.
The trail brings you to Calle 5 in Guane. After 1 block turn right and walk another 2 blocks into Guane main square.
What to do in Guane
Guane is a tiny colonial-style town with beautiful square buildings and cobblestone streets. In the main square there’s a beautiful church, the Paleontological and Anthropological Museum and plenty of cafes and restaurants to grab a bite to eat.
However, my top recommendation is to leave the main square to explore the quieter streets, but also to sip on a refreshing drink from the cafe at Mirador de Guane (Guane Viewpoint).
Being so small, you don’t need to walk much to see most of Guane. There are a couple of smaller churches dotted around the town along with plenty of pretty houses. It’s almost like stepping back in time.
Getting back to Barichara
There are 2 ways to get back to Barichara: you can retrace your steps along El Camino Real or you can take a bus.
I hopped on the bus and it’s what I recommend you do too. The bus leaves roughly every 45 min from the main square, takes around 25 min to reach Barichara and costs around 4,000 COP ($1 US).
Hiking El Camino Real from Guane to Barichara is much harder as, in this direction, it’s all uphill. And, by the time you set off, the sun will be high in the sky meaning hotter temperatures.
If you do fancy the challenge, then expect the return journey to take at least 1 h longer. Also, make sure to have enough water for the way back, I’d say an extra 2 L. You can buy water in Guane if need be.
Hike safely
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There’s more to El Camino Real
El Camino Real is an extensive, historic road network built for trade by the indigenous Guane peoples. The road connects more towns in Santander Province beyond Barichara and Guane, including Villanueva and Los Santos. You can walk to Los Santos from Barichara in 2 days.
The trail between Barichara and Guane is the best-known section of El Camino Real. This is partly because of the stunning views but also because of how well preserved it is.
However, it isn’t like this section escaped the passing of time or mother nature’s reclamation. A prominent German immigrant by the name of Geo von Lengerke played a huge part in restoring it in the late 19th century.
How to get to Barichara
To get to Barichara, you first need to get to San Gil, a small city 2 h south of Bucaramanga, the capital city of Santander.
In San Gil head to the small bus terminal close to the city centre called Terminalito. Here you take a bus to Barichara and the ticket costs 7,000 COP ($1.5 US). The bus company is Contra San Gil and buses run every hour from 5:00-18:00.
When to hike from Barichara to Guane along El Camino Real
The dry season in northern Colombia typically lasts from December – April and is the ideal period for hiking. During these months the weather is sunnier and warmer and trails are in better condition. There’s also a secondary, shorter dry season throughout June and July.
You can hike El Camino Real from Barichara to Guane during the rainy season, but there’s less chance of having good views of the countryside and the cobblestones would be slippery when wet. Also, as the trail is exposed, you’d get quite wet if caught in the rain.
More adventure travel guides on A World Over
That’s how to hike El Camino Real from Barichara to Guane. Enjoy this historic adventure and the great views. Remember to start out early if you want to beat the intense Santander sun.
Check out my complete guide to Barichara for more things to do in this beautiful colonial town and my guide to the best viewpoints here. And head to the Colombia section of the blog for all my articles on this country.
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