Top Bucaramanga Day Trips

Explore Barichara—hailed as one of the prettiest towns in Colombia—at a pace set by you rather than that of a large group, on a private tour that can be tailored according to the attractions that interest you the most. Overcome the language barrier and discover cobbled street, artisan shops, and charming restaurants, and upgrade to add a hike along the 150-year-old Camino Real.

The experience at the Páramo de Santurbán is designed for nature lovers who like to hike at high altitudes and with a cool climate. The Black Lagoon “Laguna Negra” you will visit is located at almost 4.000 meters (=13.000 feet) above sea level. Having one of the largest fresh water reserves on earth, the Páramo de Santurbán is protected by the local people who admire its amazing ecosystem including the unique “high-altitude” plants Frailejones. After a ride of approx. 2 hours on a well-paved street and one hour on an unpaved road, you will start the hike of about 2 km to the lagoon. The hike is slightly upwards and due to the height and low level of oxygen, it will seem a lot more than 2 km. Arriving at the lagoon you will have the opportunity to take amazing pictures and if you want to keep hiking, you will be able to walk around the lagoon for another hour.

Simplify your visit to the Chicamocha National Park by going on a private guided tour. Travel through the enormous Chicamocha Canyon on a cable car ride lasting a full half hour, with plenty of time to take great photos. Explore the theme park with cultural and historical attractions, zip lining, a waterpark, and more adventure activities.

The Topocoro Lake is beautiful lake that was created because of the construction of the dam “Represa Hidrosogamoso”. It is relatively new and therefore not known by many tourists which makes it a wonderful place to enjoy the nature. You will get to know overflooded parts of the region that three years ago could not even be reached by car. And the best part: Due to the high water temperature of more than 30 °C/ 85 °F it is a perfect place to swim. During the shared boat ride you will enter parts of the Sogamoso river where a waterfall will be visited and you will have the opportunity to jump off a cliff into the water. On the other side of the lake you will visit the Caracolí Waterfalls which are several small waterfalls with natural infinity wells.

The fields near the city of Bucaramanga are fertile and productive, recognized for producing the best citrus fruits in Colombia. Oranges, tangerines, pineapples, passion fruit, lemons, are some of the nationally and internationally recognized for their flavor, color and texture. Upon arrival at the farm, visitors will be able to taste some of these products as well as learn about the process of cultivation, production and marketing from the farmers who will host the visitors.

Bucaramanga is not the most common tourist destination, which can make it difficult to work our where to go or what to see during a short trip to the city. This tour solves that problem by providing travelers with a comprehensive overview of one of the Eco Park Cerro del Santísimo, one of the top attractions Bucaramanga, Colombia. The sacramental statute itself is a mere 10 feet smaller than the famous Christ the Redeemer statute in Rio de Janeiro; in exchange for a tiny reduction in height, visitors are rewarded with a less touristy experience and the convenience of elevator access.

As the fifth largest metropolitan area in Colombia and known as the safest and cleanest city in the country, Bucaramanga offers a lot of interesting sites to see, such as important buildings in the city center, a historical and cultural museum, the famous leather shoe stores, shopping malls, one of the longest suspension bridges in Colombia, etc. Girón is located in this metropolitan area and is one of Colombia's 17 heritage towns. Its preserved colonial architecture makes it an interesting place to visit allowing you to imagine the way people lived in this town 300 years ago. At the end of the tour you will contemplate the entire metropolitan area from the Ecoparque Cerro del Santísimo which is reached by cable car. The statue of Christ El Santísimo, 37 meters high, is the second tallest sculpture in Colombia, making it a must-see during your stay in Bucaramanga. In addition, the park has souvenir stores and regional products, and at night, you will enjoy the multimedia fountain show.

The Cueva de los Aviones is the perfect place to enjoy a day full of adrenaline adventures, where you will find natural slides and crystal clear water pools which provide a perfect environment for taking pictures. The first thing you will feel is to be submerged in a forest crossed by a river and descend through it with ropes in an extreme way, even in some part of the cave you will find a waterfall. The Cueva de los Aviones is not known by many tourists making it look like a magical, natural and virgin place. Once in the place, you will be able to spend several hours and have the opportunity to see all the captivating sites. The guide will show you around and also make sure you have a safe experience. On the way back there is the possibility to stop in San Vicente de Chucurí, a beautiful town with a lot of history and economic importance.

The Chicamocha Canyon is known as the most impressive paragliding site in Colombia and one of the best in the world. Different to many other paragliding sites you are able to fly up to 2.000 meters above ground if the weather conditions permit. The platform is located about 1600 m above sea level while the river is about 550 m above sea level. The paragliding tandem flight itself takes about 15 minutes. Before starting the flight, you will get your equipment and detailed safety instructions. The professional guide also explains you interesting facts about the place and the winds which are different to other paragliding sites.

Spend a day in the great outdoors and hike through Colombia’s Chicamocha Canyon for views of stunning natural landscapes. Alongside a private guide, hike through the La Mojarra section of the canyon to the town of Los Santos. Enjoy views of the canyon river from 3,330 feet (1,000 meters) above and admire the lush, green landscapes around you.

The Hacienda La Lajita is a large farm located next to the Topocoro Lake. It has beautiful grassland with an incredible view on the Topocoro Lake that was created due to the dam “Represa Hidrosogamoso”. The farm is the perfect place to do horse-riding (or drive a four-wheeler/ quad-bike). A guide of the farm will lead you to the best viewpoints of the farm.The Hacienda La Lajita is a large farm located next to the Topocoro Lake. It has beautiful grassland with an incredible view on the Topocoro Lake that was created due to the dam “Represa Hidrosogamoso”. The farm is the perfect place to do horse-riding (or drive a four-wheeler/ quad-bike). A guide of the farm will lead you to the best viewpoints of the farm. This beautiful hacienda also has a nice restaurant with a small pool for children. After lunch you can have some drinks or just enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of this place.

Zapatoca is a beautiful and calm town not known by a lot of travelers. The town has 5000 inhabitants and people from Bucaramanga go there to enjoy a weekend having relatively mild temperatures (day temperature approx. 21 °C/ 79 °F). In town you can enjoy a beautiful central park and try home-made wine from oranges and blackberries. The road to Zapatoca is one of the highlights of the trip because it goes right through the stunning landscape of the Chicamocha Canyon. There are several viewpoints to stop by during the road trip. One of the viewpoints you will visit at the end of the day is the Mirador Los Guanes which is on top of the mountains from where you can see many parts of Santander such as parts of Bucaramanga´s metropolitan area, Barichara, El Socorro, the Chicamocha Canyon, the Suarez Canyon, the crossing of the two canyons, etc.