From Wikitravel

San Gil is a city with a population of 50,000 in the Santander region in Colombia.

[edit] Get in

San Gil is on the road between Bucaramanga and Bogotá, hence there are frequent connections to Bucaramanga (two and a half hours), Tunja and Bogotá

The bus terminal is two kilometers west of the city center. A taxi cost COP$ 2.700 or take one of the frequent busetas.

[edit][add listing] See

• Parque El Gallineral, Malecón at calle 6. Pleasant park for a stroll. Also has a swimming pool or you can dip in the Rio Fonce. Entrance fee COP$ 4.000.

• Cascadas de Juan Curi beautiful waterfalls outs side of town on the rod to Charala. lovely 1 hour walk there and back from starting point near Paramo.

[edit][add listing] Do

• San Gil is the pionering place for rafting. A 10km 1,25 hour trip along the Rio Fonce (class II or III in wet season) cost COP$ 25.000. Also rafting on grade 4+ 5 in River Suarez. Tour companies are clustered around the entrance of park El Gallineral and also offer longer rafting trips, caving, parapente, paintballing, kayaking, hydrospeed and rapelling

Colombia Rafting Expeditions organises all adventure activities as well as being the experts at Big Rapids and kayaking. Carrera 10 No.7-83 Tel (57 7)724 5800 or 311 283 8647. colombia rafting

[edit][add listing] Buy

Artesanías

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Arepa Santandereana
• Cabrito con pepitoria
• Chorizos del Valle
• Arroz de Peñaflor

Restaurants El Mana en Calle 10 near the corner of 9 is one of the best and is open at night. For the best Goat in town try Las Esteras.

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit][add listing] Sleep

Prices in most San Gil hotels double on long weekends and places are heavily booked. Book in advance for Easter, Christmas and all long weekends.

• Hotel San Carlos, Carrera 11 No 11-25, 7-724-2542. Cheap but clean. A single room cost COP$ 10.000.
• Hotel El Viajero, Carrera 11 No 11-07, 7-724-1956. A room with private bathroom cost COP$ 25.000.
• Hostal Laika, Calle 10, No 7-66 Apto 101, 3154006018-3165068021. hostalaika@hotmail.com. [1] Brand new hostel for backpackers. Economical rates. Free Internet, Laundry service, Private Salsa class, hammocks. The owner is Johanna Figueroa, a Colombian Lady. Good beds and well-maintained, clean rooms. COP $10.000 per night per person. Many tours and tourist information can be offered by Johanna, as she is an experienced tour-guide.WWW.SANGIL-LAIKA.COM
• Macondo Hostel (Macondo Guesthouse), Calle 12 #7-26, ☎ 724 4463 - 311 8282 905, [2]. Chilled 22 bed hostel with a wonderful mood. Run by a friendly, young australian who has many traveling-stories to tell; dorm 12 000 COP/night, private double 24.000 - incl. free kitchen use, book exchange, hammocks. laundry service, drinks & internet available. tours can be booked through the hostel. edit

[edit] Get out

• The little colonial village of Barichara makes a good daytrip. There are buses going every hour and leave from the corner of Carrera 11 and Calle 15. From Barichara a lovely 1.5 hour walk to Guane.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!