Camino Real
Camino Real
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New Brunswick
Canada16 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
The hike from Barichara to Guane was a highlight of this trip along with the hike up Monserrate in Bogota .
The Camino Real , I’m sixty-two , fit and a walker . I will pass this along , it was “ Hot “ so pack plenty of water . There’s a spot where you can stop en route for cerveza , I didn’t stop . Start early if you’re able , again , it was hot .
The scenery was amazing , and such an overworked description can’t do the views any justice .
Guane is well worth the walk !
Barichara is easy to reach from San Gil .
If you’re staying in San Gil , do yourself a favour and stay at the , Hotel Campestre la Montana ! You’re never going to want to leave .
The Camino Real , I’m sixty-two , fit and a walker . I will pass this along , it was “ Hot “ so pack plenty of water . There’s a spot where you can stop en route for cerveza , I didn’t stop . Start early if you’re able , again , it was hot .
The scenery was amazing , and such an overworked description can’t do the views any justice .
Guane is well worth the walk !
Barichara is easy to reach from San Gil .
If you’re staying in San Gil , do yourself a favour and stay at the , Hotel Campestre la Montana ! You’re never going to want to leave .
Written February 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melissa B
Medellin, Colombia18 contributions
May 2021 • Friends
Its a short easy trail of 5 Km long (it takes about 1 hour and a half to walk it). I walked the barichara- guane trail, it’s beautiful, has incredible parts of the trail with tiles made by prisoners like 200 years ago and many trees that give it a fairytale feeling. If you think its too easy you can to it back and forth, that would be almost 3 hours walking. Its also very good that you dont need a local guide to do it. And also, its very safe.
Written May 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
5bottomspink
Fredericksburg, VA91 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
A wonderful walk. Best done early before it’s hot. Take water. Have good shoes. Not for the infirm. Wander through farms and stone walls. Ground is uneven cobbles. Lots of birds, cattle, some goats and dogs. Finish in Guane and have a late breakfast or early lunch. Take time for the museum in Guane.
Written February 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Martha Lucia P
4 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
It's a long walk. It can be 2 hours at medium speed. For older people, it is recommended to bring a cane. The road is cobbled. And down. You have to be very careful. Recommended to go very early and have breakfast in Guane. There are many places with Shadow. Do not miss it!!
Written October 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jose Pedro Pinto
Bogota, Colombia35 contributions
Apr 2017 • Solo
I recommend you to do a more interesting trail, passing by 6 small towns: Cabrera, Barichara, Guane, Villa Nueva, Jordán y Los Santos. It's a beautiful trekking that you can make in 3 to 4 days. You don't need to reserve any place, nor pay any agent. You just have to pay your food and places where you stay. Follow the path in Maps Me and enjoy the nature and local culture away from tourists. WARNING: The last part of the trekking is tough... Since you have to go down a cabin and then up again (in the other side). But it's worth it!!! Just remember to get up early in the last day, so the sun won't get you in the middle of the way up.
Written March 12, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tom Z
Orinda, CA5 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
Enjoyable hike for its mostly downhill inclination and beautiful views of the big mountains across the valley, along with butterflies zumbando here and there. We did this hike with kids ages 9 & 11, took us 1hr45min with some stops. Bring a water bottle or two because it was hot out there - but not terribly. The bus back from Guane runs every hour on the quarter after until 6:15 and costs $2200 pesos. Nice change up from pueblo attractions.
Written July 25, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maddin B
43 contributions
We got the Bus from san gil at 9 (45minutes, 4000$) , in barichara we asked for the camino real and walked in around 1:30 to guane but did no breaks and walked quite fast because we wanted to be back early in san gil
In guane the buses leave every hour :15 (f.e. 10:15, 11:15, ...) and go back to barichara and then to San gil
So we were back in San gil around 1 pm and made it to Villa de leyva on the same day, nice trip!!!
In guane the buses leave every hour :15 (f.e. 10:15, 11:15, ...) and go back to barichara and then to San gil
So we were back in San gil around 1 pm and made it to Villa de leyva on the same day, nice trip!!!
Written May 10, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AvidTraveller
24 contributions
Apr 2021 • Solo
Fellow travelers,
I just finished finished the Barichara to Jordan sections of the Camino Real and thought it would be useful to provide some detail for those considering it. I did it solo in a single day (32km).
Step 1: Caught an 8am bus from San Gil Terminalito to Barichara. 30min.
Step 2: Barichara to Guane (6km). After a quick breakfast at Nonnas in main square I started off towards Guane. Barichara to Guane is well signposted (Google Maps or Maps.me even better). The track is largely cobblestone and flat/downhill to Guane.
Step 3: Guane to Villaneuva (9km). Guane is a lovely pueblito for photos and a snack. There are tiendas around the main square to stock up on water etc. Again, the path is found on Google/Maps.me or ask locals. This section is largely uphill and you are almost always exposed to the sun! There are no official tiendas or points to buy supplies. Only a few local houses and animals! In the final few kms the path become more difficult to spot, including unlocked gates and breaks in animal fencing for you to step through. Follow your online map closely!
Step 4: Villaneuva to Mirador de Chicamocha (8.5km). After a quick lunch in Villaneuva I continued on. Follow the road out of town (check apps). The first 5km is gradual uphill on a wide dirt road. Quiet a few motos will pass you by. You will then begin descending to the Mirador at the entry to the canyon. There is a house offering a better view for 2k pesos. When I arrived there was nobody home unfortunately so took some photos and continued down.
Step 5: Mirador to Jordan (8km). Now you enter the canyon. You will find the entry point into the canyon with a sign pointing towards Jordan (see photos). This was the toughest part. After taking photos of the amazing views, it was a long and slow clamber down the winding canyon path. Beware the sun is strong in the canyon with little shade for respite. It took me 2.5 hours to get to Jordan from the top.
Step 6: Jordan to San Gil. At the Terminalito in San Gil there is a board suggesting a bus leaves Jordan to San Gil at 4:30pm each day. IGNORE this. There is no bus. The only buses departing Jordan are at 6am and midday. After 32km and 7 hours hiking it was not the news I wanted to receive! If you find yourself in this situation, ask the few villagers left in this town for a ride on a moto. After some typically Colombian misinformation I finally found a man who drove me up to the National highway to catch a bus back to San Gil. The moto ride cost 35k and it takes a good hour to drive out of the canyon to the highway. From there you can find transportation. Alternatively you can stay the night in Jordan, although I didn’t see a single hotel as I walked through town!
In summary an excellent hike, the highlights being the lovely towns of Barichara and Guane and the descent into the canyon despite exhaustion. In hindsight 32km was too much for one day. I would recommend starting in Villaneuva (direct buses from San Gil Terminalito) and hiking down or splitting the hike into multiple days.
Note: along the path you will find multiple livestock gates. These are unlocked and simply need to be pushed open and closed behind you. Don’t be fooled in thinking you are on the wrong path! Maps.me app has the most accurate path to follow.
Hope this helps!
I just finished finished the Barichara to Jordan sections of the Camino Real and thought it would be useful to provide some detail for those considering it. I did it solo in a single day (32km).
Step 1: Caught an 8am bus from San Gil Terminalito to Barichara. 30min.
Step 2: Barichara to Guane (6km). After a quick breakfast at Nonnas in main square I started off towards Guane. Barichara to Guane is well signposted (Google Maps or Maps.me even better). The track is largely cobblestone and flat/downhill to Guane.
Step 3: Guane to Villaneuva (9km). Guane is a lovely pueblito for photos and a snack. There are tiendas around the main square to stock up on water etc. Again, the path is found on Google/Maps.me or ask locals. This section is largely uphill and you are almost always exposed to the sun! There are no official tiendas or points to buy supplies. Only a few local houses and animals! In the final few kms the path become more difficult to spot, including unlocked gates and breaks in animal fencing for you to step through. Follow your online map closely!
Step 4: Villaneuva to Mirador de Chicamocha (8.5km). After a quick lunch in Villaneuva I continued on. Follow the road out of town (check apps). The first 5km is gradual uphill on a wide dirt road. Quiet a few motos will pass you by. You will then begin descending to the Mirador at the entry to the canyon. There is a house offering a better view for 2k pesos. When I arrived there was nobody home unfortunately so took some photos and continued down.
Step 5: Mirador to Jordan (8km). Now you enter the canyon. You will find the entry point into the canyon with a sign pointing towards Jordan (see photos). This was the toughest part. After taking photos of the amazing views, it was a long and slow clamber down the winding canyon path. Beware the sun is strong in the canyon with little shade for respite. It took me 2.5 hours to get to Jordan from the top.
Step 6: Jordan to San Gil. At the Terminalito in San Gil there is a board suggesting a bus leaves Jordan to San Gil at 4:30pm each day. IGNORE this. There is no bus. The only buses departing Jordan are at 6am and midday. After 32km and 7 hours hiking it was not the news I wanted to receive! If you find yourself in this situation, ask the few villagers left in this town for a ride on a moto. After some typically Colombian misinformation I finally found a man who drove me up to the National highway to catch a bus back to San Gil. The moto ride cost 35k and it takes a good hour to drive out of the canyon to the highway. From there you can find transportation. Alternatively you can stay the night in Jordan, although I didn’t see a single hotel as I walked through town!
In summary an excellent hike, the highlights being the lovely towns of Barichara and Guane and the descent into the canyon despite exhaustion. In hindsight 32km was too much for one day. I would recommend starting in Villaneuva (direct buses from San Gil Terminalito) and hiking down or splitting the hike into multiple days.
Note: along the path you will find multiple livestock gates. These are unlocked and simply need to be pushed open and closed behind you. Don’t be fooled in thinking you are on the wrong path! Maps.me app has the most accurate path to follow.
Hope this helps!
Written April 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
yefiras
London, UK22 contributions
Mar 2020
I am a 67 year old with moderate mobility problems ( 2 slipped discs plus extensive osteo arthritis) but I enjoyed this trek to the beautiful village of Guane, and recommend it to people in a similar "condition" to me. However you MUST prepare by:
1) thinking of time of day - avoid the midday sun
2) Allow much more time than many of these reviews state, so you can stop for brief rests and water, sitting on a rock etc.
3) Be equipped with a hiking/trekking pole. Some of the path involves large uneven stones and some of it is steep. Also the smoother stones can be slippery either from dust or wet conditions. Wear stout footwear - good trainers will do but no sandals.
4) Wear a wide brimmed hat and put sun block on before leaving.
5) Carry plenty of water in a back pack. You will need it. There are a couple of informal sales points on the way, but they are quite far from the path.
6) Make a note of the telephone numbers posted at the start of the walk in Barichara, in case you need help.
7) Be aware that the path crosses main road at a couple of points, so you can give up if necessary, and catch a bus or call for help.
8) Stop for a rest at the first house in Guane: the lady there sells delicious home made lemonade and her dog is very friendly.
9) Take swimwear; there are a couple of places with small pools which do food and drink, on the street going down to the main square. I recommend the Misia Custodia, which also has a jacuzzi!
For me this was well worth the effort. The landscape and panorama are at times breathtaking and the village of Guane has its own special atmosphere.
1) thinking of time of day - avoid the midday sun
2) Allow much more time than many of these reviews state, so you can stop for brief rests and water, sitting on a rock etc.
3) Be equipped with a hiking/trekking pole. Some of the path involves large uneven stones and some of it is steep. Also the smoother stones can be slippery either from dust or wet conditions. Wear stout footwear - good trainers will do but no sandals.
4) Wear a wide brimmed hat and put sun block on before leaving.
5) Carry plenty of water in a back pack. You will need it. There are a couple of informal sales points on the way, but they are quite far from the path.
6) Make a note of the telephone numbers posted at the start of the walk in Barichara, in case you need help.
7) Be aware that the path crosses main road at a couple of points, so you can give up if necessary, and catch a bus or call for help.
8) Stop for a rest at the first house in Guane: the lady there sells delicious home made lemonade and her dog is very friendly.
9) Take swimwear; there are a couple of places with small pools which do food and drink, on the street going down to the main square. I recommend the Misia Custodia, which also has a jacuzzi!
For me this was well worth the effort. The landscape and panorama are at times breathtaking and the village of Guane has its own special atmosphere.
Written May 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gabi Gómez
Cuenca, Ecuador310 contributions
Mar 2020 • Friends
Hike is great, trail is full of stones, goes up and down, hear a lot of birds and amazing views all the way
Try to do it early to avoid heat of midday
Recommended if you’re in Barichara is a must
Try to do it early to avoid heat of midday
Recommended if you’re in Barichara is a must
Written March 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hey Erika. Well, for starters, there is no "downtown" in Barichara. It is a charming little village. You can walk from one end to the other in about 10 minutes. Therefore, the head of the Camino Real trail should be no more that a few minutes walk from wherever you are. If you are not staying in Barichara and are getting the bus to town, it is about 5 blocks to the northwest of the bus stop. We walked the trail and got the bus back to the square in Barichara. It takes approximately 90-120 minutes to walk downhill to Guane. Some great views with local birds and goats. Once in Guane, buy your bus tickets back to Barichara at the bus terminal at the far corner of the town square.
Written October 11, 2016
El recorrido se puede hacer en bicicleta de montaña?
Written May 28, 2016
I did not try it myself, but it looks doable to me. The start of the trail is the must difficult and steepest part, but after that it is relatively flat. It all depends on your skills. If you are an experienced trail rider in the mountains then you can give it a try. If you have rear suspension then that would certainly help. If you have no previous experience the skip the first steep descend and pick up the trail at the road to Guane.
Written June 28, 2016
Hi,
Does the Camino Real seem safe for a solo female hiker? It seems that there would be other people on the walk? Thanks!
--Tina
Written March 2, 2015
Hi,
We (my husband and me) did the walk through Camino Real twice the day after day. Actually Camino Real isn't crowded indeed but you can meet some hikers during your trip. There are both couple nad solo hikers (especially women). Each time we were walking Camino Real we feel very safe and comfortable. Camino Real (in direction to Guane ) is easy, well signed way going down. Getting to Guane from Barichara took us about 1,5 hour with really many stops to admire landscape, birds, nature. The whole way is incredible peaceful and picturesque and we loved it so much to do it again the next day :) Or if you have any threats of walking alone you can always ask about some company at your hotel/hostel.
All the best
Agnieszka
Written March 4, 2015
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