Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali are the first places that pop to mind when someone mentions Colombia, but have you ever heard of Barichara? This tiny village in the Santander department is one of the country’s most charming heritage towns, commonly known as “the prettiest town in Colombia”.
This is definitely high praise for a tiny town with a population of only 7,000 but is Barichara worthy of this title? Its cobbled streets, whitewashed walls, red-tiled roofs, and colonial architecture make it worth the trip, but what else is there to see?
If exploring its charming streets isn’t enough for you, you should check out the town’s cathedral and tiny churches, including the Capilla de Santa Bárbara and the Capilla de San Antonio. Mirador Salto Del Mico is another important point of interest and it offers some of the most beautiful views in the city.
San Gil is the closest major city to Barichara, and it takes less than an hour to reach it from here. It’s accessible by bus or car, and it’s becoming an increasingly popular day-trip destination. If you want to stay longer than that, boutique hotels are all over the place, and some of them even offer stunning roof terraces and swimming pools.
