San Gil city - Santander

Altitude: 1.100 m.a.s.l.
Distance from Bucaramanga: 96Km.
From Bogotá: 327Km

San Gil has approximated area of 145.9Km2, is one of the most important cities from the east, is exalted as tourist capital of Santander in July 2004, cradle of adventure tourism, wonderful and beauty municipality, where you will enjoy cultural, gastronomic an eco tourism. It belongs to east mountain range and is surrounded by Fonce River,the perfect place to practice canoening and kayak.

The average temperature in San Gil is from 24ºC to 32ºC. The raining season begins in April and finishes on May.

Tourist places

Casa de la Cultura “Luis Roncancio”

Address: Street 12 Nº10-31

It was headquarter of Santander House and then next of normal school. Its construction dates back to middle of XVIII century.

Religious places

San Francisco Chapel: It was built and used as chapel of Santa Bárbara, as first one and titular of San Francisco patriarch in XVII century and has colonial architecture.

Cerro de La Cruz (Cross Hill): The cross was built as symbol of cristianity, love and peace of San Gil population in 1888 by the Jesuit Fathers.

Cathedral: It was began to build on March 29, 1769 and finished on July 7, 1791, has classical style, the altarpiece was done by Jacinto García.

Tourist attractions

El Gallineral Park                     

It opens at 8:00hrs.
Approximated ticket prices: Tourists: 4000 $, children 2000$

It is located by the Malecón in San Gil, on the shores of Fonce River; covers four hectares with “gallineros” trees whose singular characteristic are the branches that have mosses called “Cabellos de Ángel” (Angel hair), a paradise full of exotic landscapes.

It is the first small square with stone monuments. One of the attractions is the gigantic Ceiba Pantandra that strech its enormous branches as a welcome hug. The vegetation is full of heliconias and wild flowers, cobbled roads, colonial bridges under the fig tree.

La Cueva del Indio (cave)

It is located 35 minutes away from San Gil, “you will get into flying and get out swimming”, since the route begins rappeling towards stone dome, then you will cross two water wells, for continue dragging by a road with hunging up stalactites (don´t touch them) the only way to get out is swimming.

Ragonessi Ecological Park

It is located between Pozo Azul and El Gallineral Park, is the projection of “nature men”, in the park, you will find paths, wild flowers, small squares of stone and several natural pools.

Other places to visit

•  The “Pozo Azul”(well), a natural spring , located two kilometers away from San Gil to Bucaramanga road.
• The “Cerro de la Gruta” (hill), located in the center of Piedecuesta also called La Cantera.