Stone trail
Old cobbles.
Bernard Gagnon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bernard Gagnon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · K.sarmientorojas — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bernard Gagnon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bernard Gagnon — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Camino Real is an old stone trail linking the colonial villages of Barichara and Guane in Santander, northeastern Colombia, starting about 14 km northwest of San Gil in a straight line. It is about 9 km long. The trail was declared a National Monument in 1977 and begins at the Piedra de Bolívar square in Barichara. Barichara itself is known for its well-preserved late 18th-century colonial architecture, its historic centre has been a National Monument since 1978, and its name means place of rest in the Guane language. Guane, at the end of the trail, is a small village founded in 1540, with an archaeological museum. The cobbled path drops down the side of a wide valley between low stone walls, dry trees and cacti, with views over the mountains and canyons of Santander. Many birds live in the scrub, and cacti grow along both sides of the path. Most visitors walk downhill from Barichara to Guane in a few hours, so arrange transport back in advance. The sun is strong and shade is scarce, so start early and carry plenty of water and a hat.
Old cobbles.
A colonial village.
An archaeological museum.
Starts at Glorieta Piedra de Bolívar, Barichara, Santander, Colombia
About 9 km.
Water and a hat; shade is scarce.
