Things To Do
Mesa de los Santos
In the town of Los Santos, you can arrive after a 62 kilometer journey south of Bucaramanga, you can appreciate a view of the Chicamocha canyon. There, in Mesa de los Santos, at 1.700 meters above sea level, there are coffee plantations and birds such as azulejo palmero and tángara real. Also, you can find the tourist resting spot Mi Colombia querida that recreates the architecture of the Guane villages.
Zapatoca
The road to Zapatoca is one of the highlights of the trip because it goes right through the stunning landscape of the Chicamocha Canyon. There are several viewpoints to stop by during the road trip. One of the viewpoints you will visit at the end of the day is the Mirador Los Guanes which is on top of the mountains from where you can see many parts of Santander such as parts of Bucaramanga´s metropolitan area, Barichara, El Socorro, the Chicamocha Canyon, the Suarez Canyon, the crossing of the two canyons, etc.
Parque Cerro del Santísimo
Located on a hill on the southern edge of Bucaramanga, you’ll find the Parque Cerro del Santísimo. The main attraction here is a giant statue of Jesus Christ, modeled after the Cristo Redentor statue outside of Rio de Janeiro. From the observation deck behind the statue, you can get great views of the city and surrounding mountains and valleys. The best time to come here is without a doubt around sunset time. Nearby, there is a lovely park where you can enjoy a meal, a snack, or something to drink or find lots of neat artisan crafts and souvenirs. There’s a lovely light and fountain show just after dark as well.
Extreme sports in San Gil
San Gil is another town south of Bucaramanga. It’s become well known as a center for extreme sports. Paragliding, white water rapids rafting, canyoning, caving, zip-lining, and bungee jumping can all be organized outside of San Gil.
Socorro
The town of Socorro is where the Comunero Revolt began. Therefore, it is one of the most important historic towns in Colombia. The town was founded in 1683. You can learn more about the events of the rebellion and its connection to the eventual independence of Colombia here while also enjoying the pretty colonial-era architecture.
Waterfalls of Juan Curí
Finally, another fun thing to do near Bucaramanga is to visit the Juan Curí waterfalls. Here you can go for a swim under the falls after hiking through the forest. For the more extreme-minded, you can opt to rappel down the falls. Or, you could just take in the views of these impressive and majestic falls.
Chicamocha Canyon
The Chicamocha National Park also known as “Panachi” is located in the heart of the Chicamocha Canyon. The Chicamocha Canyon is more than 200 km long and from its highest peak down to the river approx. 2000 m deep. That means it is deeper than the famous Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA. The main attraction is the cable car that goes 1200 m down the canyon and up on the other side
Cacique Shopping Center
The Cacique Centro Comercial is an ideal shopping destination, but it is also a perfect place to spend time with friends and family. The entertainment options, variety of stores, and wide range of food and drink choices make the shopping center a very popular place to visit in Bucaramanga.