Barichara, Colombia 🇨🇴 

San Gill seems really busy as I walk through town, everyone is bustling around and it’s a Sunday.  I find the local bus terminal after a few wrong moves and buy a ticket for Barichara which is about 45minutes away.  Barichara is billed as Colombia’s prettiest town and on arrival I can see the appeal. The town is surprisingly calm and peaceful, with the picturesque cobble-stone streets leading to lush green vistas. The houses are all colonial with uneven tiles adding to the charm. Whilst I was keen to see the town, a friend had recommended the Camino Real walk that takes an easy path to the neighbouring village of Guane. 

The trail was originally made by the indigenous Guane people and then used by the Spanish conquistadores. In 1900s it was restored by the German George von Lenguerke to be the stone laid path you see today. The walk is a easy 2hrs and it was great to see stunning views out over the Colombian countryside the whole way.  There were geckos and crickets darting around the path and  several birds that appeared along the way. It was a little hot in the midday heat and I bumped into the Belgium group I met paragliding about half way in which was a coincidence.  

It was great to reach the smaller town of Guane and get a bottle of cold water out of the heat. The Belgians were at the square in the village so I joined them in the jeep back to Barichara, with one of the craziest drivers I have experienced yet.  I wanted to see the cemetery in Barichara as it’s meant to be good but it was closed (on a Sunday!). I had a quick bite to eat and then caught the bus back to San Gil.