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Chicamocha Canyon Race
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Runner with poles climbing a dirt trail, with the Chicamocha Canyon walls and river behind

24K · From the wild canyon to Colombia's most beautiful town

Half Marathon

You start at the bottom of the Chicamocha Canyon in Jordán and climb out of it on a stone-paved royal road, bound for the finish in Barichara, known as Colombia's most beautiful town. It's 23.9 km with 1,527 m of climbing, to race competitively or hike with local guides.

Distance
23.9 km
Elevation gain
1,527 m
Elevation loss
663 m
Time limit
8 h 30 min
ITRA points
1
Start
08:00
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The route

Let's climb the Chicamocha Canyon!

The start is in Jordán, a village with a magic of its own at the bottom of the canyon, 470 m above sea level. The first two kilometers are flat and hot, along the riverbank. Then the real work begins: the Camino Real de Aposentos, a cobbled royal road as steep as a vertical kilometer that will leave you breathless, both from the effort and from the wild scenery unfolding behind you.

Where the royal road ends, the El Punto checkpoint (km 8.4) greets you with water and fruit. You keep climbing to Alto de Marta, a 360° lookout that was once a Guane observatory, then fly down a fast dirt road to Villanueva (km 15.4), a young town of wide streets and hard-working people.

A short climb on a country path takes you to Tierra Negra, where the traverse to Barichara begins, with the Suárez River canyon on your right and, across the river, the untamed Serranía de los Yariguíes. The finale is a fast descent on a stone trail into Barichara's main square: cobbled streets, adobe and tile-roofed houses, wooden doors and wrought iron. A fitting reward for your effort.

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Elevation profile

Elevation profile · Half MarathonElevation profile of the Half Marathon: 23.9 km, from 465 to 1,695 m above sea level.05001,0001,5002,00005101520kmmPC1PC2PC3
Official elevation chart
Official half marathon elevation profile: from Jordán (470 m) to Barichara (1,337 m), with checkpoints at El Punto and Villanueva

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Checkpoints and cut-offs

  1. PC0Jordán

    Cut-off
    —
    Km
    0
    Altitude
    470 m
    Services
    Start · hot potato broth and aguapanela (hot cane-sugar drink) before the gun, plus first aid

  2. PC1El Punto

    Cut-off
    —
    Km
    8.4
    Altitude
    1,554 m
    Services
    Water, fruit and first aid

  3. PC2Villanueva

    Cut-off
    6 jun 14:00 · 6 h
    Km
    15.4
    Altitude
    1,455 m
    Services
    Water, fruit and first aid

  4. PC3Barichara

    Crew access
    Cut-off
    6 jun 16:30 · 8 h 30 min
    Km
    23.9
    Altitude
    1,337 m
    Services
    Water, fruit, hot food and first aid

The half marathon has two cut-offs: Villanueva, at 6 hours of race time, and Barichara, at the finish, at 8 h 30 min. Barichara is an authorized crew-access checkpoint (PCAA), so your family can meet you there.

  • Cut-off: the latest time you may leave each checkpoint. If you leave later, you are out of the race under the rules. The organization may adjust cut-offs for safety reasons or unforeseen events.
  • There are no disposable cups at the aid stations: drinks are served only in your personal cup.

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Good to know

Start date and place

Sunday 6 June 2027, 8:00 a.m., at Jordán main square, Santander.

The finish is at Barichara main square. Times and route may be adjusted for safety; any change is announced through the race's official channels.

Race mode or hiker mode

In the half marathon you choose how to experience it: as a race or in the hikers category, designed for people who want to discover the canyon and connect with nature without the pressure of competing.

  • Hikers follow the same 24 km route from Jordán to Barichara, start with the half marathon field and have the same time limit: 8 h 30 min.
  • The group is accompanied the whole way by two local guides, who share advice before and during the hike.
  • Each hiker carries their own mandatory gear and food and water supplies.
  • You need experience hiking more than 15 km: this is the climb out of the canyon, in hot weather, and the difficulty is high. If the guides judge that you are not fit to complete the route, you will finish at the nearest checkpoint; transport from there is at your own expense or may carry an extra fee if provided by the organization.
  • You register for the half marathon and let us know on WhatsApp at +57 320 833 8139 that you'll hike. It includes everything racers receive, and the race rules apply.
  • There are no first or last places: the group reaches the finish together, everyone gets a finisher medal, and the participation certificate is based on arrival time and age within the half marathon results.
Transport to Jordán
  • The organization takes you from San Gil to Jordán, about 2 h 30 min – 3 h by road. The runners' bus leaves on Sunday at 3:30 a.m. from El Puente Shopping Center, by the Metro store steps, and is included in your entry. Be there half an hour early.
  • If you'd rather sleep in Jordán, there are departures on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., also included in your entry and subject to seats.
  • If you are staying in Barichara, there is a bus to Jordán on Sunday at 3:00 a.m. for an extra COP 20,000.
  • Your companion can ride the organization's bus for COP 90,000, round trip San Gil – Jordán.
  • Book in your account, under "Transport to Jordán". Barichara and companion seats are paid online when booking or in cash when boarding. See every time in the schedule.
  • In Jordán we'll be waiting before the start with hot potato broth and aguapanela, a traditional hot drink made from cane sugar.
Bib pick-up and check-in

Friday 4 and Saturday 5 June 2027, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., at El Puente Shopping Center, near San Gil's main square.

To collect your bib you must show all of your mandatory gear and have your documents in order in your account, under My documents. If you can't make it, someone else can collect your kit with your mandatory gear: authorize them online from your account.

Documents and conditions
  • Before race day, upload your ID and sign your waiver online in your account, under My documents.
  • Minors may take part accompanied by an adult who is also registered; a parent or legal guardian signs their waiver online. See the conditions in the rules.
Categories and awards

Age groups, awarded with medals:

  • Women: up to 39 · 40 to 49 · 50 and over.
  • Men: up to 39 · 40 to 49 · 50 and over.

Your age is the one you will be on 31 December 2027.

Cash prizes and sponsor awards go to the top three overall women and men. Age groups are awarded medals. See the details on the awards page.

Bag drop

If you spend Saturday night in Jordán, on Sunday you can hand in a white bag, securely closed and marked with your bib number, name and distance, and we will take it to San Gil.

  • Hand it to the logistics staff in Jordán before 6:15 a.m. and sign the register.
  • You can pick it up in San Gil from 9:00 p.m. on Sunday.
  • The organization does not check the contents and is not responsible for bags other than the ones described.
Finish, return and spectators
  • The finish is at Barichara main square, about 30 minutes from San Gil by road. Runners come through Barichara from 9:00 a.m. on Sunday.
  • At the finish, along with your medal, you get a ticket for the bus back to San Gil: buses run from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., roughly every 30 minutes.
  • Your supporters can reach Barichara by public transport from San Gil's small bus terminal and buy their return ticket at the transport office on the main square. More information on the spectators page.
Registration and fee

The regular fee for the 2027 edition is COP 508,200. Stage discounts apply on top of it; you see your final price when you register.

See registration stages, discounts and conditions on the registration page.

ITRA points and UTMB Index

Finishers earn 1 ITRA point, and the race counts toward the UTMB Index in the 20K category.

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Mandatory gear

Mandatory gear

  1. Race bib with timing chip, worn on the front and visible at all times: if it can't be seen, the chip won't record you and you may be disqualified.
  2. Mobile phone with calling credit.
  3. Hydration system of at least 1.5 liters.
  4. Personal cup: the aid stations do not provide cups.
  5. Emergency thermal blanket.
  6. Whistle.
  7. Food reserve.
  8. Cash for emergencies.
  9. Elastic bandage, 3 cm × 1 m.

Recommended gear

Trekking poles, knife or pocketknife, tweezers or thorn remover, sunscreen, petroleum jelly, GPS, cap or visor, sunglasses, a windproof or waterproof jacket with hood, and long sleeves and trousers to protect you from thorns and nettles.

Your race kit will not be handed over unless you show all of your mandatory gear. Judges may check it at any time: at the start, on the course, at checkpoints or at the finish. Each missing item adds a 20-minute penalty at every check.

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Gallery

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