Race hub · 1,114 m
San Gil
Santander's tourism capital and Colombia's pioneering hub for extreme sports. Kit pickup, the technical briefing, starts and finishes all happen here.
Seven towns, one canyon
Towns on the course
The race links San Gil, Barichara, Villanueva, Jordán, Curití, Mogotes and Aratoca along colonial stone roads, trails and country lanes. Get to know each town before you run it.
Around the Chicamocha
Amazing places around the canyon
Exploring the towns around the Chicamocha Canyon means dreamlike landscapes, living culture and endless adventure. From colonial villages such as Barichara to adrenaline hubs such as San Gil, the region has something for everyone.
The race links them along old mule trails, colonial stone roads (caminos reales) and country lanes. For the 2026 edition, runners born or living in the towns on the course got 20% off their registration; see the current conditions on the Registration page.
From the canyon floor to the mountains
- Host towns
- 7
- Of trails linking the seven towns (2025 edition)
- 192 km
- Jordán, on the canyon floor
- 433 m
- Aratoca, up in the Eastern Andes
- 1,750 m
The hosts
Six towns to discover
National monument · 1,300 m
Barichara
Known as the most beautiful little town in Colombia, it keeps its late 18th-century layout, with houses, churches and streets of yellow stone and rammed earth. Visit the house of former president Aquileo Parra, the Emilio Pradilla González House of Culture, the San Antonio and Santa Bárbara chapels, the lookout, the Salto del Mico, the Chorreras natural pools and the Puente Grande, one of the five best-known lime-and-stone bridges in the country.
Every race distance goes through Barichara, and the half marathon finishes here.
1,450 m
Villanueva
Wattle-and-daub and rammed-earth houses amid the landscapes of the Eastern Andes. A young, thriving town that lives from trade, farming and mining. Try the ice cream from its local factory: cassava, avocado and flavors you would never imagine.
Colombia's smallest town
Jordán
At 433 m on the canyon floor, between the Los Santos and Jordán faults that run parallel to the Chicamocha River. A colonial village of mud and cane houses, known for Lengerke's 19th-century bridge and trails, the Montegrande creek waterfall and its wildlife: eagles and howler monkeys. Hot weather, between 25 and 38 °C. The half marathon and the marathon start here.
Fique crafts
Curití
Famous for its fique fiber crafts and its sunsets. Just 2 km from town lies Pescaderito, a natural swimming paradise. The 100 miles run along its old stone-paved trails.
1,750 m · 19 °C
Aratoca
Right in the Chicamocha Canyon, up in the Eastern Andes, with cool weather. The Chicamocha River and the Cantabara creek cross its land.
Ancient trails
Mogotes and Cabrera
Mogotes
The seventh host town. The 100 miles leave San Gil with a hard climb to the southeast to reach the upper left bank of the canyon, through nature reserves and the old stone-paved trails of Mogotes and Curití.
Cabrera
An architectural gem of the Guanentá province, founded on November 8, 1808, at 980 m and 22 km from San Gil. Its parish church holds wooden altarpieces and paintings more than two hundred years old. From here, the La Peña camino real, an old stone road that still bears the footprints of those who came before, leads to Barichara and is part of the race route.
From the race hub
Getting there from San Gil
Barichara
21 km on a paved road, about 30 minutes. Drive or take the Cootrasangil buses that leave every 40 minutes from the Terminalito in San Gil (Calle 15 between Carreras 10 and 11).
Villanueva
Take the paved road toward Barichara to km 12, at the spot known as La Y, and turn right: 5 more km of paved road. About 30 minutes in total.
Jordán
On the San Gil – Bucaramanga road, after about 18 km take the left turn toward Jordán. Allow 2.5 to 3 hours for the trip from San Gil. Coming from Bucaramanga, a new road near the Pescadero bridge goes straight to town.
By public transport, there is usually one daily Cootrasangil route from Aratoca to Jordán around 6:00 a.m., returning to Aratoca around 2:00 p.m. On race day, the organization takes half marathon and marathon runners from San Gil to the start in Jordán.
Curití
8 km along the San Gil – Bucaramanga road; the turnoff to town is on the right.
Aratoca
Around km 30 of the main San Gil – Bucaramanga road; the turnoff is on the left. Cootrasangil buses leave for Aratoca every 20 minutes.
Cabrera
22 km, about 1 hour: take the San Gil – Barichara road and at km 1 turn left onto the road to Cabrera.
Sleep close to the action
San Gil, Barichara and Jordán have partner hotels with perks for the Chicamocha Canyon Race family.