Camino Real Barichara to Guane

The Guane people had a network of paths across this country before the Spanish arrived, and the colonial administration paved and used them. This section, about nine kilometres from Barichara down to the village of Guane, fell out of use and was rebuilt in the nineteenth century by Geo von Lengerke, a German engineer who laid roads across Santander - that rebuilding is why the stone surface survives in the condition it does. The walk is downhill nearly all the way, through dry scrub and cactus with the Suarez canyon opening below, taking around two to three hours. Guane at the bottom is a small colonial village with a palaeontological museum holding fossils and Guane mummies. Buses run back up to Barichara, which most walkers take rather than climbing.

Highlights

• Nine kilometres of stone-paved path - on a pre-Hispanic Guane route.
• A downhill walk of two to three hours - through dry scrub and cactus.
• The Suarez canyon - opening below on the descent.
• Guane village - with a fossil and mummy museum at the bottom.

When to go

December to March; start early to avoid the heat. Half a day.

Good to know

There is almost no shade and it gets hot - carry water and start early. The stone is uneven and slippery in rain. The return is by bus, which runs on a limited timetable. Walking up instead is much harder.

Nearby

Barichara is at the top; San Gil is east.