Travel advisory · ColombiaSome governments advise against travel to parts of Colombia.The warnings cover only these areas: Arauca Department, Buenaventura, Caquetá Department, Catatumbo region, Cauca Department, Chocó Department, Ecuador border areas, Norte de Santander Department, Panama border areas, Tumaco, Valle del Cauca Department, Venezuela border areas, Casanare Department, Cúcuta, Guainía Department, Guaviare Department, Jamundí, Meta Department, Nariño Department, Northern Antioquia, Putumayo Department, Southern Bolívar, Southern Córdoba, Urabá region and Gulf of Urabá, Vaupés Department, Vichada Department.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- Arauca Department · avoid all travel · Canada, Spain, New Zealand, UK, US
- Buenaventura · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, New Zealand, UK
- Caquetá Department · avoid all travel · Canada, Spain, France, New Zealand
- Catatumbo region · avoid all travel · Spain, New Zealand
- Cauca Department · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, New Zealand, UK, US
- Chocó Department · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, France, New Zealand, UK
- Ecuador border areas · avoid all travel · France, New Zealand
- Norte de Santander Department · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, New Zealand, UK, US
- Panama border areas · avoid all travel · Spain, France, New Zealand
- Tumaco · avoid all travel · Canada, Spain, New Zealand
- Valle del Cauca Department · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, France, Italy, New Zealand, US
- Venezuela border areas · avoid all travel · Germany, France, New Zealand
- Casanare Department · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, New Zealand
- Cúcuta · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, UK
- Guainía Department · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, France, New Zealand
- Guaviare Department · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, France, New Zealand, UK
- Jamundí · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, UK
- Meta Department · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Spain, New Zealand
- Nariño Department · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, France, New Zealand
- Northern Antioquia · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, France
- Putumayo Department · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, France, New Zealand
- Southern Bolívar · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, France, New Zealand, UK
- Southern Córdoba · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, France, New Zealand, UK
- Urabá region and Gulf of Urabá · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, UK
- Vaupés Department · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, France
- Vichada Department · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, France, New Zealand
Also named by one government: Banks of the Río Cauca (France), Brazil border areas (France), Cali–Popayán–Pasto–Ipiales highway (France), Communes immediately south of Cali (France), Ecuador border, within 50 km (Canada), González and Río de Oro municipalities (Cesar) (Canada), Montes de María (Spain), Panama border, within 100 km (Canada), Peru border areas (France), Venezuela border, within 10 km (US), Venezuela border, within 50 km (Canada), Amazonas Department (France), Amazonas, within 20 km of Peru border (Canada), Antioquia Department (New Zealand), Antioquia, Chocó border area north of Buriticá (Canada), Ariari region of southern Meta (UK), Bahía Solano (Canada), Bajo Cauca region (UK), Capurganá (Canada), Cartagena del Chairá (UK), Communes on the flanks of Medellín (France), Earthquake-affected zone (Eje Cafetero and Suroriente) (Spain), Eastern and southern Meta (Germany), Eastern Valle del Cauca (France), Ecuador border, within 5 km (UK), El Doncello (UK), Florencia (Canada), Ipiales and Ipiales border crossing (Canada), La Montañita (UK), Nuquí (Canada), Orito (UK), Palmira (Germany), Paramillo National Natural Park (Córdoba) (Canada), Paujil (UK), Popayán (Canada), Puerto Asís (UK), Puerto Caicedo (UK), Puerto Carreño (UK), Puerto Guzmán (UK), Puerto Leguízamo (UK), Puerto Rico (Caquetá) (UK), Quibdó (France), San Jorge and La Mojana subregions of Sucre (New Zealand), San Miguel (UK), San Vicente del Caguán (UK), Sanquianga region of Nariño (UK), Santander Department (France), South Pacific region of Nariño (UK), Southern Bogotá working-class districts (France), Southern Sucre (France), Southern Tolima (incl. Ataco, Chaparral, Planadas, Rioblanco) (Germany), Sur sub-region of Cesar (New Zealand), Telembi region of Nariño (UK), Valle del Guamuez (UK), Venezuela border, within 5 km (UK), Western Valle del Cauca (incl. Buenaventura) (UK)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | No advice against the whole country (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Reconsider travel | Mar 31, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Exercise a high degree of caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | Keine Reisewarnung für das ganze Land (regional advisories) | Oct 13, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Exercise increased caution due to violent crime and the threat of terrorism (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | Increased vigilance, with specific areas to avoid (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
San Gil
Go for guided white-water rafting, canyoning and paragliding in a small Andean town, then rest in a colonial village nearby.
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San Gil is a town in the Santander department of northeastern Colombia, set in the foothills of the Andes, with the Fonce River running past its edge. Visitors usually come for white-water rafting, canyoning in the nearby canyons and paragliding above the valleys. Tour offices and bus stops sit near the central plaza, so most activities can be booked on foot.
The trip suits active travelers who want a few days of guided activities and a base to rest between them. Barichara, a colonial village with stone-paved streets, is a short drive away and a common day trip. Plan two to three days for a rafting trip, a canyon or paragliding session, and a visit to Barichara. A taxi or car helps for trips beyond the town. The drier months, roughly December to March, suit outdoor days best, though rain can fall in any month.
San Gil in five
- Book river and canyon trips with a licensed operatorSan Gil's rafting, canyoning and paragliding run through many small operators. Ask to see guide certification, helmets and wetsuits, and a safety briefing before you pay. River levels change with the rains, so ask whether a trip is running that day.
- Carry Colombian pesos for villages and small operatorsMany small guesthouses, tour operators and village shops take cash only, and card machines can fail away from the town centre. Withdraw pesos at a bank ATM in San Gil or Bucaramanga before you head out.Money and costs
- Take a bus from Bucaramanga's terminal to San GilBuses run from Bucaramanga to San Gil on a road that takes about 2 to 3 hours. Buy a seat ticket at the terminal and keep your bag with you on the bus.Getting around
- Set up a Colombian eSIM before the canyonsMobile signal drops in canyon bottoms and along rural roads, so download offline maps and your tour confirmations before you leave town. A Colombian eSIM lets you use your phone for maps and messages without roaming charges.Phones and eSIM
- Check that your insurance covers rafting and paraglidingMany standard travel policies exclude or limit cover for adventure sports, and rescue from a canyon or river can be costly. Read the policy for activity exclusions and add cover for the sports you plan to do.Travel insurance
Need to know
- Currency
- Colombian peso (COP)
- Entry
- Visa-free for many passports; check the Cancillería list before you fly Read more
- Emergency
- 123 police, ambulance and fire; 112 also reaches emergency services
- Tipping
- Service often added to the bill; 10% is customary if it is not
- Time
- UTC-5, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain15 rainy daysHigh27°Low16°Dry, hotJanuaryRain
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hot
- FebruaryRain19 rainy daysHigh28°Low17°Dry, hotFebruaryRain
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 130 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hot
- MarchRain27 rainy daysHigh27°Low17°Drier, warmMarchRain
Good
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 246 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drier, warm
- AprilRain28 rainy daysHigh26°Low17°Rain seasonAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 266 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain season
- MayRain29 rainy daysHigh26°Low17°Rainy, high riversMayRain
Poor
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 283 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy, high rivers
- JuneRain27 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh26°Low17°Mixed rainJuneRain
Mixed
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 215 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Mixed rain
- JulyRain27 rainy days2 days with stormsHigh27°Low17°Drier, holidaysJulyRain
Good
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 209 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 2
Drier, holidays
- AugustRain29 rainy days2 days with stormsHigh27°Low16°Drier, busyAugustRain
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 236 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 2
Drier, busy
- SeptemberRain26 rainy days2 days with stormsHigh27°Low16°Showers returnSeptemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 240 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 2
Showers return
- OctoberRain29 rainy days2 days with stormsHigh26°Low16°Wet, high riversOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 291 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 2
Wet, high rivers
- NovemberRain26 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh25°Low16°Wet, quietNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 238 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Wet, quiet
- DecemberRain18 rainy daysHigh26°Low16°Holidays, busyDecemberRain
Good
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 106 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Holidays, busy
Average daily high and low in San Gil, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in San Gil
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
21
- Feels like
- 24°
- Humidity
- 86%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
San Gil
06:25 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today23°17°100%Monday: Rain. High 23°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue23°16°96%Tuesday: Rain. High 23°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 96%.
- Wed23°16°98%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 23°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Thu22°15°100%Thursday: Rain. High 22°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Fri22°16°99%Friday: Rain. High 22°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 99%.
- Sat22°16°98%Saturday: Rain. High 22°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Sun24°15°88%Sunday: Rain. High 24°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 88%.
Updated 04:41 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 3,192 COP
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Baricharaa short drive from San Gil by carA colonial village of stone streets, good for a slow lunch and a walk.
- Bucaramanga2 to 3 hours by busA larger city with museums, shops and a wider choice of restaurants.
- Juan Curi waterfalla short drive from town, then a walkA waterfall reached by road and a walk, good for a half day.
Before you go to San Gil
Rules for San Gil, checked
- Check the entry requirements for your passport on Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs site before you fly.Source
- Carry your passport at all times; immigration authority Migración Colombia handles entry and exit checks.Source
- Customs rules on cash and goods on arrival are set by DIAN, Colombia's tax and customs authority; check them before you travel.
Plan around San Gil
Town centre, Barichara and other base options compared
Read the guideGetting around San GilBuses from Bucaramanga, taxis and tour transport
Read the guideMoney in ColombiaCash, cards and what to expect on typical costs
Read the guideVisas and entryEntry rules, documents and what to check before you fly
Read the guidePhones and eSIMData plans and offline maps for canyons and rural roads
Read the guideAll of ColombiaRegions, cities and entry rules for the whole country
Read the guideSan Gil FAQ
Is San Gil worth visiting?
Yes, for two or three days if you want rafting, canyoning and paragliding in a small town. It suits active travelers more than sightseers. Skip it if you want long museum days or a big-city nightlife scene.
Is San Gil safe for tourists?
Most visitors book organized trips and travel in daylight. Check your government's travel advice before you go, and ask your hotel or operator about current conditions in the area.
What is the best time to visit San Gil?
December to March is the drier stretch and the easiest time to plan around river trips. April to May and October to November are the rainy months, when river levels change quickly.
How many days do you need in San Gil?
Two or three days covers most river and canyon activities. Add a day if you want to visit Barichara and the Juan Curi waterfall at a relaxed pace.
Do you need a car in San Gil?
No, not for the town itself, since taxis and tour transport cover the main trips. A car helps if you want to reach Barichara or the waterfalls on your own schedule.