Main plaza district
San Gil, Colombia
Home to Sam's VIP Hostel and La Mansion Hostel, close to the main plaza and within walking distance of tour operators.
Places in Main plaza district
- Home-style Santandereano restaurants Many of the best places to eat feel less like restaurants and more like someone's home, with large open-plan spaces, communal tables, and an open fire.
- San Gil street food and local eateries Street food and local eateries serving hearty dishes for $2 to $5 USD, including arepas, empanadas, and fresh fruit juices.
- La Mansion Hostel restaurant A restaurant at the hostel with clean and spacious rooms and a large well-equipped kitchen.
- San Gil modest sit-down cafes A sit-down meal at a modest restaurant costs $5 to $8 USD.
- Sam's VIP Hostel bar A great bar with a rooftop pool and nightly activities for guests, the most popular place to stay for backpackers.
- Main plaza district bars Bars close to the main plaza, within walking distance of tour operators.
Practical notes for San Gil
- Best time to visit
- December to February (driest months) offers ideal conditions for whitewater rafting and caving.
- Getting around
- Most recommended hostels and guesthouses are close to the main plaza and within walking distance of tour operators, with the Suarez River rafting put-in and the Cueva de La Vaca and Cueva del Indio caves reached by short trips outside town.
- Currency
- Colombian Peso (COP $)
- Language
- Spanish. English is limited outside adventure operators.
- Timezone
- COT (UTC-5)
- Current trends
- San Gil's hospitality scene continues to cater squarely to the adventure-travel crowd, with Sam's VIP Hostel's rooftop pool and nightly activities and the Suarez River's extreme whitewater rafting reflecting the town's firm identity as Colombia's adventure capital, while day trips to Barichara offer a calmer colonial counterpoint.
Other neighborhoods in San Gil
- Suarez River district — Home to whitewater rafting, with the first and more extreme option to the west of the city.
- Barichara day-trip district — Home to the nearby cute town of Barichara, meaning 'place to rest', perfect for a half-day trip.
Read the full San Gil guide