Waterfalls and Torrentismo

Location:
San Gil, Colombia

Other Activity Types:
Rappelling, torrentismo

By Lorraine Caputo

Waterfalls drape the river canyons slicing the countryside around San Gil. At some of the cascades, not only can you gaze upon these natural wonders, but also practice a sport offered by the good folk of this area: torrentismo—or rappelling in waterfalls. Get ready to zip down a slick rock face, misted by tumbling waters. This has got to be the most extreme you can get in the wild adventures San Gil offers (well, save hydrospeeding). The easiest fall to get to on your own is 150-meter (500-foot) high Juan Curí, out near Charalá, which has a delightfully cool pool at its base in which to swim.

Getting There
Contact local tour operators; they offer excursions to several different waterfalls.

Alternatively, to get to Juan Curí on your own, catch a Bucaramanga-bound bus or one to Charalá ($1.60); tell the driver you’re going to Juan Curí. From the roadsid

Travel Tips: If doing torrentismo, check the quality of equipment. At Juan Curí, there are two entry points through private property; the first is cheaper ($1.05), though the second includes a tour of the cacao farm ($2.65). To rappel is extra.

Price Description: The average cost of a tour, including transportation, is about $13.

Travel Skills: beginner/easy.

You Need to Bring: Wear sandals or tennis shoes, shorts, t-shirt, swim gear, camera and sunscreen. Do not wear flip-flops.

Other adrenaline sports, like caving, hydrospeeding, kayaking, paragliding and rafting; visiting colonial towns Barichara, Guane and Curití; Parque Natural El Gallineral, Parque Nacional Chicamocha.

Currencies accepted
Colombian Peso