Arguably one of the most amazing places to visit in Colombia. Whether you enjoy extreme adventures ranging from paragliding, rafting and mountain biking to something a bit calmer like hiking and enjoying the landscape or even enjoying all the attractions at the main tourist areas of the national park, this place is simply a must.
My journey began from one of the different points that you can access the canyon: San Gil. Our trip was simple, trek all the way down the canyon (50km) reach the small town of Jordán Sube and then raft down the Chicamocha River. The road down is very straight forward. Long and fairly steep, with a wide range of landscapes. It is constantly changing during the decent, from small streams of water and tall trees all the way to completely dry and rocky areas. After some hours of walking in the sun we finally started getting to something that looked more like an actual road. Wide, muddy and obviously not paved, sort of forgotten by time.
Suddenly we started spotting tobacco plantains on both sides. The huge barns with tobacco plants hanging in order for them to be cured garnished the whole place. All of a sudden, almost out of nowhere, we saw the town. We had finally made it to Jordán Sube, a town that has been forgotten by time. It was a very important place during the 1800’s due to the fact that it was the only way to cross between the area of Los Santos and San Gil, however, due to modernization a more efficient road was built leaving this town forgotten. We were told that only 40 people lived there, mostly old people. Half of the structures are empty, yet the town has a magic and a mystery that’s undeniable. The most astonishing point of it all is an enormous wooden bridge that crosses the river off the main square. The mountain is now behind you. The sound of the river is stronger, and you feel enclosed in the middle. We finally spend the night there.
The next day we wake up after sleeping in a huge barn-like house ready to start our rafting adventure. We assemble everything in the main square, bring all the equipment necessary and all the instructors that would take us. The raft down the Chicamocha river is quite an exciting one. Areas where the river is fierce and you have to fight to stay on the raft and keep on rowing, trying to tame the river. Some areas give you the chance to just stop everything your doing, take a deep breath and realise just exactly where you are, seeing the big sides of the mountains glazing over you.