Colombia is in proud possession of beautiful hotels and fincas located in the most extraordinary places. One of the fincas you really shouldn’t miss is Finca San Vicente in Barichara. By the way, you’d better not skip Barichara either, as this so-called most beautiful village in Colombia might just become the highlight of your round trip. It’s not without reason that it’s my go-to place to stay whenever I’m in Barichara. This hotel in Barichara is located just outside the village in a place that will take your breath away. The perfect place to rest and the perfect base to get to know one of the most beautiful areas of Colombia. In this article I take you to one of the most beautiful hotels in Colombia in enchanting Barichara.
Table of contents
Why you shouldn’t skip Barichara in Colombia
I have already written a lot about Barichara and for a good reason. Barichara is magical. As soon as you drive into the village you enter another world. A colonial world, that is. A national monument since 1978.
Barichara is extraordinary because:
- This colonial village has remained beautifully intact and it feels like you are in another world;
- All of Barichara is colonial. Very impressive;
- The streets seem to be straight out of a fairy tale, really;
- The village is remote, what makes many foreign tourists skip it and therefore you don’t have mass tourism (except during Colombian holidays);
- Barichara lies on the edge of a canyon. Pretty impressive;
- There is a lot to do. And no that’s not a cliché.
- You will find weird food there. Think roasted fat-belly ants …;
- Eating out is a party in Barichara, if only because of the magical atmosphere in the evening.
In addition, the weather is also perfect. Around 30 degrees during the day and refreshing at night. Air conditioning is not necessary. Very nice.
Here is a complete mini travel guide for in Barichara and the surrounding area.
Stay in one of the most beautiful hotels in Colombia
The hotel Finca San Vicente was founded by Belgian couple Johan and Karin. Always they had the dream of starting a Bed & Breakfast in a beautiful place, and after many tours in Colombia they decided to do so in idyllic Barichara.
They found an estate with an old colonial farmhouse on it, which they single-handedly transformed into the current finca, creating one of the most beautiful hotels in Colombia I have ever been to.
How they transformed an old colonial farmhouse into a little paradise
After 2 years of hard work, they had transformed the old finca into a little paradise. In the little white colonial house they live by themselves, and there changed a bit over time.
A cottage was built with two rooms for guests, though. And the dilapidated bright orange walls that stood there, have been turned into a beautiful outdoor living room.
Local, natural materials were used for this purpose. The construction used two ancient architectural styles that are still rare: Bahareque and Tapia Pisada.
A Colombian finca full of passion and love
The tremendous passion and love Johan and Karin have put into their beautiful farmhouse can be felt everywhere. It’s no wonder they spent more than two years creating their paradise, all to provide travelers in Colombia, and specifically in Barichara, with an unforgettable experience.
A tour of Finca San Vicente in Barichara: an extraordinary hotel in Colombia
Finca San Vicente is indescribably beautiful. That’s why I’m going to show you some pictures. You will find several walking paths, many benches and lovely chairs to rest or read a book, an outdoor living room, a viewpoint with two hammocks where you can really easily stare at the view for days (we did), many tropical flowers and plants, birds in all colors of the rainbow and a beautiful jacuzzi in the countryside.
The bedroom is also beautiful. Colonial with a bathroom like you never saw. There is a large window with no glass, so you kind of shower in nature with a beautiful view.
In addition, it is worth mentioning that the bed sleeps really wonderfully.
Curious? Here we go!
The house where Johan and Karin live
The delicious breakfast and dinner
The outdoor living room
The bedrooms & shower
Nature at the finca
The viewpoint from your hammock
This is how to book your stay at Finca San Vicente
You can easily book your stay via this link to Booking.com. Or visit the contact page of Finca San Vicente and get in touch with Johan or Karin there.
There are only 2 rooms and one family room, so book on time, especially in high season and Colombian vacations.
Johan and Karin speak Dutch, English and Spanish.
How do you get to Finca San Vicente in Barichara?
By car
You can rent a car in Bogotá and drive to Barichara in about 8 hours. You can read everything about renting a car and driving in Colombia here.
Johan and Karin will provide you with directions from Barichara to the finca. You can find the hotel on the map here.
There are two routes from Bogotá to Barichara: via Chiquinquirá and via Tunja. The road between Bogotá and Barbosa via Chiquinquirá is not the safest. Steep uphill and a busy one-lane road. I would take this route only if you want to visit something specifically on this route.
The route via Tunja is safe and easy to ride, especially the part up to Tunja. The part between Tunja and Barbosa is also doable, you just have to cross a mountain peak, so you ride to about 3,000 meters in altitude only to quickly descend again for about two kilometers.
Then there is the section between Barbosa and San Gil. You have to drive this part anyway, no matter which route you choose. It really is a rotten stretch of about 3 hours of hairpin turns. Especially if you are not used to riding in the mountains, it is good to take regular breaks to rest. This is no problem at all, there are plenty of places to stop.
By bus
If you are traveling through Colombia by bus, you can come from anywhere. There are no direct buses to Barichara, so wherever you’re coming from: look for a bus to Bucaramanga or San Gil.
From Bucaramanga you can take the bus to San Gil, and from San Gil there are buses to Barichara. Do this during the day, as the last bus to Barichara goes around 8PM.
To get from Barichara to the finca, you can take a motorcycle cab. Or contact Johan for advice. Here you can read all about how to get to Barichara by bus.
By plane.
If you’re coming from far away in Colombia, you can also fly to Bucaramanga and take the bus to San Gil from there (about 2.5 hours). And from San Gil, take the bus to Barichara.
How much does an overnight stay cost?
Here you will find all information about the rooms and current prices.
Do you also get breakfast, lunch, and dinner at San Vicente?
Breakfast is included in the room rate. There is also a menu of delicious dishes or small bites for lunch and dinner. You pay extra for this.
I have made use of this often. Karin’s cooking is delicious! Ranging from typical Colombian (ajiaco for example) to international and vegetarian dishes. You can also order drinks, such as sodas, beer, and wine.
Can you drink the water from the tap?
No. There is a water tank with potable water that you can use to fill your bottle. So bring a sustainable bottle that you can reuse, so you don’t have to keep buying plastic bottles. More tips for sustainable travel through Colombia here.
Is there Wi-Fi at Finca San Vicente?
Yes, and good too! For the digital nomads among us who want to spend a few days working in silence, this place is perfect. And for anyone who just wants to send some pictures to home now and then, of course, too.
Are there a lot of mosquitoes?
Not so much during the day, a little more in the evening (also depending on when you are there). It’s best to bring anti-mosquito cream. You don’t have to worry at night: you sleep under a mosquito net.
Is this hotel also suitable for backpackers in Colombia?
Finca San Vicente is not a typical backpacker hostel, but as a backpacker, you can certainly have an excellent stay there. This is obviously not a place for partying, but a place where you find peace and discover the Colombia that lies outside the busy tourist destinations.
Perfect if you are introverted or highly sensitive and seeking peace and quiet, or if you want a pleasant stop in nature during your busy trip.
Where is Finca San Vicente located?
Finca San Vicente is located about 5 kilometers outside the center of Barichara. So this is not a place where you walk straight from your hotel into the colonial village. However, by private car or motorcycle cab you can get to Barichara in 10 minutes.
The finca is in the middle of nature in a very quiet place. With beautiful views of the canyon. Exactly this location makes a stay extraordinary.
What to do in the area?
Do you have a minute? Earlier in this article you read lots of tips on what to do in the area, including the hike to Guane, visiting Barichara (including interesting museums), going to Chicamocha Canyon, venturing into extreme sports (such as paragliding, abseiling and rafting), visiting other colonial villages, going to the beautiful park in San Gil, taking the hike to Juan Curí waterfall and touring a weaving factory in Curití.
Don’t forget to eat the local ‘delicacy’ of roasted fat-belly ants. Barichara in the evening is magical. And if you visit during Las Velitas, you’ll truly be amazed.
Read all about what to do in Barichara, San Gil, and the surrounding area here.
Additionally, Johan and Karin can take you on hiking tours in the Barichara area, off the beaten path. And there is much more to do. Descend into the canyon to the village of Jordán, cross the canyon by cable car, or go on a guided cave tour. You can also go on multi-day hikes starting from the finca.
So you won’t be bored here.
Is it safe?
Yes, absolutely! Barichara and its surroundings are among the safest destinations in Colombia, so you can stay here with peace of mind.
Click here for general information about traveling safely in Colombia.
How many days do you need at Finca San Vicente?
So, there is plenty to do in and around Barichara. Besides that, it might just happen that upon arrival at Finca San Vicente, you immediately decide you just want to rest at the hotel for a few days.
With a 3-day stay you can see some highlights, if you stay a week you can also go off the beaten path and spend a day or more at the finca.
In total, I’ve spent about 3 weeks at Finca San Vicente altogether…
It totally depends on how much time you have during your round trip Colombia and what you think is important to do and see during your holiday. In any case, I can tell you that you can never be here too long.
Barichara is one of my favorite destinations in Colombia. A place to relax and have a nice holiday. With Finca San Vicente being our favorite stay. I hope you too will have a wonderful stay to fully enjoy the beauty Colombia has to offer.
This article contains affiliate links and was written in collaboration with a company. I always give my honest and sincere opinion, because I want to help and advise you in the best possible way to have the most unforgettable experience in Colombia. Click here for more information.
