Next stop on the road north from Bogota, was San Gil. In theory, four hours from Villa de Leyva, it took the better part of seven hours once we got stuck in Tunja waiting for a connecting bus.
San Gil is marketed as the adventure capital of Colombia and offers everything from white water rafting to horseriding, canyoning to skydiving. However, as with most adventure sport centres, the prices are pitched pretty high to target the tourist crowd. Expecting steep prices, and having done a bit of adventure sport in Pucon, we had intended to use San Gil as a base to explore the nearby village of Barichara - another picture perfect colonial relic. Upon arrival however, we were shown pictures of Chicamocha Canyon and convinced that we had to visit it. We figured also that having seen one colonial white washed village, another could be a bit same-same and not so different.
Not wanting to do things by halves, we decided to ensure that we got the best possible view of the canyon we should go paragliding. Being the first time for both of us we were not too sure what to expect. I found it a little tame on the adrenaline factor but the view was certainly spectacular. Crystal on the other hand, was taken right up into the cloud (a treat denied to those of us of a slightly fatter persuasion) and at times could see only her feet and white mist - a brilliant ride until the instructor decided to descend rapidly from the clouds in a spiral - which from where I was watching it appeared that at times the parachute was lower than Crystal and her instructor. Fortunately though, Crystal didn't have to wear her lunch and we all made it back to ground in one piece having had a unique and pretty cool experience.
From San Gil, later in the afternoon after paragliding, we decided to test our stomachs a bit more by continuing our journey north to Bucaramanga through a particularly windy stretch of road. We made it in one piece again though and spent a quiet evening in Bucaramanga - a stop over only and not a particularly fascinating one - to psyche ourselves up for the bus trip to Medellin the following day.
I imagine the view from the paragliding must have been spectacular. When I travelled to Argentina, I stayed in a hotel near Puerto Madero that had 25 floors. From the highest point, you could see the river, the boats and all the lighting of the city. Having a spectacular sight when you go on a trip is essential!
ReplyDeleteRachel