For those looking for a deeply authentic and off the beaten path destination in Colombia, Barichara is your destination and Casa Yahri is your private home.
Barichara is the prettiest village in Colombia that time has all but forgotten. A prosperous and prominent Spanish colonial town built in the 1700’s, situated right on the edge of the gargantuan Chicamocha Gorge and along a once prominent trade route between the capital of Bogota and the Caribbean sea. As horses gave way to motorized vehicles, a new modern highway was created that bypassed the rugged terrain surrounding Barichara altogether. The feeling in Barichara today is of a colonial town locked in time, but infused with what Colombian novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez coined “magic realism”. Gorgeous colonial architecture draped in bright bougainvillea, a perfect climate, shade dappled plazas where residents are happy to sit and watch the world go by at a slower pace, church bells toll as smartly dressed school children amble home under parasols and the monstrous Chicamocha Canyon sits on the towns edge, beckoning to be explored.
Casa Yahri is a fully staffed and fully inclusive 4 bedroom private villa just a few blocks from the main plaza in Barichara. A full time concierge, chef and a team of local guides are included in the rates and at your call. The offerings of activities in and around Barichara are unparalleled in their diversity; there is something for everyone; activities range from the adventurous such as hiking, mountain biking, whitewater rafting and waterfall rappelling to culture and leisure with shopping for handicrafts, art classes, coffee plantation visits, cooking classes, Spanish language immersion and quaint museums.
PROPERTY FACTS
Four Rooms Total made up of Three Private Suites
“Aratoca” Suite, “Chicamocha” Suite, “Guane” Suite (2-bedroom)
Fully Inclusive
Yes, Throughout and Complimentary
Open Year Round
Traveller Made
Massages Only
Pool and Jaccuzi
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RATES
Double Occupancy Rooms from $780, per room, per night
Full villa buyout from $1500 USD per night
LOCATION: Barichara, colombia
Closet Domestic Airport:
There are now bi-weekly flights with Pacifica airlines that fly to the San Gil airport from both Bogota and Medellin. The San Gil airport is only a 20 minute drive rom Barichara. Below is the current flight schedule:
Flight Schedule Mondays and Fridays:
12:15 PM Medellín - San Gil
1:40 PM San Gil - Bogotá
3:05 PM Bogotá - San Gil
4:30 PM San Gil - Medellín
If you wan to arrive on different dates, the Bucaramanga Airport (BGA) receives direct flights to/from most every major city in Colombia and also an international flight from Panama City, Panama. Barichara itself is 3.5 hour drive from Bucaramanga or guests can opt for a 15 minute direct helicopter flight to Barichara or light aircraft which land about 30 minutes from Barichara at the airstrip in San Gil.
Colombia has several international airports: Bogota, Medellin and Cartagena are the most common, all of which have direct flights to Bucaramanga. Bogota is the closest and most frequent.
Getting to/from Barichara is part of the appeal of the destination. The 3.5 hour drive from Bucaramanga crosses one of the worlds deepest river canyons - here a cable car gondola operates from one side of the gorge to the other, allowing passengers to avoid all the switchbacks in the vehicle, having the driver pick you up on the other side to coniue the journey. The far side of this gorge just happens to also be one of the best places in Latin America to take a tandem paragliding flight . So driving this route one way is one of the most unique road transfers in Latin America. But those that want to avoid the drive can get to Barichara via a spectacular helicopter ride or via light aircraft, one or both ways.
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WHEN TO VISIT
Barichara has a very enjoyable, warm and dry climate year-round. During the entire year, temperatures stay between 72° F - 89° F (22º C and 32º C). Rainfall fluctuates throughout the year, with October being the rainiest but still drier than most Andean towns in Colombia by comparison. The driest months are from December through March.
FOR FAMILIES
Barcichara and Casa Yahri is the ideal place for a family getaway or a multi-generational trip. Besides the spectacular fully serviced villa itself, with a private swimming pool and jacuzzi - there is something to do for everyone in and around Barichara. Activities range from the adventurous such as hiking, mountain biking, whitewater rafting and waterfall rappelling to culture and leisure with shopping for handicrafts, art classes, coffee plantation visits, cooking classes, Spanish language immersion and quaint museums. With the overwhelming number of things to do, try not to overlook the simple joy of a stroll around town followed by an afternoon sitting around the pool with a drink and sampling Colombian cuisine from your own private chef.
*Note that due to the design of the villa, children 12 and under are not allowed except by careful consideration by the owner.
RECOMMENDED LENGTH OF STAY
The minimum length of stay is two nights. But due to the adventure in simply getting to/from Barichara, and all there is to do there, we think that 4 nights is probably the minimum you would want to stay. The slow pace of life in Barichara is infectious and certainly rubs off on visitors. Staying here for a week or longer would be an amazing opportunity to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the modern world. A week of alternating days of relaxation and exploration would be ideal.
UNIQUE SELLING POINTS
.Barichara has been nominated and voted on as the “The prettiest colonial town in the Andes” numerous times.
One of the most high quality, authentic and off the beaten path places you will find in Colombia if not South America.
Barichara offers something for everyone; arts, culture, handicrafts, coffee farms, history, architecture, relaxation, shopping and is also considered the adventure sports capital of Colombia where options to do whitewater rafting, trekking, mountain biking, waterfall rapelling and paragliding are abundant. It’s is the ideal place for a multi-generation or diverse-interest group to base for an exotic getaway.
Casa Yahri does not need to be booked out in its entirety as a villa, they allow for room only bookings during most of the year.
Barichara is kept authentic and charming due to its isolation by road, but fantastic and reasonable options are available to arrive by helicopter and light aircraft.
The onsite concierge team can arrange as much or as little as you want during your stay.
BEST COMBINED WITH
Combining a 2 to 4 night stay at Hacienda Bambusa in the coffee region with time in both Bogota and Cartagena make an ideal first trip to Colombia. Bambusa provides a rural countryside experience which compliments and adds variety to the history and beaches of Cartagena and cosmopolitan Bogota. Combining the three destinations make for an ideal one week trip.
But Barichara in itself is a fantastic stand alone destination which will appeal to most everyone, perfect for an exotic destination trip for a small group or family to spend a week or more in.
ROOM Category Descriptions
See how the creative team from Disney found their artistic inspiration for the film Encanto at both Hacienda Bambusa and Casa Yahri in Colombia