Experience Your Future Life in Bucaramanga and Barichara
Six nights in Santander: a warm, underrated city, a canyon that stops you in your tracks, and two nights in one of the prettiest towns in Colombia. Small group, and Matt beside you the whole way.
You Don't Have to Figure Bucaramanga and Barichara Out Alone
Bucaramanga rarely makes the lists, which is exactly why people who visit keep talking about it. Warm weather, friendly streets, and a lot less hype. It's hard to judge from a screen.
For six nights you have Matt beside you. You see the city, the towns around it, and Barichara, and you decide with your own eyes whether this corner of Colombia fits you.
What You'll Actually Do
We start in Bucaramanga and the towns that ring it, from colonial Girón to the hills of Ruitoque, then head south to Chicamocha National Park and two nights in Barichara, so we're not driving back and forth. You eat very well throughout.
The shape of the trip
- Day 1
Arrival and welcome
We pick you up at the airport in Bucaramanga and get you settled. That evening the group sits down together for a welcome dinner.
- Days 2 to 6
Santander, city to canyon
Five full days with Matt, 10 to 12 hours a day, in private transportation. Along the way:
- Bucaramanga, Floridablanca, Girón, Piedecuesta, Ruitoque and Lebrija, plus Parque San Pío
- Chicamocha National Park
- Two nights in Barichara, so we're not driving back and forth
- Curití, San Gil and Parque El Gallineral
- Great lunches and dinners all week
- Day 7
Departure
Breakfast, goodbyes, and you head to the airport on your own schedule.
A sample shape. Exact stops and order are finalized closer to the dates.
- Hand-picked hotels with breakfast every night of the trip
- Airport pickup on arrival day
- Private ground transportation every day except departure day
- A welcome dinner on arrival night
- Matt as your guide, 10 to 12 hours a day, every day except departure day
- A pre-trip group video call about one week before departure
- Entry fees: Chicamocha National Park and Parque El Gallineral
Choose how you'll travel
Prices are in US dollars and exclude airfare. Pay in full at booking, through secure Stripe checkout, or hold your spot with a deposit.
One traveler, your own private room.
Two people sharing one room, booked together in one payment.
$500 per person ($1,000 for a couple) holds your spot, exactly like paying in full. The balance is charged automatically to the same card on December 31, 2026, 60 days before departure. We email you 7 days and 1 day before, and you can pay early anytime. The deposit option is open until December 16, 2026.
Before you book
What exactly is this?
A small-group, hosted trip for people seriously considering living, retiring, or spending real time in Colombia. Over 6 nights we take you beyond the tourist version of Bucaramanga and Barichara: the neighborhoods people actually live in, at different budgets, the markets, the food, and the day-to-day, with Matt as your guide.
Is this a guided tour or a real-estate pitch?
Neither. There is plenty of sightseeing, but the point is scouting: seeing what daily life actually looks and feels like. Nobody is selling you property, and we deliberately show you the honest tradeoffs.
How big is the group?
Small: 6 to 12 guests. A couple counts as two. Each van holds six guests, so a full trip uses two vans. Big enough to meet interesting people, small enough that nobody gets herded around like a tour bus.
What if not enough people book?
Each trip needs at least 6 guests. We'll confirm whether it's running by January 15, 2027. If we cancel for any reason, including not reaching the minimum, you get a full refund of everything you paid us. Not a credit.
What's the accommodation like?
Hand-picked hotels with breakfast every night. Book Solo for your own private room, or Couple for two people sharing one room.
I'm traveling solo. Is that fine?
Completely. A lot of people come solo. Book the Solo option and you get your own private room.
How fit do I need to be?
You should be comfortable walking two to three hours a day at a normal pace, but there is no expectation to do everything. You are always free to rest or skip an activity. If mobility is a concern, tell us when you book and we will plan around it where we can.
How do payments work?
Two ways, both through secure Stripe checkout. Pay in full when you book, or hold your spot with a $500 per person deposit ($1000 for a couple). With a deposit, the balance is charged automatically to the same card on December 31, 2026, 60 days before departure. We email you 7 days and 1 day before, and you can pay early anytime. The deposit option is open until December 16, 2026. Either way, your spot is confirmed once your payment is received and you have our written confirmation by email.
When should I book flights?
After your booking is confirmed in writing, not before. Flights: BGA (Bucaramanga). Please do not buy non-refundable airfare until you are confirmed.
Do I need travel insurance?
Yes. Comprehensive travel insurance with trip-cancellation and medical coverage is required. It is how you protect yourself if an emergency means you have to cancel, and it covers you medically while you are here.
What if I need to cancel?
If you cancel 60 or more days before the trip, your payment converts to a credit toward a future trip. Closer to the trip, cancellation fees apply because our costs are committed. You can also transfer your spot to someone else at no charge. Full details are in the Booking Terms.
Is it safe?
You are with someone who lives here and knows the country, moving as a group in private transportation. We give you a practical safety briefing on arrival. Part of the whole point of coming with us is that you are not figuring it out alone.
Do I have to be on camera?
No. We film some of the trip for content, but appearing on camera is entirely optional and separate from attending. Just tell us and we will keep you out of the footage.
Full details are in the Booking Terms, Payment & Cancellation Policy. Looking for a different trip? See all scouting trips.
Small group: 6 to 12 guests. A couple counts as two. No countdown clocks and no "only 2 left" games: when you book, you pay securely through Stripe, and your spot is confirmed by email once payment completes.
Your payment was canceled and you have not been charged. Your spot isn't reserved yet. When you're ready, choose your room and book again below.
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