Bucaramanga is a city in Colombia which is capital of the Santander department. It’s also known as the city of parks and things to do in Bucaramanga Colombia include;
- Sagrada Familia Cathedral
- San Pio Park
- Delicious Steak
- Modern Shopping Malls
- Las Palmas Park and Nightlife
- Day trip Chicamocha National Park (Panachi)
- Giron
- Floridablanca
- How to get from Bucaramanga to Medellin
In my opinion, Bucaramanga is a hidden treasure in Colombia. What’s more, it’s full of good value hotels as well as plenty of restaurants and bars.
Things to do in Bucaramanga Colombia
I had never heard of Bucaramanga, I saw it on the map and decided it was a good place to stop on the way from the Venezuela border to Medellin. To get around the city, taxis are cheap and metered. There are also regular buses which are super cheap but a little complicated to use. Alternatively, there’s a bus rapid transit system called Metrolinea which use a separate private lane on the road and only stop at stations that you need a ticket to get inside. It’s like a metro/tube but using a bus with a private lane and it’s cheap as well as very easy to use.
Sagrada Familia Cathedral
Of course, the Sagrada Familia is one of the famous Barcelona Landmarks. There is also a Sagrada Familia in Bucaramanga but with very few tourists! Consequently, you can simply walk in and view the stunning interior.
San Pio Park
If you’ve been researching Colombia before visiting, you’ll have read about Fernando Botero. He is famous for drawing large people. His work even includes a large Mona Lisa as well as a large Pablo Escobar. In his honor, there’s a Gordita statue located in the San Pio park. Furthermore, you can find Plaza Botero in Medellin and the Botero Museum in Bogota.
Delicious Steak
One of the best steaks I have had in my life was at Mercagan Parrilla. I’ve actually enjoyed steaks in Argentina and Uruguay so my standards are pretty high, Most importantly, I strongly recommend the Mercagan Parrilla if you are in town.
Modern Shopping Malls
There are several modern shopping malls in Bucaramanga. Shopping malls are useful for escaping the heat, additionally, they’re full of restaurants. I recommend the fast food restaurant El Corral which is good for cheeseburgers. It is in fact the most popular fast food chain in Colombia. The artwork in their restaurants is pretty interesting, I found a Michael Jackson caricature. Did you know Michael Jackson filmed the short movie ‘They Don’t Care About Us’ in Salvador, Brazil?
Las Palmas Park and Nightlife
A great place to go for food, a drink and a dance is Parque las palmas. You’ll find a wide variety of good quality restaurants here, several beer bars as well as a disco.
Day trip Chicamocha National Park (Panachi)
Chicamocha national park, also known as Panachi is located along the Chicamocha canyon. To get here you must take a cable car from the valley which provides awesome views of the canyon. At the top you’ll find an interesting monument celebrating the culture of Santander. There’s also a small zoo, restaurants and a market. You must try the fresh strawberries dipped in delicious melted Colombian chocolate.
To get to Chicamocha national park from Bucaramanga you must take a bus towards San Gil or even Bogota. Berlinas has a service which will drop you off at the cable car. Check before buying your ticket that the bus will stop for you and tell the driver in advance that you want to stop at Chicamocha national park (Panachi). This could be a perfect opportunity to use Maps.me to make sure you don’t end up in San Gil, or further away in Bogota! To return you can flag any bus down going in the opposite direction back to Bucaramanga.
Giron
A short bus ride from Bucaramanga is the peaceful village of San Juan de Giron, or simply Giron. Giron was the first town founded by the Spanish in the region. For those of you looking for an authentic Spanish colonial village, there’s no better place to experience it than Giron. There are some great little restaurants around here to be discovered too.
Floridablanca
Floridablanca is a Spanish colonial village in the suburbs of Bucaramanga. It’s similar to Giron and worth a visit if you have the time. An interesting fact about Floridablanca is that the Colombian version of Christ the Redeemer is looking over the city.
How to get from Bucaramanga to Medellin by Bus
Overnight bus from Bucaramanga to Medellín, 8 hours, 80,000
Firstly, whilst you’re in the bus station. The famous food of Bucaramanga are big bottomed ants, or hormigas culonas. You can buy these in the bus station if you need something to eat on the bus!
I went a day earlier to the Copetran office to buy my ticket to Medellín. I paid 80,000 pesos for my ticket but I later discovered than when buying bus tickets in Colombia, you can ask for a discount. If I had bargained, I could have got the ticket for as little as 40,000 pesos. Another way to get this discount is to turn up 10-20 minutes before the bus is leaving and they will be shouting this price in the station whilst looking for passengers.
Copetran is an excellent bus service, so is Bolivariano therefore look out for their services to Medellin.
What a cool place! Haven’t heard much about it to be honest. That park sounds so cool! Can’t wait to keep following your adventures
I’m jealous of your gigant dish with delicious meat!!!! hahahaha great post
I felt really excited to read your post though I had never heard of this place before. I’m not so good at orientation so perhaps I need to prepare better for transportation when I travel there, eg. mapping and noticing bus departure time etc. Also the steak you mentioned sounds so good!
That steak at Mercian Parilla looks yummy. If it compares to that famous steaks in Argentina, it must be delicious. Thanks for this great guide.
I have never heard of this place and never visited when I was in Colombia. It looks great though and I do love national parks. Maybe I can visit on my next trip to Colombia 🙂
When I crossed from Venezuela to Colombia I used the Maracaibo-Barranquilla border crossing, so this would have been out of my way, but it looks like a great alternative should I ever find myself that way again (not likely for a while given current situation over there..). It’s a shame you found out about the discount AFTER paying 80,000 but even so, £20 for that length of journey isn’t so bad?
I haven’t made it to Colombia yet, but I’ve read such great things – and that steak at Mercian Parilla looks so delicious – it would be worth a visit just to Bucaramanga for that!
What an exotic trip this seems to have been. How are things with English language over there? Or do you speak Spanish? The steak seems delicious and good to hear it passed your high standards! I would love to go on that cable car to see the canyon views. Did you mostly travel by bus? Did it feel safe?
I haven’t heard of this place before but in truth, my knowledge of Columbia isn’t that great so it’s fantastic to start building up informatio of this country. Thanks for the tips you have provided, pinned for future reference.
I wasn’t familiar with this place looks interesting. Seems to be plenty to do and see. The food sounds awesome and good variety of places to eat. Might have to visit one day. Thanks for sharing!
I haven’t heard of this place before but I will love to visit Colombia one day. That stake looks so yummy. Thank you for sharing!
That steak looks amazing – I’ve heard great things about Medellin and looks like there is plenty to do. The overnight bus sounds adventurous too! I’ve had a fair share of those in South East Asia
what an awesome place! That food looks so so so good. Medellin is meant to be a great place to visit so I hope you really enjoy your time there!
It looks great James. A good cross section of info for us and wow, what a steak!
Bucaramanga sounds amazing! It’s nice to hear of a place that isn’t on the ‘gringo trail’ in South America because I’ve heard so much about the popular spots but now I know I’d like to visit there when I get to Colombia. That’s a great tip about showing up 10-20 minutes before the bus leaves. I’d be keen on that because I’m an amazing procrastinator.
Great stuff – this is a part of the world I’ve yet to explore. Your travel style seems very similar to mine so I can imagine myself following the same route.
Very helpful and fun to read about!
I would love to travel to Colombia. Hope to make it there one day. Will definitely considerate your tips 🙂
Looks Great! Must add to my bucket list!
I have not heard of this place either. What a nice treat to stop and check it out. Colombia is high on my travel wish list.
Looks like a very packed day trip. I also like to use public transportation because it is cheaper and you get to immerse yourself better (in a way) with the place you’re going to.
Bucaramanga is indeed a revelation. Just like you, I am hearing about this place for the first time. I know that Colombia is emerging as a travel destination of late, but still, this place is indeed a hidden gem. The city seems charming with a lot of gardens and parks areound it. A nice place to spend some quite time.
Eating ants sounds quite interesting, I think I would rather stick to that delicious steak haha. I would definitely want to go up the cable car and see the gorgeous views of the canyon!
wow, Colombia looks not much different from my home country. I should visit there since I can enter the country without visa 🙂
I don’t know what I’m more jealous of! the steak or your adventure!
There is a Sagrada Familia in Colombia? I didn’t know that! I’ve been to the one in Barcelona. Thanks for this post!
Didnt know there is a SAgrada Familia in Colombia. Great write up
THat is quite a journey you are making. Colombia looks great. Seems they have a good bus system.
What a beautiful city! I love your photos and I love great food…The steak sounded fantastic!
Big bottomed ants, or hormigas culonas…are they really ants? I would not dare to try it…I havent tried any strange food ever…guess dont have the cuts for it! Did you try it?
I would love to take the cable car ride…totally enjoy city views from the top!
My friend spent quite a lot of time last year in Colombia and absolutely loved it. She has recommended I go there.
It’s hit and miss in some countries if turning up at the bus station just moments before the bus leaves is worth it. Some countries book up well in advance leaving you hanging around for hours but it is good to know this is not the case when heading to Medellin. I have never asked for a discount on a bus in any country. Perhaps I should start asking just in case.
Like you, I’ve never heard of Bucaramanga – but it sounds like a fantastic place to visit! I love the sound of Chicamocha National Park and the cable car – the view must be amazing from up there!
Chicamocha national park sounds incredible. In fact, all of the destinations you mentioned here sound amazing. I have yet to make it to Columbia, but it is definitely at the top of my “must see” destinations for 2017.
I have never heard of Bucaramanga either, though if I go back to Colombia I may well visit s it looks like a cool place to visit for a few days. The steak looked delicious. I also never realised you could get the buses so much cheaper but I tended to fly a lot in Colombia as it was usually the same price but took much less time. This is a very helpful post, thanks for sharing!
Colombia is a stunning country, I’ve heard quit a lot about it, I can’t wait to visit it. Awesome post thanks for sharing
This looks like a great trip! I also love the steak in Argentina, so I’m glad to hear the parilla you found here was good too. And I definitely would want to try the big bottomed ants. But then I am an adventurous eater!
Prior to this post even I was unaware about Bucaramanga and its good to know that the city has night life too. With no other choice available I’ve to settle for Cheese Burger as I don’t eat beef neither I’m so daring who would like to try big bottomed ants.
Thanks for the advice! I’m spending a few days in Buca and you’ve given me some great ideas to work with..
Enjoy Bucaramanga Cathy!