This 10-day equestrian trail through the Eastern regions of Colombia takes horseback riders from the town of Oiba to colonial Barichara, passing through towns, villages, coffee and sugar cane plantations, waterfalls and canyons. Follow the famous cobblestone paths of the ‘Camino Real’ (royal roads), stopping to swim in natural pools and and waterfalls, before reaching the hilltop town of Barichara.
Accommodation is provided in authentic, local haciendas and small hotels. This equestrian trail is off the beaten path and is suitable for adventurous horseback riders, interested in discovering more of Colombia's fascinating history and admiring the country's incredible scenery.
Please Note: The opinions expressed in these reviews are the author's and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Trails Ltd. These reviews are "directly from the horses mouth" and unedited. Unicorn Trails may make additional comments for clarification clearly identified in red.
Review received from NK of Theydon Bois on 30/04/2025
Day 1
Bogota Arrival Transfer Airport / Hotel: Check into hotel and overnight (no meals included).
Day 2
Bogotá – Oiba: Guests are collected from the hotel and driven along the beautiful Cundinamarca, Boyacá and Santander route, stopping at Puente de Boyacá (where the final battle for the independance of Colombia took place). After exploring the town, head to Villa de Leyva for lunch before heading to the town of Oiba for the first overnight stop.
Day 3
Oiba – Charalá: Today the riders will meet the horses and set out from Oiba to Charalá through beautiful woodlands and mountains, surrounded by lush vegetation and clear water streams. Enjoy a homemade lunch at a local home. It is not possible to have small portions in the countryside in Colombia, so pack an appetite! Arrive in the town of Charalá and admire the local Cathedral and the precious Arabian Saman tree planted in the main square in 1910 in honor of the martyrs of Independence. Late afternoon visit to an artisanal cotton workshop run by women who use the same techniques used by the Guane indigenous tribes that lived in this area, followed by a short city tour and historical talk walking along Charala´s beautiful cobblestone streets to enjoy the pleasant weather, the architecture, and the hospitality of its people before dining and retiring for a well-deserved rest at a local hotel.
Day 4
Charalá – Paramo: Leave at 9am and ride along the majestic Fonce River valley surrounded by mountains planted with sugarcane and grass pastures. Cross the Fonce River and on to the Juan Curi falls where the water falls 80 meters into a natural pool. This is the perfect spot for a refreshing dip, before lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, pass along the top of the Juan Curi falls on the way to the village of Páramo, home to one of the most beautiful churches in the region. Overnight at a local hotel with a pool.
Day 5
Páramo – El Palmar: Today's route heads to El Socorro, birthplace of numerous patriots and martyrs of Colobia's Independence. Pass coffee plantations and spectacular mountains before arriving at Bucaramanga in the municipality of El Socorro, Head towards the Suarez River to start the descent towards the town of El Palmar. In the afternoon the group will arrive in the beautiful town of El Palmar and its enormous ceiba tree of approximately 10 meters in diameter. Overnight in a local hacienda.
Day 6
El Palmar – Barichara: After re-crossing the Suárez River the route heads to Cabrera, a small village with well preserved colonial architecture. The trail continues to the Barichara plateau by way of the old royal road, and enters this emblematic jewel of colonial architecture through the royal bridge. Walk its beautiful cobblestone streets, admiring its parks and churches, on the way to a spectacular country house in the outskirts of town where the group will spend the night.
Day 7
Barichara Cañón: Today's ride is through beautiful tobacco and pineapple plantations on the way to The Chicamocha Canyon, a Colombian natural attraction nominated as part of the group of 261 destinations in the campaign to select the top seven modern natural wonders of the world. Slow-cooked goat is a specialty of the region and the dish for today's lunch. Return to Barichara to enjoy dinner and a well deserved rest.
Day 8
Sightseeing in Barichara: The real treasure of Barichara is its pristine colonial architecture and is a photographer's paradise. Explore the village starting at the Templo de la Inmaculada Concepción y San Lorenzo on the main square. It is built of local stone carved by the village’s artisans. The afternoon is free to walk around Barichara or simply rest at the hotel or enjoy the pool. Alternatively river rafting can be arranged in the Fonce river (optional and not included).
Day 9
Barichara – Bogotá: Return to Bogota and accommodation in a comfortable hotel (dinner not included).
Day 10
Bogotá: Transfer from Hotel t Airport.
Please note: All itineraries are given for your guidance only and it may be altered on the ground and in accordance with the prevailing conditions by the organising team.
There are 16 horses available for riding, ranging in height from 14hh-15.2hh. All the horses have some Colombian Criollo in their blood, even the Anglo Arabs used in 80 and 120km endurance rides, and of course Anglo Arabs crossed with Colombian Criollos, which makes them particularly suitable for long distance rides. English tack is used although there are also some trail saddles. Some of the terrain is very tough and includes river crossings, and you should also be confident at negotiating steep ascents and descents. There are opportunities to trot and canter but the pace is not overly fast.
Guides are professional and multilingual (fluent in English and Spanish) and are equipped with mobile phones, 2 ways radios and satellite tracker so they can call for assistance if needed. Groups comprise a minimum of 2 riders and maximum of 12 riders.
This ride is suitable for intermediate to experienced riders. You should be confident at all paces, over tough terrain (including mountainous and river crossings) and expect long hours of riding. There are 5 days on horseback with between 6-9 hours riding per day. There are some places on the ride where you will need to dismount and lead your horse (a maximum of 2km during the whole ride). A total of 150km on horseback
Riders mustn't exceed the weight limit of 85Kg. The minimum age is 12 years old, children must be accompanied by an adult. Riding hats are mandatory for under 18s and are available to borrow.
The weight limit for this ride is 187 lb/85 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.
Nights will be spent in authentic, clean and comfortable 3* and 4* hotels and lodges with private bathrooms and good food, but do not expect luxuries such as& air conditioning during the ride. Please also be aware that cold showers are normal in Colombia. The trail travels through remote areas of the country, with very little tourism, although you can expect plenty of colonial architecture, historical heritage, diverse landscapes and wonderful people.
Plentiful home-cooked meals are provided on some days, giving a taste of Colombia's traditional cuisine. Other days you will eat in a local restaurant. Some of the most common ingredients are beef, fish, chicken, goat, cassava, potatoes, rice, plantains, tropical fruits, corn cakes, vegetables. Tea, coffee and soft drinks are all included but wine and beer are not although you will be able to purchase these separately when dining in a restaurant.
Vegetarian or other dietary requirements within reason can be accommodated with advance notice. Please contact Unicorn Trails with requests before booking.
2024: NB: The Colombian President announced that a travel visa will be imposed on citizens from the United Kingdom. According to current information and although not confirmed, this measure would come into effect from December 24, 2024. Please check with your consulate when booking.
Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct documentation in place for your trip. NB: Be sure to check the COVID status of the country you plan to visit including entry procedures and requirements while travelling. Passport and Visa requirements can change regularly depending on diplomatic relations. Please request information from the appropriate Consulate in your home country. All travellers will be required to show an onward or return ticket valid within the 90 day period allowed for their entry into Colombia as a visitor. Between 24 hours and 1 hour before departure, you must fill out the ‘Check-Mig’ form, available on the Migración Colombia website. You will receive a confirmation email that you will need to present upon arrival in Colombia. Unicorn Trails will assist with any questions you have or supply any necessary supporting documents as required by the consulate should you need a visa. In the UK the British Foreign Office gives advice: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/colombia In the US: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Colombia.html In Canada: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/colombia
Another useful resource is Sherpa - this summarises any travel and vaccination requirements based on when you are travelling simply by entering your home country followed by your destination country: https://apply.joinsherpa.com/travel-restrictions
Colombia is a tropical country and a large part of Colombia is moutainous territory with altitudes between 1000m and 5000m. It is hot and humid all year around at the coast (Carribean and Pacific) and in all low lands. During the trail ride you will be riding in the Cordillera Oriental within the departments of Cundinamarca and Santander on an altitude between 1500m and 2500m where temperature is about 23C during the day and about 18C at night all year round. The last 2 days of the trail ride will be at a lower region in Santander where temperatures go up to about 28C during the day and about 20C at night.
COVID: Be sure to check the latest COVID regulations for travelling in any country you visit.
Health authorities have classified Colombia as having a risk of Zika virus transmission.
Dengue fever, malaria and yellow fever are present throughout the country, although the coastal and southern states with lower altitudes are the most affected, especially during or shortly after the rainy season between April and November. You should take steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.
Cases of Chikungunya virus have been confirmed in Colombia.
Tap water is safe to drink only in Bogota. You should drink only bottled water and avoid ice in drinks.
Please refer to your country’s latest health guideline for travel in Colombia and contact your own GP for up to date advice on vaccinations and prophylaxis prior to travel.
The highlands in Colombia is a safe region in terms of health. You can easily eat and drink anything and eating raw vegetables, salads and ice creams is no problem.
There are no vaccinations required and there is no malaria in this part of Colombia.
In case of illness or an accident, there are good hospitals and doctors nearby.
In Colombia the supply voltage is 110V. If the appliance or its power supply are not dual voltage rated, the single voltage appliance will have to be used alongside a voltage transformer or converter to allow the appliance to work safely and properly
In Colombia the standard voltage is 110 V. The standard frequency is 60 Hz. The power sockets that are used are of type A / B
In towns and villages there is mobile Internet access and phone coverage everywhere. During the riding trip full time coverage is not guaranteed and there is almost no internet access.
If using a GoPro please ensure you have the permission of the group to be filmed.
- Riding Helmet - we strongly recommend that you wear a properly fitted riding helmet of the current standard which is PAS015 or BSEN1384 (One can be provided, but we recommend you bring your own)
- Gloves
- Jodhpurs - jodhpurs, breeches or other comfortable trousers
- Riding Boots - it is important to have correct shoes or boots for horse riding. Jodhpur or ankle boots with a rubber sole are recommended but sturdy shoes with a definite heel are acceptable (such as walking boots)
- Chaps
- Comfortable clothing
- Warm sweater and jacket
- 4 or 5 T-shirts and 2 shirts with long sleeves
- A second pair of shoes for the evening
- Hat (a nice Colombian hat can be bought on location)
- One towel
- Swimsuit
- Sunscreen
- Lip sunscreen
- Personal Items - toiletries, any medicines you require and please be sure to take insect repellent
- Refillable Water Bottle - it's very important to drink a lot of water when it's hot, especially when doing physical activities
- Camera, spare Batteries/Chargers - an absolute must! It is also a good idea to take a camera case you can strap around your waist or onto a belt for whilst you are riding
- Head torch
- Saddle bags are 2 x reusable water bottles are provided.
- Valid international passport
- Travel Insurance
- Pocket money (you can change EUR/£/USD in the airport)
* It is recommended to put your luggage in a soft travel bag instead of a hard suitcase. 10 bags are easier to get in the backup vehicle than 10 suitcases,
Provided by hosts
Riding Helmet
Saddlebags
10 day /9 night programme with 5 riding days. Available on set dates.
2025: 12 Jan; 7 Feb; 28 Mar; 9 May; 6* Jun; 11* Jul; 8* Aug; 19 Sep; 17 Oct; 7 Nov; 12* Dec (*Confirmed)
2026: 17 Jan
Please note that single rooms are subject to availability.
| No of days/nights |
Riding days | Product item description | £ | |
| 2025 | 10d/9n | 5 | per person sharing | 2,325 |
| 2025 | 10d/9n | 5 | Single supplement 9 nights 2025 | 265 |
| 2025 | 10d/9n | 5 | supplement for group of 2-3 | 449 |
| No of days/nights |
Riding days | Product item description | € | |
| 2025 | 10d/9n | 5 | per person sharing | 2,765 |
| 2025 | 10d/9n | 5 | Single supplement 9 nights 2025 | 315 |
| 2025 | 10d/9n | 5 | supplement for group of 2-3 | 535 |
| No of days/nights |
Riding days | Product item description | US $ | |
| 2025 | 10d/9n | 5 | per person sharing | 3,219 |
| 2025 | 10d/9n | 5 | Single supplement 9 nights 2025 | 365 |
| 2025 | 10d/9n | 5 | supplement for group of 2-3 | 625 |
| No of days/nights |
Riding days | Product item description | SEK | |
| 2025 | 10d/9n | 5 | per person sharing | 30,659 |
| 2025 | 10d/9n | 5 | Single supplement 9 nights 2025 | 3,465 |
| 2025 | 10d/9n | 5 | supplement for group of 2-3 | 5,935 |
100 Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
La Vorágine” (The Vortex) by José Eustasio Rivera
The Mango Orchard: The extraordinary true story of a family lost and found
For the equestrian traveller who would like to see what is possible on horseback visit www.thelongridersguild.com
Also a fantastic place to acquire your equestrian travel books is www.horsetravelbooks.com
2024: NB: The Colombian President announced that a travel visa will be imposed on citizens from the United Kingdom. According to current information and although not confirmed, this measure would come into effect from December 24, 2024. Please check with your consulate when booking.
