Guanentá Province is a province in Santander Department, Colombia. The province was named after the Amerindian Chief Guanentá, leader of the Guanes, who were the original inhabitants of the region.
Geography
Guanentá Province is divided into seventeen municipalities:
Aratoca
A small town located within the Chicamocha Canyon. Its main attraction, other than fantastic views, is the colonial church, Nuestra Señora de las Nieves. The entire façade was built with locally sourced Guane stones. With its interior containing one large nave and four chapels. You will also discover a wonderful bell tower singing daily
Barichara
Is the jewel in the crown of the province of Guanentá. Its unspoiled colonial architecture, stone streets, and white houses that have preserved the old construction materials such as Tapia (compacted earth) and bahareque, make it one of the most beautiful towns in Colombia. Is very touristic place, so it makes a vibrant activity in its streets and squares, with boutique hotels, restaurants, and cafes of international stature.
Charalá
Called the Cradle of Freedom, due to the great support it provided in the Commune Revolution, Charalá has several places of interest, such as the Virolín natural park, the Tiger Cave (Cueva del Tigre), the chalice-shaped waterfall of Quebrada Tinagá, the church of Our Lady of Mongui (Nuestra Señora de Monguí), the House of Culture and the Archaeological Museum.
Curití
To one side of this town, you will find steep slopes flowing down into the Chicamocha Canyon and concluding in the Chicamocha River, at the base of the canyon. In this area there are many hiking trails along with the Cow Cave (Cueva de la Vaca). The cave is considered the most beautiful in Santander Department, with majestic formations and galleries that captivate its visitors with their exuberant beauty. The inhabitants grow the fique (Furcraea andina); a native plant, from which a fiber is used to create bags, belts, rugs, curtains, among many other products.
San Gil
San Gil is the capital of the Guanentá province and regarded as the most popular destination in Colombia for adventure and extreme sports, with elements of water, land, and air, all linked to nature tourism. It has an abundance of natural spaces filled with waterfalls, rivers, caves, mountains and the great Chicamocha canyon.
Socorro
The iconic town of Socorro is the location of the first steps towards independence, which was stretched into all the surrounding. Owing to the historic events that took place in Socorro, it was declared a National Cultural Interest Site in 1963.
Mogotes
For the Guane Indians, the definition of Mogotes is “Bathing in the stream that rises in the pit of the mountain”. It is surrounded by beautiful nature and a number of waterfalls with swimming holes are in close proximity. It was recognized as a garden town, and the sweet land of Santander Department. It is a very traditional Colombian country town, the weekend markets are full of the local farmers who have come to sell and buy their products.
Other Towns
Hydrography
- Fonce River born in the south of this province and it crosses it, from the south to the north west, gathering to his river steps such as: pienta, the mogoticos, broken of deer, and others, passes through towns such as Charalá, San Jose Valley (Valle de San José), Ocamonte, happens through territories of wooded hills. The urban helmet of San Gil, through near Pinchote, and ends to Suarez River.
- Pienta Fonce River is one of the main effluents of Fonce River
- Taquiza Fonce River: another one of the main tributaries of Fonce River
- Mogoticos River: this tributary of Fonce River, as its name indicates, it comes from the Guanentino wooded hill municipality, and ends to Fonce River in the heat of the park Gallineral in San Gil.
- Broken of Deer: this gorge comes from the municipality of Paramo, and ends at Fonce River, near the bridge of the valley, that unites San Gil and Paramo with the municipality of San Jose Valley (Valle de San José).
