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If you are looking for a refreshing dip in the Santander department in Colombia, look no further than the balneario Pescaderito in the small town of Curiti. A few kilometers from the center, this small gorge is the place to be to be to feel like a fish in the water. It offers various swimming pool in a gorgeous natural setting and it’s very easy to get here with public transport if you stay in San Gil. Here is everything you need to know!
Pescaderito Curiti near San Gil
The Pescaderito of Curiti are located about a 45 minute-walk from the center of Curiti and in one of the best places to visit in the region if you are looking for a place to cool down on a hot day.
The pescaderito are a series of swimming holes that are created by two streams flowing through the rocks of the quabrada Curiti. The area is very scenic and is characerterized by rugged terrain, which makes it an ideal spot for nature lovers.
Do note that this is a popular and well-known spot for locals and domestic tourists. If you are visiting during the Colombian holiday season (Dec to Feb), the pescaderito can fill up quickly!
You can find the exact location of the Pescaderito here and you will see a yellow bridge upon arrival.
One of the best things that you will absolutely love as a conscious traveler is that this place is relatively untouched by mass tourism and therefore still retains a wild feel, is open all day and night and is completely free to visit.
Camping is even possible on the other side of the road if you are traveling with a tent or campervan.
Here are some tips for visiting the pescaderito in Curiti going from best time of the day to visit, which pools are the best to what to bring with you to have an enjoyable day.
In my opinion, the best time of the day to visit is in the morning. There won’t be too much people there and you can find a pool to have completely to yourself for ultimate relaxation.
Around lunch time, many locals and domestic tourists arrive at the pools or ‘pozos’ like call them in Spanish and things can get less serene, with music blaring out of soundsystems and a party vibe.
Of course, if a local Colombian party vibe is what you are after, visiting in the afternoon might be the best option for you!
I visited in January and I must say that there wasn’t that much water in the pools due to the fact that I was there in the middle of dry season. I think a better time to visit is December or March.
What a lot of people don’t know when they first arrive at the pools in Curiti is that there’s a hiking trail to the right of the river that leads you far into the rugged landscape.
You can even walk this trail all the way until it crosses the river and takes you to the main road, where you can walk back to the entrance of the pescaderito.
The rule of thumb here is that the further you venture out onto the path, the better and more deserted the pools become. While there are no official signs, the pools are also named by the locals going from Pozo La Playita to Pozo El Diablo.
It’s hard to say which pool is the best, since it depends on what you are looking for. I suggest you just start walking the trail on the right of the pools. It allows you to get an overview of the pools and ,because the trail is on an elevated level, you can easily see how much water is in the pools and how many people are already there.
When you plan a visit to the Curiti Pescaderito, note that the area is pretty remote. There is a restaurant and snacks stall at the entrance but, when you venture further out along the hiking trails to the other pools, there are no facilities around.
Here are a few tips on what to bring :
When I just arrived in Curiti, I was absolutely blown away by the small town charm of this lovely village. You can find a couple of good local restaurants here serving traditional Colombian fare and even a wonderful Western-style restaurant serving pizza and burger (Mon’s House).
Curiti, Colombia, South America
Curiti also has a strong focus on ecotourism and adventure sports like caving, hiking and paragliding and is also known for the artisanal production of fique, a natural fibre that is made from agave-like native plant,used to make beautiful and eco-friendly bags, hammocks and other crafts.
When I walked with my partner from the town of Curiti to the Pescaderito, we came across a wonderful hostel that seemed absolutely worth staying at. It was called El Refugio Hostel, and the property had a chilled vibe and a cute cat to keep you company (at the time of our visit, there was only I traveler staying there!).
If you are visiting Curiti, the chances are pretty high you will be staying in San gil and visit Curiti on a day trip. San Gil is was one of favorite cities in Colombia, together with San Agustin, and is a perfect place to base yourself with easy connections to various interesting places in Santander like Barichara, Chicamocha National Park, Guane, the Juan Curi Waterfalls and of course, Curiti.
I stayed at the most wonderful guesthouse in San Gil! It is called Santander Aleman Hostal and is managed by the most incredible host we came across in Colombia.
Alicia helped us out with finding vegan food options around San Gil, prepared tasty breakfasts for us, and was the queen of little attentions, like serving us freshly made popcorn out of the blue and giving my boyfriend a special surprise birthday breakfast. Stay here!
Hiking trail Pescaderito Curiti
Getting from San Gil to Curiti is a breeze. From your accommodation, walk to ‘Terminalito’ the small bus station in the center of town. Buses leave for Curiti about every half an hour and cost 4200 COP per person. They drop you off in the center of Curiti at the main square.
Terminalito bus station in San Gil
Upon arrival in the town center of Curiti, it is about a 45-minute walk (3,5 km/ 2 miles) to the Pescaderito. If you don’t fancy walking, there are also tuk-tuk-like vehicles available that can take you to the Pescaderito for about 8000 COP/one way.
There you go! I hope you enjoyed this guide to the Pescaderito in Curiti. Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions or drop me a message through my contact page.
Also, don’t forget to check out my resources page with my favorite booking platforms and tips to start planning your trip. Additionally, have a look at my favorite travel gear if you want to pack more consciously!
ENJOY!
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Hi! I am Annelies and this is Travelers & Dreamers, a blog about conscious travel which means traveling in a more mindful way, with a positive impact on the world and yourself!
On this website, I cover different topics like slow travel, plant-based food guides, responsible travel, sustainable packing, eco-travel, and more!
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