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.
Guanentá Province is divided into seventeen municipalities:
See main article: articles and 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
See main article: articles and 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.
See main article: articles and 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.
See main article: articles and 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.
See main article: articles and 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.
See main article: articles and Socorro, Santander. 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.
See main article: articles and 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.
