Santander

Bucaramanga's Palonegro International Airport connects the department to Bogotá and other major Colombian cities by air, and is the most practical entry point for most visitors. From there, intercity buses and shared taxis (colectivos) connect Bucaramanga to San Gil, Barichara, Girón, and other towns -- roads through the department are mountainous and can be slow going despite relatively short map distances. San Gil, roughly in the center of the department, functions as the practical hub for reaching most of Santander's adventure-tourism and colonial-town destinations without needing a car.