San Gil

San Gil's history goes back to pre-Columbian times, when it was inhabited by native indigenous people called the Guanes. Spanish conquest during the colonial period nearly eradicated the local tribes. The town was officially founded on March 17, 1689, by Don Gil Cabrera Dávalos and Leonardo Correa de Betancourt. According to official sources, San Gil played an important role during the Colombian independence period. "Comuneros" rebels came from nearby regions, united, traveled to the capital, Bogota, and fought for the nation's independence, a process which occurred during the early 1820s.{{cite web|last=San Gil Municipality Official Page|title=Historia de San Gil (History of San Gil)|url=http://www.sangil.gov.co/sangilturistica/historia.htm}}

San Gil's population, as of 2005, was 44,959, (including the rural area). The majority (36,748) reside in the urban area. The population as of 2020 was estimated to be 59,670, an increase of roughly 14,500 people, but showing a tendency to decrease in rural areas, decreasing from 6,240 to a projected 5,601.

Ninety-eight percent of houses have access to electricity, 90.3% to running water, and 84.1% to a sewage system.{{cite web|last=Dane|title=Boletín Censo General 2005|url=http://www.dane.gov.co/files/censo2005/PERFIL_PDF_CG2005/68679T7T000.PDF|accessdate=13 April 2012}}

In 2004, San Gil was named the tourist capital of the region.{{cite web|last=San Gil Tourism Secretary|title=San Gil, Tierra de Aventura|url=http://www.sangil.com.co/|accessdate=12 April 2012}} The area offers several outdoor activity opportunities, such as rafting (grade 1–5), kayaking, hiking, and caving.{{cite web|last=Moomazza|title=Adventure Capital of Colombia...San GIl|url=http://journals.worldnomads.com/moomazza/story/71780/Colombia/Adventure-capital-of-ColombiaSan-Gil|accessdate=12 April 2012}} Local companies offer rafting packages through various rivers depending on skill level. Parque el Gallineral is a popular destination with its characteristic moss-covered trees resembling beards. The park has a number of paths running through its 10-acre area and by the city's main river, Rio Fonce.{{cite web|last=Caputo|first=Lorraine|title=Parque Natural El Gallineral, City Park|url=http://www.vivatravelguides.com/south-america/colombia/eastern-colombia/san-gil/san-gil-activities/parque-natural-el-gallineral/|accessdate=12 April 2012}} The park's name comes from the 1867 characteristic gallinero trees planted throughout the whole area. San Gil's main square is called Parque la Libertad (Liberty Park), which is the most common meeting place in the town and a hub for night life. The town's main cathedral, built in 1791 and remodeled in 1965, is located in this area. Parque Nacional del Chicamocha (Chicamocha National Park or PANACHI) is another Eco-tourist park located roughly 1 hour away from San Gil, placed on a scenic spot in the Chicamocha Canyon. The park has a museum, hiking trails, rafting, paragliding and other outdoor activities. It also has a 6.3 km (3.91 mi) long cable car, one of the longest in the world in its category,{{cite web|last=Unknown|title=Teleférico sobre el Cañón del Chicamocha. Impresionante obra en un bello lugar|url=http://www.noticiascaracol.com/nacion/galeria-teleferico-sobre-el-canon-del-chicamocha-impresionante-obra-un-bello-lugar|publisher=Noticias Caracol (News Channel Official Page)|accessdate=26 April 2012}} offering a ride across the canyon and into the plateau called Mesa de los Santos.

Barichara, a small colonial town roughly 20 minutes away from San Gil, is another popular destination. Situated at the rim of the Chicamocha Canyon, it offers a scenic view across the canyon and the Suarez River. It is known for its well preserved colonial architecture and stone streets.{{cite web|last=Colombia Link|title=San Gil|url=http://www.colombialink.com/01_INDEX/index_turismo/destinos/sangil.html|publisher=Colombia Link|accessdate=26 April 2012}}

Besides tourism, the region's economy relies heavily on agriculture. Products such as tobacco, sugar cane and coffee are commonly grown in farms nearby{{cite web|last=San Gil Municipality|title=Economía del Municipio ( Municipality's Economy)|url=http://www.sangil.gov.co/sangilturistica/economia.htm|accessdate=13 April 2012}} which are mainly commercialized in the town's main market plaza.

One of the region's most historically important entrepreneurs was José María Rueda Gómez, known as "Conde de Cuchicute", who, in spite of his eccentricity, pushed the development of coffee production, and helped establish the first bank and a hydroelectric power plant for the region.{{cite web|last=Rodríguez, Gómez|first=Juan Camilo|title=Conde de Cuchicute|url=http://www.banrepcultural.org/blaavirtual/biografias/conde-de-cuchicute|publisher=Biblioteca Virtual Luis Angel arango|accessdate=26 April 2012}}

San Gil is very well connected to the rest of the country. By air, it is connected through "Los Pozos" a small regional airport for chartered flights and seasonal commercial flights

By land Berlinas del Fonce, Copetran, Omega, Reina and Cootrasangil among other companies ensure connectivity with Bogota and Bucaramanga.

• Margalida Castro (born 1943 in San Gil) a Colombian theatre and television actress
• Jorge Luis Pinto (born 1952 in San Gil) a Colombian football coach, and former manager of the Costa Rica national football team and Honduras national football team.
• Paola Rey (born 1979, in San Gil, Santander, Colombia) is a Colombian actress and model

{{Weather box|width=auto

|metric first=y

|single line=y

|collapsed = Y

|location = San Gil/Pinchote (Cucharo El), elevation {{convert|975|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1981–2010)

|Jan high C = 32.6

|Feb high C = 33.0

|Mar high C = 32.7

|Apr high C = 31.5

|May high C = 30.5

|Jun high C = 30.4

|Jul high C = 31.0

|Aug high C = 31.3

|Sep high C = 30.9

|Oct high C = 30.1

|Nov high C = 30.1

|Dec high C = 31.3

| year high C = 31.3

|Jan mean C = 25.5

|Feb mean C = 25.9

|Mar mean C = 25.8

|Apr mean C = 25.1

|May mean C = 24.5

|Jun mean C = 24.3

|Jul mean C = 24.3

|Aug mean C = 24.5

|Sep mean C = 24.3

|Oct mean C = 24.0

|Nov mean C = 24.0

|Dec mean C = 24.5

| year mean C = 24.7

|Jan low C = 18.5

|Feb low C = 19.2

|Mar low C = 19.5

|Apr low C = 19.5

|May low C = 19.4

|Jun low C = 18.9

|Jul low C = 18.4

|Aug low C = 18.5

|Sep low C = 18.5

|Oct low C = 18.8

|Nov low C = 18.9

|Dec low C = 18.5

| year low C = 18.9

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 28.7

|Feb precipitation mm = 58.6

|Mar precipitation mm = 81.3

|Apr precipitation mm = 157.4

|May precipitation mm = 162.1

|Jun precipitation mm = 112.2

|Jul precipitation mm = 109.6

|Aug precipitation mm = 120.9

|Sep precipitation mm = 147.2

|Oct precipitation mm = 187.1

|Nov precipitation mm = 112.7

|Dec precipitation mm = 44.8

|year precipitation mm = 1313.5

| Jan precipitation days = 6

| Feb precipitation days = 8

| Mar precipitation days = 12

| Apr precipitation days = 18

| May precipitation days = 22

| Jun precipitation days = 20

| Jul precipitation days = 22

| Aug precipitation days = 22

| Sep precipitation days = 20

| Oct precipitation days = 22

| Nov precipitation days = 15

| Dec precipitation days = 8

| year precipitation days = 193

| Jan humidity = 66

| Feb humidity = 65

| Mar humidity = 66

| Apr humidity = 72

| May humidity = 78

| Jun humidity = 78

| Jul humidity = 76

| Aug humidity = 75

| Sep humidity = 76

| Oct humidity = 78

| Nov humidity = 78

| Dec humidity = 72

| year humidity = 74

|Jan sun = 226.3

|Feb sun = 189.1

|Mar sun = 189.1

|Apr sun = 171.0

|May sun = 179.8

|Jun sun = 183.0

|Jul sun = 207.7

|Aug sun = 204.6

|Sep sun = 180.0

|Oct sun = 173.6

|Nov sun = 189.0

|Dec sun = 213.9

|year sun =

|Jand sun = 7.3

|Febd sun = 6.7

|Mard sun = 6.1

|Aprd sun = 5.7

|Mayd sun = 5.8

|Jund sun = 6.1

|Juld sun = 6.7

|Augd sun = 6.6

|Sepd sun = 6.0

|Octd sun = 5.6

|Novd sun = 6.3

|Decd sun = 6.9

|yeard sun =

|source 1 = Instituto de Hidrologia Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales{{cite web

|url=http://www.ideam.gov.co/documents/21021/553571/Promedios+Climatol%C3%B3gicos++1981+-+2010.xlsx/f28d0b07-1208-4a46-8ccf-bddd70fb4128

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815025712/http://www.ideam.gov.co/documents/21021/553571/Promedios%2BClimatol%C3%B3gicos%2B%2B1981%2B-%2B2010.xlsx/f28d0b07-1208-4a46-8ccf-bddd70fb4128

|archive-date=15 August 2016

|title=Promedios Climatológicos 1981–2010

|publisher=Instituto de Hidrologia Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales

|language=es

|access-date= 17 June 2024

|url-status=dead}}

}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Wikivoyage|San Gil}}

{{Commons category|San Gil}}

• {{in lang|es}} [http://www.sangil.gov.co/ San Gil official website]

{{Coord|6|33|33|N|73|8|6|W|region:CO_type:city|display=title}}

{{Municipalities santander department}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Municipalities of Santander Department

Category:Populated places established in 1689

Category:1689 establishments in the Spanish Empire