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The Gallineral Park is located on an island formed by the Fonce River and the Curití stream, very close to the municipality of San Gil. It has an area of ​​four (4) hectares of cultivated land with a good number of trees called chicken coops, on whose branches mosses or beards hang, where you can walk under the shade as well as leafy ceibas, anacos and other species, with a great variety of shrubs and gardens. Furthermore, El Gallineral is the only natural park within an urban perimeter in Colombia.

The Park was opened on December 13, 1985 and has also received the name of Bella Isla Natural Park because it is always surrounded by water, when the Curití stream flows into the Fonce River, it opens into three arms, thus forming the picturesque deltas of the Park. The entire land is cultivated with 1867 trees, 80% of which are called ´´gallineros´´ and in whose branches the Tilladesia usnoides mosses are born that extend to form long and elegant curtains.

According to how the arms of the river move in the same way, the Park is divided. The first arm passes through the first bridge that it finds in El Gallineral, which it receives in the name of Carlos Martínez Silva, the other two arms of the river are found throughout the route through the Park.

The tour begins at the Plazoleta de la Fama where you will find different monuments carved in stone. Among others, you can see the Clave de Sol where the signatures of the winners of the Guane de Oro are sculptured, which is a musical contest organized by the RCN station in San Gil to reward the best in Carrangera music. They have the signatures from 1985 to 1999.

Then there is the Open Parchment, a tribute to the musicians remembered forever, all of them have already died, to highlight this Don Antonio Pereira who in addition to being the author and composer of music was an excellent stone carver and Don Carlos Monroy who is the father of the Monroy brothers. This monument was donated by Hipinto Gaseosas in 1998.

Another place that is visited on the tour of El Gallineral Park, is the Plazoleta del Conde del Cuchicute, a well-known character in the region, his name was José María de la Pasión, a somewhat eccentric person, he believed himself perfect but as in the region believed in imperfection he took out his right eye to put on a glass one. He would ride his horse backwards and naked, go out to the balcony of his house without clothes and throw money at the girls and candy at the boys. He was very fond of women, he had three daughters, he never married. His butler killed him with 17 machetes and 4 stab wounds, he managed to get to the hospital alive and his last wish was to be buried standing up, he said that he could get to heaven running and if he could revive he would run away, but it is said that they buried him upside down so it wouldn't come out again.





Access to San Gil is by air to Bucaramanga and from there by road in a journey of approximately two hours.



Safe, cozy and with a family atmosphere, a nice park to visit and with a shade due to the display of moss banners, with a large number of robust trees loaded with natural moss banners, its family atmosphere is given by the different species of birds and squirrels; in turn, the park has an entertainment track for the children who visit it, less than 100 meters away we find the historic and traditional Río de Oro.

The most representative monument in the Park is a tribute to the teacher Jorge Villamil (q.e.p.d), a native of Huila, author and composer of the folk hymn of those lands ´´Si pasa por San Gil´´. You will find the first two stanzas of that hymn and the recognition that was made by the Municipal Mayor's Office, the Tourist Office, Hipinto Gaseosas and the House of Culture. You can also see his signature.

In addition, the practice of high adrenaline sports such as rafting down the Fonce River, make this a park to visit not only for the adventure but for the beauty of the place. There are other sites of interest such as the Pozo Azul and a large number of caves such as La Antigua and El Alumbre, located on the outskirts of the town.

General recommendations

You really want to enjoy and share your family atmosphere.

Be willing to fall in love with its legendary trees and the species of squirrels and birds that have lived in them for a long time.

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