A five-bedroom villa steeped in history in Colombia’s pretty, red-tiled Andean town of Barichara.
This was once the home of former Colombian President Belisario Betancur; closely connected to Colombia’s cultural world, he counted Gabriel García Márquez, Fernando Botero and painter David Manzur among his friends, and played a vital role in establishing Barichara as a cultural epicentre. The house still has that connection, filled with furniture and pieces made by local craftspeople and artists.
Sleeping up to ten people, Casa del Presidente comes fully staffed. The gardens are planted with fruit trees, with shaded terraces and a swimming pool, and Barichara’s cobbled streets are just outside the door.
What we love about Casa del Presidente
- Five bedrooms for up to ten guests, each with its own en-suite bathroom, with the house taken exclusively by one group.
- Clean, bright, unostentatiously luxurious interiors, with whitewashed walls, and bespoke wood and wicker furniture made locally.
- A climatised outdoor swimming pool, surrounded by large terraces and gardens planted with fruit trees and herbs.
- An on-site chef creates menus around each group, accompanied by a curated selection of wines, spirits and cocktails.
- Fully staffed, with a full-time English-speaking host and housekeeping, and childcare on request.
A maze of flagstone cobble streets and white-washed walls brightened with painted wooden shutters and doors, it is no surprise Barichara is considered Colombia’s prettiest town.
As a renowned artist’s retreat, the town offers visitors a rare insight into the peripheral Colombian art world. Guests of Casa del Presidente get exclusive access to the artist’s studios and artisan ateliers that scatter the town.
Situated a few kilometres from the Chichamocha Canyon, there is plenty more to do. Biking or trekking along the canyon’s edge to little-known colonial towns is a must. For the more adventurous, there’s white-water rafting, paragliding, ziplining and rappelling, and helicopter trips can be arranged to take guests into the remotest corners of the canyon.
When to Travel
Barichara can be visited year-round. For those planning on booking extreme sports activities, opt for the dry season (June – September and December – February).
ENQUIRE NOWCONTACT US
Private travel to Latin America and Antarctica, designed by specialists.
Conde Nast Traveler Specialists every year since 2017
