Topocoro reservoir: the water that connects us.
What to do, where to stay, how to get there and how to book on a 7,000-hectare body of water shared by six towns.
Independent guide, with no official connection to ISAGEN or the Government of Santander. Search, booking, payment and your account are all in English; tour names and descriptions are written by local providers in Spanish.
Boats, pontoons and kayaks on the water at Topocoro
Every tour is run by a provider with a National Tourism Registry (RNT) number, and you see the departure, what is included and the price before you book.
See things to do- of water surface
- 7,000ha
- towns around the reservoir
- 6
- by road from Bucaramanga to El Tablazo
- 51km
Key facts about the Topocoro reservoir
- The Topocoro reservoir is in Santander, Colombia, and holds about 7,000 hectares of water shared by six towns: Girón, Betulia, Zapatoca, Los Santos, Lebrija and San Vicente de Chucurí.
- It is the reservoir of the Sogamoso hydroelectric plant (Hidrosogamoso), on the Sogamoso River, at the foot of the Serranía de los Yariguíes.
- From Bucaramanga it is 51 km by road to El Tablazo, in Betulia, where the boat tours leave from, and the drive takes 1 h 15 to 1 h 30.
- From Barrancabermeja it is 97 km, and from San Vicente de Chucurí 29 km.
A plan built around you
Tell us who you are going with, how much time you have and what you are in the mood for. We build the itinerary using only published tours.
You pick the day, we build the plan.
Three one-tap questions and we show you tours that can be booked today. You are not charged anything yet.
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Who are you going with?
With familyHow much time do you have?Three one-tap questions
Bucaramanga → El Tablazo
- 0 kmBucaramanga bus terminal
- ~35 kmLa Lisboa, in Lebrija: turnoff toward San Vicente de Chucurí
- 51 kmEl Tablazo, in Betulia: restaurants and the way down to the docks
By car, 1 h 15 to 1 h 30
See the full routeFrom Bucaramanga to the docks
Eight things to do between the water and the Serranía de los Yariguíes
Each activity brings together the tours from registered providers who offer it, with their departures and prices.
- Pontoon boatFloating platforms for groups, families and celebrations.
- Jet skiHourly rentals with water-sports operators.
- Kayak and paddleboardPaddle at your own pace in the permitted areas.
- FishingRecreational fishing and the bocachico tradition.
- BirdwatchingAt the foot of the Serranía de los Yariguíes.
- Waterfalls and poolsWaterfalls and natural pools you reach by boat.
- HikingTrails between the mountains and the water.
Sleep by the reservoir: glamping, cabins, hotels, camping and fincas
From glamping to whole fincas for groups. Each listing shows capacity, town and price per night, and from there you book by the night or ask us in the chat. See where to stay at the reservoir.
Six towns, one departure point: the El Tablazo docks
Each town is a different gateway to the same body of water. These are the four closest to El Tablazo, where the boats leave from.
See all sixThe taste of the reservoir is bocachico
Waterfront restaurants, river cooking with bocachico, mojarra and catfish, and traditional Santander food in the towns around the reservoir.
Before you go to Topocoro: route, prices, weather and what to pack
See the full guide
How to get to the reservoirRoutes on the map, distances, travel times and road status.Read guide 
PricesWhat boats, pontoons and tours cost.Read guide 
Weather and best time to visitSeasons, holidays and what to expect each month.Read guide 
What to packSunscreen, clothes that can get wet, a dry bag for your phone and the operator's life jacket.Read guide
Questions before you go to Topocoro: location, route, prices and things to do
Where is the Topocoro reservoir?
In Santander, Colombia, within the jurisdiction of Girón, Betulia, Zapatoca, Los Santos, Lebrija and San Vicente de Chucurí, at the foot of the Serranía de los Yariguíes. It is part of the Sogamoso hydroelectric plant. See how to get there.
How do I get to the Topocoro reservoir from Bucaramanga?
Take the road to Barrancabermeja (Route 66) to La Lisboa, in Lebrija, then the road toward San Vicente de Chucurí to El Tablazo: about 51 km and 1 h 15 to 1 h 30 by car. Each route and the departure docks are in our guide on how to get to the reservoir.
How much does a boat tour at Topocoro cost?
Each operator sets its own rate. We gather the published prices in the price guide, with the date they were updated.
What can you do at the Topocoro reservoir?
Boat tours, pontoon outings, jet skiing, kayaking and paddleboarding, fishing, birdwatching, waterfalls and hiking, depending on what each registered operator offers. They are all in things to do.
Is this an official website?
No. We are an independent guide, with no official connection to ISAGEN or the Government of Santander. More in the independent guide notice (in Spanish).
Write to us in the chat and the guide's team will answer you in English.
Run a tour, boat service or place to stay at Topocoro? List it free.
Listing is free and you only pay a commission per booking.
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