Gallery · 20 photos · 6 chapters

Life at SamS

Rooftop mornings, the sign switching on, rivers that throw you around and the town around the square. A short story in six chapters — the hostel’s own photos, plus a few openly licensed shots of the region, clearly marked.

Chapter 01 · 3 photos

Rooftop
days

Morning coffee at the iron tables, a dip in the little pool, the hills doing their thing past the railing. Most days start up here.

The rooftop by day: a small round blue pool on a tiled floor, wooden Adirondack chairs and the SAM’S HOSTEL letters against a blue sky. — Same pool, daylight version. Chairs face the water. Photo: SamS VIP Hostel (Instagram), February 2022

The sunny terrace: wrought-iron chairs and tables on orange tiles, potted plants along the railing and mountains beyond the rooftops. — Terrace tables, morning sun, coffee territory. Photo: SamS VIP Hostel (Instagram), May 2025

Terrace under a blue awning: iron chairs with leather seats around a slate-topped table, trees and a wooded hill beyond the railing. — Under the blue awning, facing the hills. Photo: SamS VIP Hostel (Instagram), February 2022

Chapter 02 · 1 photo

After
dark

Then the bulbs come on. The SAM’S sign lights up the water, and the rooftop turns into the living room.

Night on the SamS rooftop: a guest’s feet at the edge of the small round pool, the lit SAM’S HOSTEL bulb sign reflected in turquoise water. — The sign is on. The rooftop pool after dark. Photo: SamS VIP Hostel (Instagram), May 2025

Chapter 03 · 4 photos

Out
there

Class IV–V on the Suárez, a run-and-jump take-off under a paraglider, a waterfall to climb at Juan Curí. Some shots are SamS’s own; the regional ones are marked.

Rafters in blue helmets and red life jackets dig their paddles in as a blue raft punches through brown whitewater on the Río Suárez. — Río Suárez, as posted by SamS (December 2023). Photo: SamS VIP Hostel (Instagram), December 2023

A tandem paragliding take-off: pilot and passenger run down a grassy slope under a red and pink wing, a helper alongside, storm clouds above. — Tandem take-off, from a reel posted by SamS (June 2025). Photo: SamS VIP Hostel (Instagram), June 2025

A raft crew in helmets and life jackets crashing through white rapids on the Río Fonce. — Rafting the Río Fonce. Photo: Tisquesusa , CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons Regional photo, not taken by SamS

Cascadas de Juan Curí: a tall, narrow waterfall pouring down a green rock face. — Juan Curí, the big drop. Photo: Felipeeramirez , CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons Regional photo, not taken by SamS

Chapter 04 · 5 photos

Home
base

Leather sofas under a wooden roof, an iron staircase full of scrolls, a balcony over the street — and a yellow pillar marking the door.

The lounge under a pitched wooden ceiling: black leather sofas, a cowhide rug, a vintage television and glass doors to a balcony with trees outside. — The lounge: leather sofas, wood ceiling, balcony doors open. Photo: SamS VIP Hostel (Instagram), May 2025

View from the hostel’s balcony: wrought-iron railing and plants, the street below with a yellow taxi, big trees on one side and green mountains behind the town. — From the balcony: the street, the trees, the mountains. Photo: SamS VIP Hostel (Instagram), June 2025

The building from the street: a white colonial facade with wooden balconies, the BBVA cash machine on the left and the vertical HOSTEL sign by a yellow pillar at the entrance on the right. — Street level: look for the yellow pillar and the vertical HOSTEL sign. Photo: SamS VIP Hostel (Instagram), May 2025

The interior staircase: terracotta-tiled steps, a wrought-iron banister full of scrolls and a big potted plant on the landing. — The way up. No lift is listed, so pack light. Photo: SamS VIP Hostel (Instagram), May 2025

A black leather sofa against an ochre wall hung with black box shelves holding jars, plants and old bottles. — Lounge corner, 2020 — the same sofa and rug still feature in the 2025 photos. Photo: SamS VIP Hostel (Instagram), October 2020

Chapter 05 · 6 photos

Around
San Gil

The cathedral a block away, moss-hung trees at El Gallineral, the Fonce running through town and Barichara’s white walls a short bus ride off.

The twin bell towers of San Gil’s Catedral de la Santa Cruz, honey-coloured stone against a deep blue sky. — Catedral de la Santa Cruz, a block from the door. Photo: SamS VIP Hostel (Instagram), May 2025

The Río Fonce at San Gil: brown water between green banks, small rafts on the river. — The Río Fonce, San Gil’s own river. Photo: Juanca.rada , CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons Regional photo, not taken by SamS

The folded, dry slopes of the Chicamocha Canyon with the river winding along the bottom. — Chicamocha Canyon. Photo: Bernard Gagnon , CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons Regional photo, not taken by SamS

Calle 5 in Barichara: whitewashed colonial houses with green doors, stone paving and a church tower at the end of the street. — Barichara, Calle 5. Photo: Bernard Gagnon , CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons Regional photo, not taken by SamS

Tall trees draped in long grey moss in Parque El Gallineral, San Gil. — Parque El Gallineral and its “barbas de viejo”. Photo: Alfovie , CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons Regional photo, not taken by SamS

The Catedral de la Santa Cruz lit gold at night on San Gil’s main square, a street lamp in front. — The cathedral at night, on Parque La Libertad. Photo: Diego Jácome , CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons Regional photo, not taken by SamS

Chapter 06 · 1 photo

The
crew

Tejo night: clay, a steel ring, paper full of gunpowder and a lot of cheering. The best photos in this chapter haven’t been taken yet.

Travellers playing tejo at night under a corrugated roof: one man winds up a throw while others watch beside yellow-lined clay lanes. — Tejo night with SamS guests (February 2022). Photo: SamS VIP Hostel (Instagram), February 2022

Your chapter next?

Send your dates and who’s coming; the front desk replies on WhatsApp with what’s free.

Ask availability Follow @sams_vip_hostel_sangil

Credits & rights

Every photo,
credited

All 29 images used anywhere on this site, including the ones outside the gallery. Hostel photos come from SamS’s public Instagram and appear while the owner’s permission is pending; regional photos are openly licensed on Wikimedia Commons. Every edit is listed — nothing has been added to any photo.

Owner permission pending: Posted by the hostel on Instagram. Shown in this concept preview while the owner reviews it.
Open licence: Creative Commons: free to reuse with credit (and under the same licence where marked SA).

Photo credits, licences and edits for every image on the site
Caption	Credit & licence	Edits	Rights
The sign is on. The rooftop pool after dark. Gallery: After dark	Photo: SamS VIP Hostel (Instagram), May 2025	Cropped screenshot edges, denoise (low-light), 2x EDSR super-resolution, light sharpening. Nothing added or removed.	Owner permission pending
Same pool, daylight version. Chairs face the water. Gallery: Rooftop days	Photo: SamS VIP Hostel (Instagram), February 2022	Cropped screenshot edges, light denoise, 2x EDSR super-resolution, light sharpening. Nothing added or removed.	Owner permission pending
Río Suárez, as posted by SamS (December 2023). Gallery: Out there	Photo: SamS VIP Hostel (Instagram), December 2023	Light denoise, 2x EDSR super-resolution, light sharpening. Faces untouched.	Owner permission pending
Terrace tables, morning sun, coffee territory. Gallery: Rooftop days	Photo: SamS VIP Hostel (Instagram), May 2025	Cropped screenshot edges, light denoise, 2x EDSR super-resolution, light sharpening. Nothing added or removed.	Owner permission pending
The lounge: leather sofas, wood ceiling, balcony doors open. Gallery: Home base	Photo: SamS VIP Hostel (Instagram), May 2025	Cropped screenshot edges, light denoise, 2x super-resolution, light sharpening. Nothing added or removed.	Owner permission pending
From the balcony: the street, the trees, the mountains. Gallery: Home base	Photo: SamS VIP Hostel (Instagram), June 2025	Cropped screenshot edges, removed a screenshot mouse pointer (12×17 px, inpainted), light denoise, 2x super-resolution, light sharpening.	Owner permission pending
Street level: look for the yellow pillar and the vertical HOSTEL sign. Gallery: Home base	Photo: SamS VIP Hostel (Instagram), May 2025	Cropped screenshot edges, light denoise, 2x super-resolution, light sharpening. Nothing added or removed.	Owner permission pending
Tandem take-off, from a reel posted by SamS (June 2025). Gallery: Out there	Photo: SamS VIP Hostel (Instagram), June 2025	Video frame: cropped screenshot edges and the reel’s mute icon, denoise, 2x super-resolution, light sharpening. Faces untouched.	Owner permission pending
Catedral de la Santa Cruz, a block from the door. Gallery: Around San Gil	Photo: SamS VIP Hostel (Instagram), May 2025	Cropped screenshot edges, light denoise, 2x super-resolution, light sharpening. Nothing added or removed.	Owner permission pending
Tejo night with SamS guests (February 2022). Gallery: The crew	Photo: SamS VIP Hostel (Instagram), February 2022	Cropped screenshot edges, denoise (low-light), 2x super-resolution, light sharpening. Faces untouched.	Owner permission pending
The way up. No lift is listed, so pack light. Gallery: Home base	Photo: SamS VIP Hostel (Instagram), May 2025	Cropped screenshot edges, light denoise, 2x super-resolution, light sharpening. Nothing added or removed.	Owner permission pending
Under the blue awning, facing the hills. Gallery: Rooftop days	Photo: SamS VIP Hostel (Instagram), February 2022	Cropped screenshot edges, light denoise, 2x super-resolution, light sharpening. Nothing added or removed.	Owner permission pending
Lounge corner, 2020 — the same sofa and rug still feature in the 2025 photos. Gallery: Home base	Photo: SamS VIP Hostel (Instagram), October 2020	Cropped screenshot edges, light denoise, 2x super-resolution, light sharpening. Nothing added or removed.	Owner permission pending
Rafting the Río Fonce. Gallery: Out there	Photo: Tisquesusa , CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons Regional photo, not taken by SamS	Resized, light sharpening.	Open licence
The Río Fonce, San Gil’s own river. Gallery: Around San Gil	Photo: Juanca.rada , CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons Regional photo, not taken by SamS	Resized, light sharpening.	Open licence
The Río Suárez (upstream, near Barbosa). Used elsewhere on the site	Photo: Ximonnomix , CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons Regional photo, not taken by SamS	Resized, light sharpening.	Open licence
Chicamocha Canyon. Gallery: Around San Gil	Photo: Bernard Gagnon , CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons Regional photo, not taken by SamS	Resized, light sharpening.	Open licence
The canyon, wide open. Used elsewhere on the site	Photo: DanielORo , CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons Regional photo, not taken by SamS	Resized, light sharpening.	Open licence
Flying over the Chicamocha. Used elsewhere on the site	Photo: Jukahogo , CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons Regional photo, not taken by SamS	Resized, light denoise.	Open licence
Barichara, Calle 5. Gallery: Around San Gil	Photo: Bernard Gagnon , CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons Regional photo, not taken by SamS	Resized, light sharpening.	Open licence
Stone streets, white walls, Barichara. Used elsewhere on the site	Photo: Petruss , CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons Regional photo, not taken by SamS	Resized, light sharpening.	Open licence
Camino Real trailhead, Barichara. Used elsewhere on the site	Photo: Bernard Gagnon , CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons Regional photo, not taken by SamS	Resized, light sharpening.	Open licence
On the Camino Real towards Guane. Used elsewhere on the site	Photo: Bernard Gagnon , CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons Regional photo, not taken by SamS	Resized, light sharpening.	Open licence
Parque El Gallineral and its “barbas de viejo”. Gallery: Around San Gil	Photo: Alfovie , CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons Regional photo, not taken by SamS	Resized, light sharpening.	Open licence
Juan Curí, the big drop. Gallery: Out there	Photo: Felipeeramirez , CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons Regional photo, not taken by SamS	Resized, light sharpening.	Open licence
A lower fall at Juan Curí. Used elsewhere on the site	Photo: Juan Gómez , CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons Regional photo, not taken by SamS	Resized, light sharpening.	Open licence
The cathedral at night, on Parque La Libertad. Gallery: Around San Gil	Photo: Diego Jácome , CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons Regional photo, not taken by SamS	Resized, light sharpening.	Open licence
San Gil from above. Used elsewhere on the site	Photo: Pedro Alejandro Ariza Rubiano , CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons Regional photo, not taken by SamS	Resized, light denoise.	Open licence
The target: clay, a steel ring, and paper mechas full of gunpowder. Used elsewhere on the site	Photo: Neil Taylor , CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons Regional photo, not taken by SamS	Resized, light sharpening.	Open licence