-South Americas Highest Bungee Jump, San Gill-
28 Dec 2019 By James/ LOST SOULS AND PIONEERS.
Have you ever considered jumping off a platform headfirst towards the ground only attached by a cord around your feet? Yes, Bungee jumping and more specifically South Americas highest jump in San Gill reaching 140 meters high.
This is something I have always wanted to do and always thought I would tick this bucket list item in New Zealand. However, when the opportunity arose to take on South America’s highest bungee jump, I quite literally jumped at the chance.
Scarlett, on the other hand, well this is the only thing she hasn’t done with me. It wasn’t for her. But she did come into the cage for moral support.
Where?
San Gill is Colombia’s adventure capital and its where you will find many adrenaline fuelled activities including two bungee jumps, paragliding (which we really recommend), ziplining and white water rafting.
You have two opportunities to bungee, and one is a smaller 70M jump with Colombia Bungee, jumping over a river and the other is South Americas highest bungee jump at 140 meters over a canyon with Bungee Extremo which I chose.
Check out there facebook page https://www.facebook.com/bungeeextremosangil
Bungee Extremo is Located at “El Peñon Guane” which is just outside San Gill. They have a beautiful restaurant with incredible views as well as other activities onsite such as ziplining.
To get here
You can type El Peñon Guane” or “Bungee Extremeo San Gill” into google to get the location or use (6.569950, -73.149215).
Bus
You first need to get to the small bus station located on the map above (6.556581, -73.136768) in San Gill. Then you need to jump onto the bus heading to Barrichara. The destination will be on the bus window or just ask a local or driver.
If you are going to Barricahara you need to buy a ticket from the office but because you are only on the bus for a short trip you can just jump on and pay. Ask the driver to get off at El Peñon Guane and they don’t mind stopping. The bus takes around 15 minutes and costs ……
It’s the same when leaving, you just wait at the entrance for a bus heading to town.
Taxi
We didn’t use a taxi but it’s obviously the fastest and easiest way. Although the bus was very cheap and efficient.
Cost
140k per person
10k if you want to sit in the cage and watch like Scarlett did.
Booking
Either turn up and pay or get your ticket though your hostel or tour operator.
View Over The Valley With The Bungee Cable Car
Pre jump
So, we didn’t book and just turned up with a ticket from our hostel and immediately began filling out a disclaimer form. I have to be honest I never read these things, and I probably signed my life away. Strangely you have to give your fingerprint using ink the old fashion way. (Incase thats all thats left of you? I dont know.)
Do take you passport or a copy/ photo of it as they did ask to see mine and take a photo of it.
Once the papers were in order, they take your weight and began fitting the harness. You can take a go pro and they even offered me a wrist strap.
After all the formality’s and the tension building, we set off for the bungee cage….
Cable Car Used For Bungee Jump
James Almost Ready To Jump
The Jump
Unlike other bungees this was not from a bridge or fixed platform but from a small cage that is suspended between a very deep valley. You walk from the restaurant down to a platform where you hop into the first small cage which ferried me across the canyon to the “bungee cage”.
After a few scary minutes admiring the views and getting more and more nervous the first cage pulls into the second and you must change to the bungee platform. Its pretty safe as you are clipped in the whole time, but the cages alone would be enough to scare the shit out of anyone with the slightest fear of heights.
Strapping in
Before I knew it, I was putting my legs into the ankle supports which will be attached (I should hope) to the cord. The guys then begin strapping everything together.
I was very pleased to see there is a backup to the ankle straps and you are connected via the harness in a way that would save you if anything happened to the ankle supports.
Once everything was checked and double checked (I made sure) I was briefly told to keep my feet together and when instructed to take the leap of faith.
Scarlett and the instructor were sorting out camera angles and who was filming on what while I was shitting my pants waiting at the edge trying not to look down. Honestly at this point I told myself not to think about it and just jump when told.
Falling with style
Sure, enough I heard 3,2,1 jump and if I had of stopped to think about it I would have frozen on the spot so I just jumped into the unknown.
Let me tell you, it was the scariest thing I have ever done but once you jump you cannot go back.
Before I Knew it, I could feel the pull of the bungee and the relief that I wasn’t heading for the valley floor. I then bounced several times and I have to say it wasn’t as harsh as I was expecting.
The feeling of hanging upside down bouncing and spinning was fun while trying to process what I had just done. At this point pure adrenaline is running through your body and it’s the best natural high you can get.
Getting back up
Whilst hanging upside down there is nothing you can do but wait for the crew to lower the rope to get you back up while hoping the ankle supports hold.
You then need to clip the rope onto the harness which is harder than it sounds while upside down. The crew then hoisted me back up and I had the chance to enjoy the views while the harness crushed my manhood. Before you know it It’s all over so quickly and then it’s just a final cable car ride back to solid ground.
Once I got back to the restaurant I was presented with a certificate to congratulate me on completing South Americas highest bungee jump.
James Hanging Upside Down
Pulled Back Up After The Jump
Final Thoughts
Taking on South Americas highest bungee jump was the scariest thing I have ever done. However I seriously enjoyed the thrill and its one of those things you say you wont do again but I almost certainly will. If you are an adrenaline junkie and haven’t tried bungee jumping before then I highly recommend it.
The company was pretty good, and all equipment seemed in good shape. The crew were all very friendly but didn’t speak a huge amount of English, however it was enough to give you clear instructions.
If you are heading towards Tayrona Park then make sure to look at our blog for a 3 day camping itinerary using the Calabazo entrance.
We are Scarlett and James from a small town in the UK and currently exploring this big world together and trying to find a cure to the travel bug we caught on our last adventure to Australia and South East Asia.
We met in our home town and after being together 1 month we set off on our first adventure. It would either work or it wouldn’t, right? And here we are today five years later and back at it again.
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My sister saved this website for me and I have been reading through it for the past several hours. This is really going to assist me and my friends for our class project. By the way, I like the way you write.