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The Barichara Paper Workshop (Taller de Paper Barichara) is a small paper factory in Barichara, one of Colombia’s Heritage Towns (Pueblos Patrimonio). They make paper out of several different types of plants.

Barichara Paper Workshop in Barichara, Santander, Colombia
Barichara Paper Workshop

 

Visiting the Barichara Paper Workshop

Admission is COP$8,000 per person (as of April 2024). Visitors can get a tour of the factory and a demonstration of the paper making process. It’s located just a few blocks from the main plaza and run by the San Lorenzo Foundation (Fundación San Lorenzo).

 

Making Paper

The tour starts with a demonstration of the paper making process. First, we got to see how the plant fibers are prepared. One step is literally beating them to a pulp against a stone table.

Preparation area at the Barichara Paper Workshop
Preparation area
Beating the fibers to a pulp at the Barichara Paper Workshop
Beating the fibers to a pulp

Next, we were able to use a mold to scoop out fibers and create our own sheet of paper. After taking the frame off the mold, we slapped the gooey fibers onto a piece of cloth.

Using a mold to scoop out the fibers at the Barichara Paper Workshop
Using a mold to scoop out the fibers
Taking off the frame at the Barichara Paper Workshop
Taking off the frame
A future sheet of paper at the Barichara Paper Workshop in Barichara, Santander, Colombia
A future sheet of paper

The guide covered the cloth and took it to a press. I turned the press as tight as I could, and the result was a thinned-out piece of paper without any water. The guide took the newly-made paper and hung it on a line to dry before showing us how the finished product would look.

Using the press at the Barichara Paper Workshop
Using the press
After the press at the Barichara Paper Workshop
After the press
On the drying rack at the Barichara Paper Workshop in Barichara, Santander, Colombia
On the drying rack
Finished product at the Barichara Paper Workshop
Finished product

From there, we watched a group of women creating objects from the paper, and then popped into the gift shop to see some of the crafts they had already made.

Women creating crafts from the paper at the Barichara Paper Workshop in Barichara, Santander, Colombia
Women creating crafts from the paper
Gift shop at the Barichara Paper Workshop
Gift shop

 

Garden

Finally, we took a walk through the garden behind the building to see some of the plants used to make paper at the factory. In the first section, we saw aloe, papyrus, plantain, and sugarcane.

Aloe at the Barichara Paper Workshop in Barichara, Santander, Colombia
Aloe
Papyrus at the Barichara Paper Workshop in Barichara, Santander, Colombia
Papyrus
Plantain (left) and sugarcane (right) at the Barichara Paper Workshop in Barichara, Santander, Colombia
Plantain (left) and sugarcane (right)

In the second section, we saw pineapples, corn, fique, marijuana, and coca.

Pineapple and other plants at the Barichara Paper Workshop in Barichara, Santander, Colombia
Pineapple and other plants
Fique at the Barichara Paper Workshop in Barichara, Santander, Colombia
Fique
Marijuana at the Barichara Paper Workshop in Barichara, Santander, Colombia
Marijuana
Coca at the Barichara Paper Workshop in Barichara, Santander, Colombia
Coca

 

Conclusion

Overall, we really enjoyed our short tour at the Barichara Paper Workshop. It was entertaining and informative, and we were happy it was a hands-on experience. It was one of the highlights of our stay in Barichara.

Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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