13 Day Guided Motorcycle Tour of Central and Southern Colombia

Overview

GHL Relax Hotel Club el Puente, Km. 2 Vía, Girardot - Melgar, Girardot-Carmen De Apicalá, Girardot, Cundinamarca, Colombia

Highlights

• Starts and ends in Bogota
• Visit an astronomical observatory in the Tatacoa desert
• Ancient artifacts at San Augustin archaeological park
• Visit the epic waterfalls of Mocoa
• Ride along "the devil's trampoline", a famous cliffside gravel trail
• Visit the famous white-walled city of Popayan
• Visit to a Salento coffee farm
• Nevado del Ruiz snowy mountain pass at over 12,000 feet
• 12 nights' accommodation

Itinerary

1. Day 1

   - Start: 9 a.m. - Where: Bogota - Girardot - Riding hours: 4.5 - Mileage: 190 km (118 miles) - Paved/Unpaved: 90/10 Highlights: - Twist and turn up the middle branch of the Andes - Roadside lunch on Bogota outskirts - Arrive in Bogota mid-afternoon for farewell dinner You will meet at the office at 9 a.m. to finalize the paperwork, get everyone set up on their motorcycles, and get fitted for safety equipment. You will then set off for your first day, heading out of Bogota. First off is a stop at Tequendama waterfall. A towering, multi-leveled waterfall in the municipality of Soacha. The Second

2. Day 2

   - Where: Girardot - Tatacoa Desert - Riding hours: 2.5 - Mileage: 100 km (62 miles) - Paved/Unpaved: 70/30 Highlights: - Early highway miles blasting south - Explore the incredible Tatacoa Desert - Stargazing at a nearby observatory close to the desert accommodation You will wake up early-ish and put some miles on. Blasting south down the main highway. A makeshift ferry ride will provide a shortcut and amusement as we load the bikes into large canoes to cross back over the Magdalena River. Spend the night out under the stars in our desert accommodation, with an optional visit to a local astron

3. Day 3

   - Where: Tatacoa Desert - San Augustin - Riding hours: 6 - Mileage: 270 km (168 miles) - Paved/Unpaved: 80/20 Highlights: - Ride south toward San Augustin, home to famous archaeological sites - Lunch stop in Gigante to see the enormous 500+ year old tree - Relaxed evening poolside at a homestay above San Augustin Early rising in the desert. We head back out over the ferry crossing, then put some miles on our bikes as we head south. A little stopover for lunch in Gigante - home to an enormous 500-year-old tree in the town center. Arrive in time for sunset at our hotel, and even a little poolsid

4. Day 4

   - Where: San Augustin - Mocoa - Riding hours: 3.5 - Mileage: 150 km (93 miles) - Paved/Unpaved: 90/10 Highlights: - Morning visit to UNESCO archaeological park of San Augustin - Scenic ride along highway 45 with stunning Andes views - Arrive at jungle hideaway accommodation for rest day Spend the morning exploring the incredible UNESCO heritage site of San Augustin Archaeological Park. One of the most famous sites in Colombia Keep on cruising south along highway 45, taking in some stunning views of the Andes mountains. Arrive after a big day at our jungle hideaway accommodation, and our first

5. Day 5

   - Where: Mocoa - Riding hours: 0 (rest day) Choose from multiple different activities. Hikes, waterfalls, rivers, and caves if you're feeling active, or massages, cocktails, and pools if you're not. Or both. Choose your own adventure.

6. Day 6

   - Where: Mocoa - Pasto - Riding hours: 4.5 - Mileage: 150 km (93 miles) - Paved/Unpaved: 20/80 Highlights: - Offroad ride called the Devil’s Trampoline along steep cliffs - Stop at local eatery for refueling - Lakeside accommodation styled after the hotel from The Shining movie Enter the Devil's Trampoline. A 4-hour, off-road ride along some pretty steep cliffsides. Plenty of guard rails ensure we're never in any real danger, but the view is absolutely world-class. Quick burn through the outskirts of town, then a quick up and down climb, to arrive at your stunning lakeside accommodation. Style

7. Day 7

   - Where: Pasto - Popayan - Riding hours: 5.5 - Mileage: 270 km (168 miles) - Paved/Unpaved: 80/20 Highlights: - Ride up in elevation through amazing canyons - View from Juanambú bridge - Overnight in Popayan, the famous “white city” of Colombia Head down a little in elevation, then enjoy some epic, winding roads as you cross back and forth over the Andes mountains. Spectacular roadside viewpoints. Photo-opportunity has come knocking. Arrive in time for a look around the main plaza of Popayan. The famous white-walled city of Colombia. Overnight at a stunning old-fashioned farmhouse nestled just

8. Day 8

   - Where: Popayan - La Union - Riding hours: 5 - Mileage: 290 km (180 miles) - Paved/Unpaved: 90/10 Highlights: - Early highway miles twisting through the western Andes - Hearty lunch at famous restaurant outside Cali - Arrive at Donkey Sunrise Campground for dinner and stories Put some highway miles on your wheels as you twist and turn through the westernmost branch of the Andes Mountains. Arrival at Donkey Sunrise ADV campground, where you will be treated to stories from other ADV motorcyclists from around the world.

9. Day 9

   - Where: La Union (rest day) - Riding hours: 0 (or 3-4) Optional ride day today. Your friends at Donkey Sunrise know the local area like the back of their hands and have scouted out many single and double-track trails in the area around their campground. Get the group together for a half-day of hard enduro, or go for a scenic hard-packed cruise. Enjoy some local wine at a makeshift winery. La Union is famous for its wine. It's not the south of France, but it's pretty decent given the climate!

10. Day 10

    - Where: La Union - Salento - Riding hours: 5.5 - Mileage: 270 km (168 miles) - Paved/Unpaved: 85/15 Highlights: - Relaxed morning ride to nearby coffee farm for a tour and fresh brews - Try Tejo, Colombia’s national game combining beer and explosives - Dinner at “Brunch” restaurant in Salento Relaxed morning ride for the group today, as we make your way to a nearby coffee farm for a tour and a fresh cup. Rolling, green hillsides as we pass over towards Salento. Try your hand at Tejo - A traditional Colombian pastime which mixes beers and explosives.

11. Day 11

    - Where: Salento - Nevado del Ruiz - Riding hours: 2.5 You will enjoy a slower start to the day today. The group will have the choice of a coffee farm visit or a walk through the Cocora Valley and its towering wax palm trees. A quick 2-hour sprint through some epic, twisty mountain roads will get us towards Manizales - the main city next to your mountainside accommodation. Arrive at our hot spring accommodation early enough to enjoy the facilities and a swim in the thermal baths before a delicious meal.

12. Day 12

    - Where: Nevado del Ruiz - Honda - Riding hours: 4.5 - Mileage: 190 km (118 miles) - Paved/Unpaved: 70/30 Highlights: - Morning thermal bath and buffet breakfast - Ride over volcanic Nevado del Ruiz mountain pass (4000m altitude) - Visits to blue lagoon and frailejón plant field - Cross former largest suspension bridge in the world Wake up the right way with another thermal bath before your buffet breakfast. Epic, volcanic scenery as you ride up to over 4,000m above sea level at the Nevado del Ruiz mountain pass. Short visits to the blue lagoon, and a frailejón field - native plants of these v

13. Day 13

    - Where: Honda - Bogota - Riding hours: 4.5 - Mileage: 190 km (118 miles) - Paved/Unpaved: 90/10 Highlights: - Twist and turn up the middle branch of the Andes - Roadside lunch on Bogota outskirts - Arrive in Bogota mid-afternoon for farewell dinner The final morning of your tour starts with the group twisting and turning up the middle branch of the Andes. Stop at a famous roadside eatery for lunch on the outskirts of Bogota. Arrive back in the city in the mid-afternoon. Giving us enough time to get showered and cleaned up before an optional farewell dinner that night.

Ride Details

Terrain

80% paved and 20% off-road

Bike

Rental bike (Honda XRE300)

Mileage

2,000 kilometers / 1,250 miles

Daily rides

50 - 300 kilometers / 31 - 186 miles

Meals

all breakfasts, lunches, and dinners

Accommodation

Your accommodation will be in two-person twin-share rooms at high-end hostels or boutique hotels. The following are examples of accommodations they have used in the past, and not always 100% representative of the exact lodgings they use on every tour.

Food

The food served will be a mixture of local, Colombian fare from roadside eateries that Adrenaline Addicts knows and trusts (usually lunch), and a mix of international cuisine and Colombian fusion, both at lodgings and local restaurants - depending on the day. Vegetarian options are available at all meals, but in some of the more remote areas i.e. Tatacoa desert options may be limited.

Getting There

This tour will take place in the central and southern region of Colombia including Bogota, Giradot, Tatacoa desert, Mocoa, Pasto, Popayan, Punta Salento, Manizales and Honda. [+](https://www.tripaneer.com/adrenaline-addicts/13-day-bogota-motorcycle-tour-guided-motorcycle-tour-of-central-southern-colombia# "Zoom in") [−](https://www.tripaneer.com/adrenaline-addicts/13-day-bogota-motorcycle-tour-gui