Caribbean dream beaches, snowy mountain peaks of the Andes, the imposing rainforest of the Sierra Nevada, and much more are waiting to be discovered by you.
Pricing
| per rider in shared twin/double room (Only available for a booking of two persons. Single travelers need to choose the single room surcharge.) | €3,990.00 $4,339.79 ? |
| per person single room (surcharge - only available with an additional selection of the basic price "per rider in shared twin/double room") | €350.00 $380.68 ? |
Included
| Transfers Santa Marta Airport - Hotel and back |
| All hotel accommodations, usually with breakfast |
| Rental motorcycle (During this trip we ride on typical AKT 200 cc motorcycles - made in Colombia). |
| Multilingual (German/English/Spanish) Tour guide on the motorcycle |
| Escort vehicle and luggage transport |
| Mechanic |
| Travel security note |
| Travel Guide |
| International flight - Santa Marta and back |
| Visa (up to 90 days visa-free - information without guarantee) |
| Gasoline |
| Entrance fees |
| Optional excursions |
| Food and drink |
| International health and accident insurance incl. repatriation |
| Travel cancellation insurance |
| Everything that is not specified under features |
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| Pocket money - approx. 550 Euro (This amount is an estimation of how much money you will need for this trip. It includes food, drinks, souvenirs, optional excursions, and petrol). |
More details
| Minimum number of participants: 6 |
| Maximum number of participants: 8 |
| Maximum number of passengers: 2 |
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| Motorcycles: |
| During this trip, we ride the AKT 200 ccm motorcycles - made in Colombia. Seat height is 84 cm. |
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| Tour character: |
| During the trip through Colombia we ride very varied routes. Sometimes it goes over good tarred roads, over sand, through hot flatland, over stones, or over 4000 meter high mountains. But we do not stay long on considerable heights. The day trips are sometimes long, but most of the time there is enough time and possibility to stop on the way, take pictures or visit villages. |
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| Offroad: |
| About half of the route we move on unpaved roads. These routes are sometimes difficult to ride without off-road experience. Due to the dryness in the north, some passages can be a bit sandy and dusty. Into the mountains there are again more stony stretches. Offroad experience is therefore necessary. An offroad basic training is very useful as preparation. Thereby you learn how to handle the motorcycle best off-road. It will certainly increase your riding pleasure. The motorcycles are light and handy enduros, perfect for the dirt roads. This tour is not suitable for beginners. |
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| Difficulty level: 4/5 - Medium difficulty tours with frequent unpaved roads. Various factors, such as altitude, climate, distances or basic accommodations determine the difficulty of the tour. However, you should have ridden enough kilometers. Riding on gravel, loose ground or steep ascents and descents should not be a problem for you. First off-road experience is an advantage, so that you can move safely on gravel. If you have no experience with off-road riding, then you definitely need an off-road training. |
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| Climate: |
| The climate in Colombia varies greatly depending on the area and has different climate zones. Temperatures and rainfall vary depending on the location and altitude of each region. The rainy season in Colombia lasts from mid-March to May and from September to mid-December. The dry season, the so-called summer, is from December to March and from June to September. In recent years, however, due to the shift in climate, it has been largely rain-free even in mid-November and December. While the Caribbean coast also has a tropical climate, the weather overall is much drier than in other parts of Colombia. High temperatures are found especially in the north and average around 30° Celsius throughout the year, both in the dry and rainy seasons. This means that there are also days with extreme heat up to 38° Celsius. In the mountains it can always rain. There are also big temperature differences. During the day sometimes expect temperatures of 15 C. This should be taken into account when choosing clothing. |
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| Clothing: |
| A helmet is mandatory, as well as protective clothing with protectors, good gloves and boots or sturdy shoes. Because of the warm temperatures in the north (+ 30 C) it is recommended to wear breathable protective clothing. Make sure that your jacket and trousers are sufficiently ventilated. In the colder regions you should wear warm clothes again. We recommend an open enduro helmet with protective goggles that provide good protection against dust. Furthermore, of course, a good pair of sunglasses is practical. With cold (15 C) is to be expected in the mountains, and sometimes with rain, so you should have rain protection. |
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| Travel documents: |
| For this trip you need a valid (international) driver's license and a passport that is generally valid for 6 months beyond the trip. |
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| Visa: |
| German citizens do not need a visa for a tourist stay in Colombia. |
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| Insurance: |
| The motorcycles are covered by liability insurance. This insurance covers personal injury to third parties. Property damage to third parties is not insured. In case of damage to the vehicle, caused by own fault, the material costs have to be paid by the causer. |
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| Not suitable for pillion passengers |
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| More details about the trip and what to take with you are in the handbook you will receive about 1 month before departure. |
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| Language: This offer is usually suitable for English and/or German speaking participants. Please enquire for language options. |
| Mobility: The offer is not suitable for people with reduced mobility. Please contact us for more information. |
Description
The hospitable and open-minded Colombians infect us with their cheerfulness and are proud to share their cultural and scenic treasures with us.
From Santa Marta, we ride to the coffee "fincas" in the highlands of the Sierra Nevada, then on via Mompox, steeped in history, where we cross the huge Rio Magdalena and explore the rural swampland with its gauchos, cattle, and horses. Over curvy, tarred, and also unpaved mountain roads we ride high into the Andes with mountain passes of more than 4000m. We visit the magnificent national park El Cocuy as well as the enchanting colonial towns Mongui and Barichara. Afterwards we head towards Valledupar, the birthplace of Vallenato music, in which the accordion plays the main role. After the mountains we go back to the coast where we can enjoy the beautiful, Caribbean dream beaches.
The light motorcycle is the perfect means of transportation for this motorcycle tour, it allows us to explore areas away from the tourist highlights that remain hidden to most.
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Summary of the trip:
1. Germany- Santa Marta
2. Santa Marta - Minca (60 km)
3. Minca - Fundación (120 km)
4. Fundación - Mompóx (200 km)
5. Mompóx - Playa de Belen (270 km)
6. Playa de Belen - Ausflug
7. Playa de Belen - Pamplona (270 km)
8. Pamplona - Capitanejo (155 km)
9. Capitanejo - Cocuy (60 km)
10. Cocuy - Mongui (170 km)
11. Mongui - Barichara (190 km)
12. Barichara: Rest day
13. Barichara - Giron (120 km)
14. Giron - Aguachica (175)
15. Aguachica - Valledupar (290 km)
16. Valledupar - Riohacha (195 km)
17. Riohacha - Palomino (92 km)
18. Palomino - Santa Marta (80 km)
19. Santa Marta - Departure
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This journey from day to day:
DAY 1 - DEPARTURE GERMANY - SANTA MARTA.
Arrival Santa Marta and transfer to the hotel in Santa Marta (approx. 30 min drive). Santa Marta is located directly on the Caribbean Sea and is, along with Cartagena, one of the most important destinations for visitors to the Colombian Caribbean coast. There is a wide range of activities on offer here.
DAY 2 - SANTA MARTA - MINCA
The motorcycles are handed over, then we escape the heat of the city and make our way to Minca, located in the wild and breathtaking mountains of the Sierra Nevada. From Minca we will take a day tour through the famous coffee growing area. The off-road trails offer spectacular views and we visit the Finca "La Victoria", where we will of course taste the coffee in addition to a tour.
DAY 3 - MINCA - FUNDACIÓN
We leave Minca and ride a short distance along the main road until we reach the off-road track that takes us high into the mountains to San Javier. This is a small, hidden village that lives exclusively from coffee cultivation. Here we can see in authentic surroundings how the coffee bean is planted, harvested and processed, or prepared for export. After lunch with the farmers, we ride back down into the valley and reach Aracataca, the birthplace of Gabriel García Marquez, in the late afternoon. We will spend the night in the neighboring town of Fundación.
DAY 4 - FUNDACIÓN - MOMPÓX
From Fundación we start on a tarred road and then continue on hot, sandy tracks to Mompóx, a colonial jewel of Colombia, which is visited by comparatively few tourists due to its island location. It is the little, nicer sister of the overcrowded Cartagena. We have to cross the Río Magdalena, the largest river in Colombia, to reach our destination for the day. The somewhat longer stage of the day was worth it and one feels a bit like in a novel by Gabriel García Márquez.
DAY 5 - MOMPOX - PLAYA DE BELÉN
From Mompox we follow the banks of the Rio Magdalena. The route is dusty and hot, a landscape like in a western. Arriving at El Banco, we turn onto the main road and ride to Aguachica. There we leave the lowlands and take a beautiful and shady tarred road that leads us into the hills of Ocaña to Playa Belén.
DAY 6 - PLAYA DE BELÉN AND SURROUNDINGS
Playa de Belén is a beautiful little village that stands out for its colonial character. After the heat in Mompox, a more moderate climate awaits us here. The village is located next to the Parque de Estoraques, whose rock formations and natural caves we will visit. Afterward, we will make a small tour to a waterfall with a natural "swimming pool". Here you can swim in crystal clear water while the owner of the Finca prepares a typical barbecue with the meat of your choice.
DAY 7 - PLAYA DE BELÉN - PAMPLONA
The first half of the day leads us over curvy, tarred mountain roads up to 2400m. Afterward, we head downhill to the Colombian-Venezuelan border town of Cúcuta. Here there is a lot of hustle and bustle, and we have to cross the town once before we ride towards Pamplona on a quiet country road. There it is rather cool with an average temperature of 16 degrees. For the first time in Colombia, we see people with down jackets and bobble hats. Our hotel is located directly at the Plaza and has the charm of an antique shop. From the typewriter to the coal iron, the owner has accumulated everything here that is old and special.
DAY 8 - PAMPLONA - CAPITANEJO
The road to Capitanejo starts with gentle curves in a green landscape and then climbs higher and higher. From 3200 m, shortly after Chitagá, the tar is gone and we have to cross the 4000 m border on gravel. At this altitude, it is often foggy and humid. It is important to remember this when getting dressed. With a clear view, you can admire the great mountain scenery. Although it is a federal road, there is hardly any traffic. From Málaga, it gets warmer again and we ride downhill into the beautiful landscape of Capitanejo.
DAY 9 - CAPITANEJO - EL COCUY
Offroad we ride up to the national park El Cocuy. This has several peaks over 5000 m high, and we can see their snowcaps from a distance. We pass many small farmers, who live here mainly for the cultivation of onions. The people are very friendly and open-minded and are happy when strangers come by. In the villages, everyone meets and exchanges their goods. Around noon we arrive at our overnight stay in El Cocuy and still have enough time for a ride over small paths up to about 3800m. From here we have the best view of the peaks. The thin air is noticeable - good that our sleeping place is at "only" 3000m.
DAY 10 - EL COCUY - MONGUI
A long day of riding lies ahead of us. Right at the end of the village, the gravel road begins, which will lead us through the gigantic mountains of the Andes for the rest of the day. Almost behind every curve, you want to stop and let your eyes wander. Gentle hills and rugged mountains alternate, the panorama is simply gigantic. We pass the villages Chita and Jérico, which are so remote that here, as a tourist, one is still really amazed. A very special and own world, which we are allowed to look at until we finally land full of new impressions in the enchanting Mongui. Here we are still at 3000m altitude, the air remains cool and thin. Mongui is famous for its football production, which is why you can see the round balls all over the village.
DAY 11 - MONGUI - BARICHARA
Via Duitama and Gambita we head towards Barichara. We have to cross a higher passage again before we go downhill on stony and partly muddy paths. Depending on the weather conditions, we have the option to choose between two off-road variants. After passing San Gil, a winding road leads to Barichara, where a colonial-style town with a warm climate then awaits us.
DAY 12 - FREE DAY IN BARICHARA
Barichara is a great place for shopping and feasting. There are great restaurants, lots of handicrafts and also adventurous activities like rafting, bungee jumping or horse riding. If you just want to relax, you can watch the hustle and bustle in the plaza or admire the work of the local stonemasons at the gates of the city. Barichara is also famous for its "hormigas culonas" - roasted ants, which are offered as a delicacy.
DAY 13 - BARICHARA - GIRON
The route to Giron begins with a beautiful, long off-road passage to Zapatoca. Here we enjoy a Santander-style lunch on a large patio. Specialties of the region are "Cazuelas", soups in clay pots with meat or fish. The cathedral is worth a visit, as well as the Don Quixote museum. From Zapatoca to Giron then leads a winding mountain road, whose views can be really enjoyed, before we arrive in the old town of Giron at our hotel.
DAY 14 - GIRON - AGUACHICA
Riding to Aguachica, we leave the mountain world of Colombia, we pass banana plantations and small villages and towards the middle of the day it becomes flat and hot again. Our road is called "Ruta del Sol" and is a central connection between the Andes and the coast.
DAY 15 - AGUACHICA - VALLEDUPAR
We continue towards the north. Until Bosconia we ride on the main road, then we turn off in the direction of Valledupar, place of origin of the "Vallenato", the omnipresent accordion-dominated folk music of the Colombians on the coast.
DAY 16 - VALLEDUPAR - RIOHACHA
We leave Valledupar and head to the town of San Juan del Cesar. We are now in the land of cattle herds and cowboys, as well as in the place of origin of the "Vallenato", the accordion-dominated folk music of the Colombians that is omnipresent on the coast. From here on, we will travel through the hinterland on off-road routes, which also include a few exciting river crossings. Our destination is Riohacha, the gateway to the desert region "La Guajira". On the streets we meet the Wayúu Indians, who offer their typical bags and other handicrafts in all colors.
DAY 17 - RIOHACHA - PALOMINO
We stay on the coast. Our destination is Palomino, where we end the day on the palm-fringed sandy beach. Palomino is located between two rivers flowing down from the Sierra Nevada and is ideal for both hiking, horseback riding and watertubing on the river. Those who relax on the beach enjoy the fantastic view of snow-capped mountains on one side and Caribbean sea on the other.
DAY 18 - PALOMINO - SANTA MARTA
We ride along a beautiful coastal path towards Santa Marta. At several points, you can let your eyes wander over the turquoise blue Caribbean coastline. In Santa Marta, we spend the night again in our "start" hotel in the center of the old town. On the turbulent market next door, you can buy some souvenirs. Or you can enjoy a cool drink by the sea or on the roof terrace.
DAY 19 - SANTA MARTA - DEPARTURE
The last day on Colombia's Caribbean coast is dawning. You will be taken to the airport in Santa Marta. Full of new impressions you will return home where you will arrive the next day.
- Changes to the route can be adapted to the current conditions on-site.