COLOMBIA 2025
Following a successful recce tour to Colombia in May 2024, I'm delighted to be running two tours to Colombia in February 2025. The region is equatorial so they have consistent weather all year round, and February was selected as a time that it would be great to escape the dark, cold and wet and ride motorcycles in some incredible landscapes and the sunshine!
The tours are as follows:
TOUR 1: 14-24 February 2025
TOUR 2: 21 February-3 March 2025
Sunday Pick up the bikes and then on to Jardin via lunch in Jerico. This is an easy day to become familar with the bikes and to leave the city at a quiet time (4h30 riding 152km 70% Road 30% Trail)
Monday The hummingbird day. A short paved road out of Jardin before hitting the trails and one of those experiences you will keep forever before riding on to Salamina. There is an optional add on to ride the twisty mountain road to the La Samaria Valley and back, home to the tallest palm trees in the world (4h30+opt 2h riding. 120km+opt 61km 60% Road 40% Trail)
Tuesday The Spa Day. Murillo via the hot springs in Manizales for lunch before ascending to 4000m through the volcanic Parque Natural Los Nevados (4h50 riding. 161km 100% Road)
Wednesday The hot one. Descending from Murillo and heading for a farm stay at the Finca Villa del Rio for a relaxing evening (5h riding. 183km 75% Road 25% Trail)
Thursday The day on the river. Today we take a boat ride up the Rio de Miel. Howler Monkeys are often seen (and heard) in the trees and the boat will navigate rapids to some hidden waterfalls. A picnic lunch is provided before returning to the Finca to collect the bikes and a short ride to Santorini (2h riding. 52km 95% Road 5% Trail)
Friday The Rock day. We leave the blue and white buildings of Santorini de Colombia for some trails over the mountains to La Piedra de El Peñol and lunch in Guatape before returning to Medellin to drop the bikes off and an end of ride dinner. (5h30 riding. 200km 65% Road 35% Trail)
Saturday A day to explore the incredible city of Medellin. There is a lot to see which can include a visit to a coffee plantation, Comuna 13, bicycle or Segway tours or just enjoying the beautiful city. In the evening there is an included evening of Tejo. The Colombian national game involving gunpowder and beer...
Sunday Fly home
Saturday Arrive into Medellin and depending on arrival time, either enjoy the city or head straight for the hotel
Sunday Pick up the bikes and ride to Abejorral. This is an easy day to become familar with the bikes and to leave the city at a quiet time. If it's hot there's an opportunity for a dip to cool down before arriving at the hotel. (3h50 riding 127km 70% Road 30% Trail)
Monday We follow the river out of Abejorral and ride trails through beautiful landscapes to Pereira (4h30 riding. 204km 60% Road 40% Trail)
Tuesday We ride from Pereira through valleys of towering Wax Palms to the colonial town of Salento. Arriving at a viewpoint for sunset before descending into the town for the night. Tonight we can have a go at the Colombian national game of Tejo. This involves gunpowder and beer... (5h riding. 123km 60% Road 40% Trail)
Wednesday It's a morning off the bikes to explore the town of Salento before riding to Santa Rosa de Cabal through the mountains with a stop at some hot springs (2h30m riding. 54km 20% Road 80% Trail)
Thursday Today we ride some incredible trails up to Tamesis at a mile above sea level. We will arrive at sunset to sample some local coffee at a coffee farm before arriving at our hotel with amazing views across the whole valley. (4h30 riding. 153km 40% Road 60% Trail)
Friday This is our last day on the bikes and the last chance to enjoy some gate free Colombian trails before returning to Medellin to drop the bikes off and a fantastic end of ride dinner. (4h30 riding. 140km 65% Road 35% Trail)
Saturday A day to explore the incredible city of Medellin. There is a lot to see which can include a visit to a coffee plantation, Comuna 13, bicycle or Segway tours or just enjoying the beautiful city.
Sunday Fly home
Cost Per Person
All tours include:
- Airport transfers
- All hotels
- All meals except for those mentioned below
- 6/12 days bike hire including fuel and insurance for an AKT TTR200 single cylinder, six-speed, electric start, dual sport bike. Low seats/suspension bikes are available, though even the standard bike isn't particularly tall.
- Spanish and English speaking guide
- Support vehicle for luggage with driver and spare bike
- Tour shirt
- Local SIM card with 7GB of data
- Sportsbikeshop Discount Code (UK Only)
- Flights
- Personal Travel Insurance
- Optional excursions in Medellin (e.g. Comuna13 tour, museums and galleries etc.)
- 3 Lunches in Medellin and dinner on the first night, this is to allow flexibility to do sightseeing, jetlag recovery and also for some personal exploring though I would be happy to make recommendations and reservations for these meals if required.
FAQ's
I'd suggest you leave any fancy watches and jewellery at home, don't use your expensive smart phone on the street, only travel by Uber or a licenced taxi when in the city, and don't go exploring unknown neighbourhoods at night, on your own.
Away from the city they are dirt roads, a bit like green lanes in the UK, but they are also used by cars, buses, trucks and horses. If you've never ridden on a trail before, then I'd suggest trying it before you travel. I can recommend a few places in the UK, and if there's enough interest, perhaps even arrange a pre-tour weekend for those that are interested.
What are the bikes?
What is the seat height?
Could a non-riding partner come along?
Maybe. The bikes have rear foot pegs but due to the terrain and the 16.5hp bikes, it is not recommended to ride two-up.
There is possibly one space in the support vehicle on each tour if you have a non-riding partner who would like to come along. The vehicle will follow the same route as the bikes with the same stops unless the trail is too rough. They may get diverted if one of the riders needs some assistance, or if a ferry isn't running and there's only small boats for motorcycles, but otherwise we travel together. The vehicle has the snacks so will never be far away!