The Jurassic Expedition into the Tisquizoque Windows
This experience takes you to one of the most amazing and unknown destinations of Colombia. This place is a picture taken out of a Jurassic Park poster, with a magnificent waterfall falling over 300 meters and coming out of a 30 meter wide cave up in the mountain. The area is full of other incredible landmarks and nature which we will visit in our way to this paradise in a mix of unpaved roads and singletrack which only a few people can say they have ridden.
This is not just a Bike tour but an expedition into the wild unexplored side of Colombia while still being relatively close to civilization. It is a challenge that will absolutely reward you not just on the bike but on the many other activities and natural attractions to visit.
Colombia is one of the world’s most amazing yet unknown destinations for nature and adventure sports. It was recently nominated as the second best country to visit in the world in 2017. The combination of nature and people makes for a great biking destination and breeding ground to world class cyclists.
This trip gives you a personalized and exclusive experience in a group of no more than 25 people, to places not other tour operator will take you and at a reasonable price for the full service you get. Don’t hesitate, join us and start training for real adventure.
KEY POINTS
Type of ride
Expedition
Physical Level
7 / 9
Technical Level:
5 / 9
DATES AND PRICES
Next Date:
15-18 October 2021 (4 days, 3 Nights)
Price:
USD 559
Deposit:
USD 50
Group Size:
Minimum 4
Máximum 30
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Transportation/Support Vehicle from your hotel or airport and back for you and your bike.
- Route design and logistics into a hidden gem of Colombia.
- Professionally trained english speaking guides (and ride buddy) and mechanic
- 4×4 Support vehicle
- One night in the town of Chiquinquirá in a 3 stars hotel.
- 2 nights accomodation in rural hotels during the trip
- 3 meals and sports hydration per day
- Entrance to the waterfalls, caves with local guides that will give you the context and story behind the attractions.
- Prizes for the winners of our internal challenges (hillclimber, technical mastery, navigator)
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Personal items purchased during the trip
- Optional activities not scheduled
- Gratuities for your guides
itinerary
We will pick you and your assembled bike up in your hotel in Bogotá friday during the morning and then head onto 
the town of Chiquinquirá located a bit under 3 hours by car where will will spend the night in a very comfortable boutique hotel (the best available in the town). We will get our bikes ready, do a warm-up ride if time allows, and then after a good meal and a briefing of the adventure, we will get some rest for the adventure up ahead.
If you need/prefer assembling your bike by professional mechanic we can arrange that for you in advance.
Next day we will take breakfast early and be joined by the local riders coming from other parts of the country. Once we are ready and our basic luggage for 3 days is in the car we will start our adventure pedaling out of town and then start a 10km climb in unpaved roads to the mountain crossing 3400mts above sea level.
From then onwards, we will enjoy the long descent into warmer lands in unpaved rough roads. Along the way we will get into a few singletracks that will make it even more fun. Eventually we will go into the la Venta canyon and be surrounded by massive stone and jungle covered walls. In the afternoon we will arrive to the main attraction, The Tisquizoque Windows, just in time to see the sun go down from the best possible viewpoint and a typical lunch. After this, a short ride and we’ll be in our hotels in the nearby isolated town of Florian.
We will visit the amazing site of the Tisquizoque Windows waterfall, mountain and cave. We will ride a few singletracks and spend a nice time in the river contemplating the amazing view from below.
After this we will take a singletrack down to cross the river and then continue in unpaved roads with mixed uphill/downhill to head to our next wonder, the Chiconal water chute. Leaving our bikes for a short hike to the base of another amazing waterfall where we will be able to take a bath. Next to it we will climb to an amazing open cavern with incredible rock formations created over thousands if not millions of years.
Back in our bikes we will reach the lowest point of the expedition and start climbing towards lunch in a small nearby town. Our last pedaling stretch will take us to the neighboring town where we will spend the night.
Leaving this paradise behind is hard because of its beauty but also because we will have a demanding climb in gravel roads up ahead. We’ll start early a pedal towards the twin waterfalls where will have a snack enjoying the view of this gorge. Then we will keep gaining altitude towards the mountain pass which we will reach below 3000 meters altitude. This long climb will surely put to test your lungs and legs as the vegetation changes from warm to colder weather, but remember the support vehicle will be there in case the challenge towards the summit proves to be too hard.
From the summit we should see once again the highlands plains and the town of Chiquinquira. The prize will be a nice mixed single track back into town with a great view all the time.
We will go back to the hotel to get a shower and then return to Bogotá where we will drop you in the night in your hotel of choice in the city.
Single accomodation USD 20 depending on availability
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND LOGISTICS
en blanco
"DON'T WORRY" POLICIES
Free Pre-Registration: not sure you want to go yet? just give us some information and we’ll help you decide if this ride is for you and clear any doubts.
Refundable & reusable Deposit: You want to go and not loose your place but still you have to sort out flights, permissions and other details. You can place a deposit for 10% of the ride cost and have 2 weeks (14 days) to get a refund minus the transaction fees, or you can use that deposit for any other date or trip we offer.
Minimum trip size: We want to give you a great price but to do that, we need at least 4 people to run this trip at the advertised price. For groups of 1 to 3 people you can make it private by covering the minimum cost (which will still is affordable compared to other offerings) and this will be notified 60 days in advance to give you enough time. We will avoid cancelling a trip at all costs.
GET THERE AND BACK
Ending point: The ride ends in Bogotá. We will offer a drop off in El Dorado International Airport on day 3 or in the hotel of your choosing if you plan to extend your stay.
Flights: Flights are not included and we do not book them, we try to help you in the process in any case. Skyscanner can give you a good idea of flights to choose from.
Visas: Most countries do not need a Visa for Colombia. But be sure to check it out online.
TIPS TO REALLY ENJOYING THE TRIP
Fitness and Skill levels: One of the key points to have a great time is to be honest in your fitness and skill levels. This trip in particular can be physically demanding and recommended to an intermediate rider or above but remember the main goal is to challenge and enjoy yourself and there will be a support vehicle that can pick you up if you feel too tired. There are just a few sections of singletrack in this route so it’s not technically advanced. We follow the 9 level Skill and Fitness classification which can be seen here. During your booking we also ask about your previous riding experience and goals to make sure you this is the right fit or you.
OTHER INFORMATION
Food: Breakfasts, ride snacks and lunch are included in this trip. We select restaurants for their quality and cleanliness to avoid illness. Dinners can be taken at local restaurants for a price around 10-20USD depending on the place. There is always a risk of contracting food borne illness in tropical countries, please be careful on what you choose to eat to avoid problems.
Visas: All travelers require a valid passport (with a minimum of 6 months validity). Citizens of some countries will also require a visa. For more information, visit the World Travel Guide website.
Insurance: We include an accident assistance insurance that covers local medical expenses in case of injury during the trip but we encourage you to get an additional insurance for any other situations not related to the trip.
Tipping: We encourage you to tip your guides if you feel you had a good service from them. Our guides are well payed but we also give you a very good price compared to the market so you can save a bit for your guides. A 3% to 7% of the trip total is a normal range (45 to 120 USD).
Safety and Security: Colombia is a much safer place than the news tell and the places we will visit should not pose any security risks, however you should exercise common sense and caution at all times. We recommend that you always stick to set travel arrangements, and avoid unknown areas. We also recommend that you wear minimal jewelry and that you keep valuable items safely stored. Always keep a copy of your passport, airline tickets, travelers checks and credit card numbers separate from where you keep the originals.
WHAT TO BRING
Renting a Bike: You can rent a bike with us for the duration of the trip if you prefer to save the effort of bringing it here. We will get you a medium-high range bike in very good condition with flat pedals and checked by a mechanic. If you use clipless pedals, please bring them with your shoes. It can be full suspension or a hardtail depending on your preference and the availability. You can choose this option when paying.
The gear: The usual MTB gear is required such as helment, gloves, padded cycling shorts, cycling jersey. Basic tools and a puncture repair kit. The rides will be in temperate weather mostly although rain is very likely as the weather changes. We’ll send you a packing list when you book.
registrations
You can register and pay online easily and quickly. You can also pre-register and we will get in touch.
questions?
4 DAY EXPEDITION
Discover this hidden jewel in a real adventure4 DAY EXPEDITION + BIKE
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