north of bogotá lies an amazing land to explore
The provinces of Cundinamarca, Boyacá and Santander may not be as known as other regions of Colombia but they hold many natural and cultural wonders. The most beautiful colonial towns, highland plateaus, deep canyons, incredible waterfalls, authentic rural life and a diverse culture. This Bike Tour allows you to discover the Andes Region north of Bogotá in a way that few have seen. On top of this get to ride impressive trails and climb a few mountains in this mix of guided great cycling routes and activities. It is a mix of popular and hidden destinations that are absolutely worth the trip.
key facts
Type of experience:
Expedition
Physical Level:
4/9 (See levels)
Technical Level:
4/9 (See Levels)
Group Size:
Minimum
4 Max 12
DATES AND PRICES OF THE CHALLENGE
Dates:
September 19th to 27th 2019 (FULL)
February 22 to March 1st 2020 (open)
Price:
See Below
Bike Colombia tours are a blend of adventure and the best possible experience to discover hidden wonders and must-see attractions. Where support logistics, planning and guidance are not a luxury but a key part of a memorable experience.
Among the sites we explore in this route is:
- The city of Bogotá
- The Tominé Reservoir and the town of Guatavita
- The Guasca Hot Springs
- The Villa de Leyva colonial town and landscape
- The Chocó Cave and the Virgin’s Mantle Waterfall
- Cocoa, Sugar Cane and Coffee farms
- The Gachas natural river pools
- The Towns of Barichara and San Gil along with the Suarez and Chicamocha canyons
Each day we rode to new wonders, with the support and logistics needed in such an adventure.
Itinerary
day 1: Welcome and discover Bogotá
The first day we’ll get to know a bit about the biggest city and capital of the country while we get ready for the days ahead. We will pick you up in your hotel or airport and then take you to our base hotel. We will then test and fit the mountain bikes to be used for the rest of the trip. After lunch we will take you to the neighborhood of la Candelaria where we will enjoy a guided Bike Tour of the city and get to know some of the city’s landmarks.
We’ll have dinner in a delicious typical restaurant to discover a bit of the local Savana Cuisine and brief you in the details of the coming days.
Stay in Bogotá.
Ride distance: 15-20 Km
Day 2: The Plateau all mountain charm
We’ll leave the sounds of the city in the morning and transfer to the town of Guatavita where we will enjoy one of the best all mountain bike rides around the Savannah. Starting from the lovely town of Guatavita, we will have an amazing view of the valley and the Tominé reservoir while we shred some singletrack and dirt roads. Our ride will start here and will take us to Guasca where we will end the pedaling by enjoying the hot springs. We will then transfer to the town of Villa de Leyva and spend the late afternoon and night discovering this really beautiful colonial town and staying in our charming boutique hotel.
Ride distance: 22 miles (35 Km) – All Mountain
Stay in Villa de Leyva.
Day 3: Behold Villa de Leyva
We will ride around the towns that form the Ricaurte province in which Villa de Leyva lies. The province has been nominated to be in UNESCO’s world heritage sites for it’s beauty and rich history. We’ll pass through Sutamarchan to eat their flagship sausages (veggie options such as the Boyacá “arepa” are available) and Santa Sofía in a circuit that goes through deserts, and fertile valleys. We will visit the Blue ponds, The Winery and also the Angels pass in the way. We will stay in Villa de Leyva once again.
Day 4: Singletrack, Valleys and Caves
We will transfer in the morning to the town of Arcabuco home of the “Almojabanas” local pastry. We will then get on our Bikes and continue to the town of Gámbita. In the way we’ll get a full view of the Iguaque mountains and a hidden Valley where the diminute town of “La Palma” lies. To reach it, we will take singletrack that passes through rivers and farms. After a snack in the town square, we will continue on our bike along a dirt road stopping for a short hike that will lead us to discover the Chocó cave with its rock formations, natural pools and lush wildlife. The end of this ride will be in the town of Gámbita in a very comfortable hotel to rest for the night.
Day 5: The amazing waterfall ride
Since we’re in Gambita we will visit another must-see yet little-known natural attraction, the Virgin’s Mantle Waterfall. This beautifull waterfall covers the rocky surface forming a white veil seen from miles away. It has about 400 meters in total with multiple falls down to the bottom of the canyon which itself is a marvelous sight. We’ll also visit the Rainbow Waterfall and see first hand why it’s named that way. We’ll get on the transportation and head to our next destination in the town of Oiba.
Day 6: Natural river pools and off to San Gil
Our next ride will take us to visit a rising natural attraction: the Las Gachas natural pools. These pools have formed through thousands of years of water carving the rock and are a sight to see. The ride will take us trought the green and warm hills of sugar cane, coffee and yuca fields. After a much deserved dip in the pools and lunch we will hop in our transport to go to our next location, the town of San Gil. Adventure epicenter of Colombia.
Day 7: San Gil to Barichara
San Gil has a multitude of adventure sports activities and probably the best known is their white water river rafting. We will off course try it and then get on our bikes heading towards the town of Barichara, another colonial jewel. To get there we will go around the Suarez river canyon, catching some truly beatitul landscapes and then climb to Barichara where we will be staying in a boutique lodge.
Day 8: riding the ancient german trails
We’ll start from Barichara annd then take the ancient network of trails built by the german colonizers who settled in the area. We will then reach the town of Guane and then head towards the town of Cabrera. Both of them are charming places that still carry their unique authenticity. From Cabrera we will drop into the canyon and pedal by the river until we reach the crossing and the final ascent to end our ride.
We’ll get lunch and then start heading back towards Bogotá by transfering to the town of Puente Nacional for some well deserved rest.
Day 9: Farewell ride and back to Bogotá
We’ll do our last ride in this adventure back in the highlands plateau that covers the provinces of Cundinamarca and Boyacá (home of cycling legends such as Nairo Quintana, Egan Bernal, Superman Lopez). This time in the town of Susa, one of the best locations for singletrack trails and enduro MTB riding. We’ll get to ride a few of the trails with the goal of being back before 10:00 am and continuing our return towards Bogotá. By 2-3 pm, depending on the traffic, we should be back in the city and dropping you in your hotel of choice or in the airport if your schedule requires it. Please don’t schedule your flights before 6:00pm.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Transportation including bikes and small luggage along the planned itinerary
- Logistics and preparation of a unique and exclusive experience
- All Breakfasts and lunches and 2 dinners
- Hydration and snacks while pedaling
- 9-day Accident Insurance.
- Emergency Assistance, logistics
- Driving guide and bilingual guides on bicycle (1 per 6 riders)
- Support Vehicle for 9 days
- Entry fees to the different attractions and local guides.
WHAT’s not INCLUDEd:
- Personal Items purchased during the expedition.
- Drinks or extra meals you want to buy on the way.
- Other Activities
- Tips for your Guides
registration
If you are ready, book or Register now! The worst regret is not to live life to the fullest, and you will not regret this adventure.
THE FULL Biker plan
The perfect combination of riding and places to discover, transportation includedtour plus bike rental
Including a well equipped hardtail mountain bike for the 8 days of ridingMore information? other payment methods?
Or Use the Pre-registration option where we will inform you of the means of payment and we will call you directly.