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Route:
Technical Characteristics:
Route Profile: Medium. Activities include biking, rafting, kayaking, canyoning and hiking
Distance: 236 km
Travel Season: Daily arrival between January 2 and December 31, 2023
Accommodation:
Private rooms in small lodgings, village hotels, rural accommodation or traditional farms. Charming, cozy places that allow you to rest with the tranquility that each community provides. All places have typical, regional architecture to appreciate and experience.
A tour that gives you the unique opportunity to discover the natural and cultural wealth of Colombia, from the Andes Region to the Caribbean Coast. Routes and activities are designed to enjoy the most unique, incomparable natural regions of the country. During 15 days, you’ll cycle between mountains of coffee, cocoa, and fruit plantations and the most representative tropical dry forest in Colombia. You’ll walk on paths in the heart of tropical forests. You’ll descend the most important rivers of the country in boat and will navigate the Caribbean in search of the ideal places to snorkel. Definitely, the biggest risk you’ll take is wanting to stay.
Itineraries
Day 1
Meet in Pereira. Transfer to Coffee Farm and the First Ride 15 km (1.5 - 2 hours)
Pickup time: After 1:00 p.m. We will go by Jeep Willys to the coffee farm, outside of Pereira. This afternoon, we will fit the bicycles, we will see the map of the journey, have a technical instruction and then a warm-up ride around the Natural Park "Serranía Alto del Nudo".
Day 2
Pereira Station – The Route of the Local Means of Transport 20 km (2.5 hours); Hiking 1.5 km (Optional)
Today we will go by Jeep Willys to the start point at the other side of Pereira. We will take our bikes to ride through coffee cultivations in the Andes Mountains and descend to one of the most important rivers in Colombia – the Cauca River. There, embark the “Brujita” – a unique transportation system that has a wooden platform and ball bearings that displace over the rails of the antique train track – an emotion filled journey. Next, take another native Colombian transportation system called “Garrucha” that is a basket made of metal and wood that hangs from steel cables which allows you to cross the Cauca River to the reach the banks of a town named Belalcazar, Caldas. Rest and walk approximately 30 minutes to a series of waterfalls, the ideal place to swim in cool, pristine waters.
Day 3
Ulloa/Quimbaya – The Route of the Beautiful Valley 38 km (3 hours) and Coffee Tour
You will ride through three of the four departments that are part of the world heritage site, the Coffee Cultural Landscape, declared by UNESCO. It’s a day of changing landscapes that allow you to appreciate the agricultural, cultural and natural wealth of the Coffee Region. Large areas of livestock, extensive coffee cultivations, and many other cultivations, including orchards, are just a few landscapes you’ll appreciate during this bike ride. Moreover, learn about and experience the complete Colombian coffee process, icon of our country. Every sense will come alive to listen to, smell, see, and taste one of the best coffees in the world. In the same farm you will taste many Colombian fruits and you'll see a private collection of beautiful flowers.
Day 4
Filandia – The Route to the Quindío Lookout 30 km (4 hours)
This route, surrounded by coffee and plantain cultivations, will lead us to the municipality of Filandia, a small coffee producing, artisan village. One of the most beautiful villages in the Department of Quindio, popularly called Illuminated Hill, referring to its altitude and beautiful, panoramic view of the region. In the afternoon, visit some artisan stores and walk through the streets of this traditional village.
Day 5
Cocora Valley and Salento – The Route of the Wax Palm Tree 16 km (3 hours)
Ride to the municipality of Salento. In the first stage of this ride, you’ll be close to the Barbas Bremen Natural Park, inhabited by diverse species of flora and fauna of the region. The next stage of the bike ride will take you through timber cultivations – eucalyptus and pine – riding on the Coffee Highway that leads to Salento, famous for its original architecture represented in the colonial houses and balconies of the town, as well as its artisan shops. After eating a delicious and typical lunch, perusing the streets of this beautiful town, then go to the Valle de Cocora, the door to Los Nevados National Natural Park.
Day 6
Land transfer from the city of Pereira to Neiva 317 km (7 hours)
Approximately seven hours of travel between these two cities. We will take some breaks to rest, eat, and enjoy the spectacular landscapes that change, dramatically, while crossing the Central Range of the Andes Mountains. This seven hour trip will allow you to see and experience different topographies, climates, temperatures, cultures, and the gastronomy of the departments of Risaralda, Quindío, Tolima and Huila.
Day 7
La Tatacoa Desert - The Tropical Dry Forest Route 30 km (3.5 hours); Hiking – 2 km (Optional)
environment to ride a bicycle, and one of the most beautiful in the country. Nearing 40 degrees during the day, this desert will put anyone’s resistance to the test who dares cross it. Its only motivation is its dazzling beauty for those who face this challenge. It’s a place filled with magic and stories about the Magdalena River, including paleontology and stories of beings from other worlds. To finish a day of splendor, we will go to the Astronomy Observatory to see, up close and personal, the different stars, galaxies, and planets that surround our own.
Day 8
Yaguará – The Mirador Route 20 km (3 hours); Boat trip and Kayaking
We’ll take advantage of this day to recover with a relaxing 20 kilometer bike ride. Riding through the Yaguará Municipality, between rice cultivations and cattle ranches, we’ll arrive at the Alto de la Zeta – a place that allows us to appreciate the greatness of the Betania Reservoir. Early afternoon, you can enjoy a boat trip on the Betania Reservoir to appreciate this amazing mirror of water, and if you want, you can practice kayaking. A day of rest and recovery, all surrounded of a beautiful landscape.
Day 9
Iquira/Tesalia – The Route between Rivers 28 km (3 hours)
Surrounded by the Magdalena, Yaguará and Paez Rivers, this route gives us a glimpse into the great tributaries of the region – a zone filled with life that supplies water and food to the habitants of the Department of Huila. We will ride until we reach the municipality of Tesalia, passing through Iquira. Iquira is known for its characteristically mountainous topography, alternating with valleys, plateaus, hills and small canyons. Arriving at Tesalia, we will visit a cheese factory for a Quesadilla tasting, a delicious local treat that combines traditional cheese with sweet guava.
Day 10
Paicol – Territory Paez Route 24 km (2 hours); Rafting
Another fun day as we ride between mountains and cow farms only for approximately two hours. This will be a relaxing day because of the easy route. Afterwards, we will begin our descent reaching the banks of the mythical Paez River where we will leave our bicycles to go white water rafting. For two hours, you will experience the thrill of Class II and III rapids until arriving to Paicol where we will return to the hotel and rest after such an adventurous day.
Day 11
Campoalegre/Rivera – The Hot Springs Route 15 km (2 hours); Canyoning/Rappel
This will be your compensation for 10 days of demanding physical activity, a tough challenge but definitely not impossible. All this to enjoy a waterfall of approximately 22 meters, a good place for rappelling, and then splitting with direction towards the Green Municipality of Huila, Rivera. This town has many different hot springs, the ideal place to rest, relax, and recover your body and mind. You’ve earned it!
Day 12
Airport transfer – Travel to Santa Marta City
This day we will transfer from the hotel to the airport in Neiva to catch your flight to Santa Marta. There’s a layover in Bogota. Because of the uncertainty of flights, no activities are planned this day.
Day 13
Tayrona National Park – Where the Jungle Meets The Sea Hiking 10 km (4 hours)
Today, hike through one of the most beautiful, and famous, National Natural Parks in the country. Ecosystems like mangroves, coral reefs, algae meadows, thorny thickets, and magical dry, humid, and cloud forests proliferate and host a surprising variety of plant and animal species as a testimony to the abundant biodiversity that lives here. Here, white sand beaches preserve a special environment that invites travelers to explore, enjoy, and relax.
Day 14
Taganga – Fisherman Village and the Ideal Place to Snorkel; Snorkel and Boat Trip
Located in a bay, surrounded by mountains, Taganga is the best place to witness how a population can live from the life long tradition of fishing. Enjoy local cuisine and observe some of the most spectacular sunsets over the Caribbean Sea. In the afternoon, after a boat ride, there is time to snorkel around one of the coral reefs that border the Santa Marta Coast, one of the most beautiful in the Colombian Caribbean. End the day resting and contemplating life next to the sea, charging your batteries for your trip back home.
Day 15
Airport Transfer – End of the tour
In the morning, you’ll have time to visit some artisan shops, perfect places to pick up souvenirs and gifts for loved ones at home. At the set time, the bus will pick you up to take you to the Santa Marta Airport, to end a 15-day tour of culture, nature, and magic.
Prices
Included:
- Accommodation in village hotels or traditional farms - private rooms
- Land transfer from the city of Pereira to Neiva
- Flight from Neiva to Santa Marta
- Internal transports
- Outdoor activities: kayaking, rafting, hiking, canyoning, snorkel and boat trip
- Luggage transfer
- Pick up and drop off the participants at the hotel or airport of Pereira
- All meals
- Snacks and hydration (water and isotonic drinks)
- Visits to artisan workshops, farms and admission to the above-mentioned natural r rural attractions
- Mountain bike and helmet rental
- Technical and safety instruction
- Maps and route profiles
- Waterproof layer in case of rain
- Souvenir and digital photos of the activity
- Hotel insurance and taxes
- Insurance for adventure activities/medical assistance card
- Bilingual (Spanish/English) guide specialized in nature and adventure activities
Not Included:
- Expenses and services not specified in the plan
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