Riding in Colombia - Horizons Unlimited

**Werner** · #1 24 Aug 2005

If you decided to skip Colombia for various reasons, think again. This country has the best riding this side of the European Alps. It's high adventure, very much unlike the kindergarden rides you get with Edelweiss, or anywhere else. Why do you think there are no guided tours for lazy riders in Colombia?
After my takeout in Bogota I aimed for Bucaramanga. About 300 miles. A great ride, and a great road, mindboggling. The next day I rode over to Cucuta. Mountain riding, a hairraising experience, and partly on a road being reconstructed. Huge potholes, giant trucks vying for space, magnificent scenery: Colombia at its finest. Mindblowing.
For those insurancephobes like me: No insurance necessary. No Carnet was asked for. What they have in Colombia, which worried me: All bikers must wear a read plastic vest with their licence plate number in large letters on the back. Same for pilion. But I wasn't stopped once.
In conclusion: Don't miss Colombia. Riding here is as good as it gets.

**mattpope** · #2 24 Aug 2005

Hi Werner,

That is indeed a great road over to Bucaramanga and then over to Pamplona. But "the best riding this side of the Alps?" seems a bit of an exaggeration.

Been following your journey from back home after making a lap of South America and I shared your excitement after arriving in Colombia after Central America which overall had some fairly average biking compared to what is in store for you. The great news is that the riding is going to get better and better.

Colombia is great - one of my favourites, but the riding is not a patch on the Carretera Austral in Chile or some of the high Andean routes in Peru. The scenery gets more spectacular the further south you go.

You're gonna have have a great ride. Enjoy!

Matt

**dionysos** · #3 10 Sep 2005

Werner.

Hope you´re lightning fast travels are going seamlessly.

Thanks for the writeup of Girag shipping- It was extremely useful, and our bikes are currently in the care of Girag, while we enjoy Bogota.

A few quick questions:
How often were you stopped by Police/Military?
Did they ever ask for Insurance?
Did they ask about the jersey that EVERYONE else seems to wear? Did you get a jersey? If so, from where?

Take care, and hopefully our paths will cross nearby again!

All the best,

Will

**Chris Smith** · #4 10 Sep 2005

I´ve just done pretty much the same route through Colombia and as Werner says it is pretty fantastic. To answer your Q´s from our (with the missis) experiance there:
We were never questioned about not having an orange jacket. As far as I could tell it is only needed for bikes (or bikers) registered in Colombia.
We were never asked for insurance of any kind and its not a problem.
We were stopped by the military/police a million times! Every time was friendly and the greatest reasons were to have a quick look at the bike and a chat out of interest and to ask for a cigarette.
In short, Colombia is one of the friendliest countries you will ever visit with some of the best people in the world. Love it!

Chris

**Ride Far** · #5 11 Sep 2005

Agree on the praise for Colombia. We did get the bright orange vests though I have never heard of anyone hassled for not wearing one.

Riders may want to pick one up if only as a souvenir -- $12 or so & very unique with your license plate ## hand-stitched on in reflecting lettering. They can be found at the large moto shop neighborhood in Bogota. Alas, I shipped mine home via Ecuadoran postal service & it never arrived.

**dionysos** · #6 11 Sep 2005

Thanks for the responses.

We have got hold of some jackets because, like you say, it's quite a momento...

We'll have a think about insurance...

Thanks again for the feedback, so far we've been genuinely overwhelmed with how friendly this place is.

Looking forward to seeing outside the city.

Cheers,

Will