COLOMBIA - South America
 

Hi
I am currently travelling in Colombia, South America. I have just bought a 150 cc Bajaj boxer. Can any one recommend any nice routes, or unmissable places to visit. I am currently in Cartagena. I have already done the carribean coast east of Cartagena ( Barranquilla, Santa Marta, La Guajjira etc). I plan to now ride the bike along the west of Cartagena and then head south towards Medellin and beyond. Any secondary nice bike roads i.e little traffic, stunnning views would be greatly appreciated. Also, happy to double up with other bikers, if you are near or around Cartagena right now.

Cheers

Sameer.
PS ( I am male, 29, from UK. I speak basic level spanish).

That is a better route than south to Bogota from Barranquilla.

All the roads around/into Medellin are fun. Well worth the trip over to San Gil as well. Lots of great stuff there - not just roads. Go south from there to Bogota.

I miss that Country. Stayed there for about 1 1/2 years. Was only planning for 5 days.

greetings mate

I did the route from bogota up to baranquilla, cartagena then south through medellin then all the way to buenos aires about this time last year. The first section from cartagena to medellin in pretty flat and straight though as you get closer to medellin you hit the hills and some pretty nice riding. Beware when you get closer to medellin the traffic will get bad around the peak working hours so try to arrive outside of those hours. After medellin going south the riding is pretty spectacular and I can highly recommend a detour to manizales which is famous for it's coffee and is also a very groovy city, the whole region is very hilly and great for riding. After that I rode through pereira to cali then popayan, there aren't many other options for detours, though the riding is really picturesque. After that I headed to ecuador so I can't say what else there is to see inland, though I highly recommend that route, the people you will meet along the way will all be absolutely charming and there heaps to do in all the cities especially cali, which if you make you must stop off at casa blanca hotel, they will help you with all things bike and are very friendly and helpful..

hope that helps, good luck!!

I wouldn't miss San Agustin and Colombia's road of death, "Trampolina de la Muerta" from Mocoa over to Pasto, some nice hotsprings down in these areas. Great riding around the snow capped mountains of the high peaks El Coyue areas.

Viva Colombia, probably the best motorcycle friendly country in all of SA and right near the cheap gas of Venezuela also with some wonderful high Andes riding.

John back in Cartagena again sorting out my bike again after giving it a good beating coming over from Caracas.

Is it paved from Mocoa to Pitalito? Or gravel the entire way from Pasto to Pitalito?

IIRC it is paved from Mocoa to Pitalito but from Mocoa over on the Trampoline of Death road to Pasto is is gravel high twisty mountain road that is paved once you get closer to Pasto around the time you drop into the big valley.

Great riding down in the area. Mocoa has a good hostel run by an expat called Casa del Rio has some good swimming holes and hikes in the area.

Sameer, Sounds like a great trip you've got going. here are my two favorite Colombian roads so far. Neither has much traffic.
Departing West from Bogota take the road to Facatativa and continue over the mountains to Armero(the lost city). It is beautiful winding paved mountain route that crosses the Rio Magdalena. Armero was destroyed and thousands killed in an volcanic eruption 11/13/1985. It is like a modern Pompei. The best lodging is in Mariquita about 15KM north.
From there take the road to LIbano, then Murillo(fuel/food) then up to 4000ft. on the amazingly scenic backhttp://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/...80921972_o.jpgroad to Nevados de Ruiz volcano. This part is dirt and mud but I think your bike will be OK. On the other side take the road to Termas de Ruiz,which is closed but the caretakers graciously let you camp( under a roof on a thermally heated floor) and swim in the spring anyway. Bring something to read or eat for the caretakers, They are pretty isolated. From there continue downhill on an old, but not very rough jeep road to the outskirts of Manizales.