This is a year later, but the two more direct routes between Popayan and La Plata (26 and 24) are apparently very dangerous right now (geurrilla territory). I happened to be staying in a hotel next to the police station, and police stopped me and sent me back around, showing me videos of FARC blocking the road, shooting at vehicles, and ramming vehicles that tried to escape. Sounds like there are instances of stealing vehicles or kidnapping people.

It's a shame because I did a stretch of the 26 the day before, and it was an amazing road. He sent me back through Garzón and San Agustín (the latter being a great place to stop and explore).

These were no go roads 2 years ago - we carried on down and crossed over via the Trampoline.

My wife and I just did San Agustin to Papayan without issue on a motocycle.

The next day in the evening news, there were reports of FARC stopping people along that route.

I live in Pereira, look me up, we host travelers on our farm.

Cauca
 

The department of Cauca is not so safe right now
Popayan is the capital and a very political city full of universities on political study.
Most presidents in Colombia studied in Popayan
The Farc are raising hell and making a lot of news lately .
A brand new Ducati V4 multistrada was stolen in plane sight on a road that Im not sure which one but it is probably Route 20 to San Augustine or 24 , 26 to la Plata.
I have been on these routes. stunningly beautiful and not much traffic and I was wondering why.
Its Home of the FARC they hide in these hills It was the FARC that stole this Colombians pride. they did it to make a statement it happened early this year
Be Careful In Cauca
Popayan is safe and very beautiful.

The only time I was stopped by the FARC was about 5-6yrs ago in the national park between Popayan and San Agustin.

It was about 8am, 6-7 guys in ski masks and wearing "botas de caucho" rubber boots. That's how you normally know they are not military, look at the boots.

They stopped me, asked a few questions, radioed to someone, and let me go on my way. A squeaky bum moment!

hell in the hills
 

I used to work in Neiva and did hell of lot of riding in the department of Huila
I drove in areas in the mountains that just gave you a creepy feeling after seeing watch towers in the middle of nowhere WTF. then I would see a designated Battalion encampment This is the birth place of the Farc
el presidentes stomping grounds
I have never had a problem off the beaten track of Colombia I only wish I had a lighter bike but sometime these machines are on the radar of bad guys
The F700gs seems to be a machine that nobody in the mafia world has interest in.
if I had a XR,DR KLR or XT 660 I would have a huge concern these are the bikes that get stolen all the time

I was on a KTM 1190R :-)

safety
 

1190 definitely not on the radar of thieves they would probably die within one block if the rode away and probably not find a truck big enough if they wanted to lift it
I live in Valledupar right now 2 hours from the Caribbean and parking at malls is free, it is great
I park at the underground parking at Homecenter /Guatapuri a beautiful mall with airconditioning and the first time I went into the lot the attendant said go park in a car stall beside his post he said your bike is too big for the Moto stalls. WOW unheard of in Colombia I sometimes forget to take the keys out of the ignition and nothing happens 100 % secure
what a pleasure living here

Valledupar is a great small city. Stayed there a few times riding around that part of Colombia. Loved hanging out at the river on a Sunday night. Pity it gets so damn hot in the daytime! jaja

I would stay off Route 20 to San Augustine or 24, 26 to la Plata.

I just traveled by bus from Quito to Ipiales and Ipiales to Cali. I wouldn't spend too much time in the border towns of Tulcan or Ipiales. Pasto, Colombia is a sketchy town at night. I've witnessed a fight at the bus station at night, lots of homeless people, lots of police there. Don't take your phone out on the streets in Pasto, even during the day. I get the feeling Popayan is probably sketchy at night too, but I've only been to the bus station. Cali also has a higher crime rate and is somewhere you want to be careful at night. Had a thief following me around the bus station.

There are lots of police checkpoints between Ipiales and Pasto. It is a big drug smuggling route and drug activity route so be ready to be stopped by the police at one of these documents and have to show your documents.

Something interesting that I saw at one of the police checkpoints, is there was police military guy hiding in the bushes with his machine gun. He was watching the police on the road and was ready to jump out in case someone tried to ambush them.