Two Days - Coast and Jungle
Enjoy the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the coast
Day 1: Bonda - Into the jungle
We pick you up at your hotel and then go to our homebase in Bonda, which is actually only 20 minutes from Santa Marta centre. Your first dirtroad starts directly at our doorsteps and you can get familiar with the motorbike during a small roundtour of Bonda. Then we start our jungle-trip and the rest of the day will be: spectacular trails, hidden waterfalls, visiting a cocoa-farm and much more. We spend the night in Carpe Diem, a beautiful jungle lodge in the hills. They have an amazing pool upstairs from which you can overlook the Sierra Nevada from above. An unforgettable sight!
Day 2: Palomino - Along the coast
After having a delicious breakfast in Carpe Diem, we start our tour along the coast. You will see the most beautiful and hidden Caribean beaches before we arrive in Palomino, the actual hot spot on the coast. We`ll have lunch there and relax a while on the beach before we leave the tarmac road and climb the hills of the quebrada del sol. This is a breathtaking roundtrip in the Sierra Nevada, you will wish it never ends. After finishing this offroad-dream-loop, we return to Bonda/Santa Marta.
What to expect:
This tour is not for absolute beginners. You should have some basic experience with offroad riding. The trails are easy as long as it is not during rain season.
Tour Costs: 249 Euro I 2 Days I Leaving on request. Minimum 2 Persons
Three Days - Cabo de la Vela
Where the desert meets the Caribean Sea - learn about the Wayúu culture
Day 1: Riohacha
Leaving Santa Marta/Bonda we head towards Palomino on the beautiful coastal highway. Before getting there you will have the chance to discover some fantastic Caribean beaches almost untouched by tourism, as well as the legendary dirtroad "Quebrada del sol" which goes through the Sierra Nevada and will leave you with your mouth open. We`ll have lunch at the beach of Palomino and then go on to Riohacha. The nice fisherman-village Dibulla is on our way as well as the flamingo-reserve Camarones. Riohacha welcomes you with a long beachfront where you can see and buy the colourful handcrafted mochilas of the Wayúu tribe.
Day 2: Cabo de la Vela
In the early morning we start our way into the desert. A tarmac road leads us to Quatro Vías and then Uribia, where we will fill up our gasoline. Our route will first be along the railway of the famous coal-train of the mine "El Cerrejón". Then we head north on some sandy trails until we reach the ocean again. You will see the places where the Wayúu live and finally we reach the Cabo de la Vela. There is time enough to do a little tour to the lighthouse and the "Pilón de Azúcar" before dinner is served: delicious fish and lobster as fresh as it can get. Get into your hammock and enjoy!
Day 3: Santa Marta
The village Manaure is on our way back, famous for it`s indigenous salt flats. Already from a distance you can see the salty, pink lakes - and the poor workers who have to do this extraordinarily hard job. A dirtroad takes us to Riohacha again, where we will have lunch. We stay on the coastal highway now and go on to Buritaca where we can have a nice refreshing sweetwater-swim in the river. In the late afternoon we will be back in Santa Marta.
What to expect:
This tour cannot be done without offroad experience at all. There is lots of tarmac, too, but in the desert we have sandy parts and the Sierra Nevada lo0p isn`t for beginners neither.
Tour Costs: 395 Euro I 3 Days I Leaving at request 2 persons minimum
Six Days - Cartagena/Mompox
Sunshine, beach and Sierra Nevada - our "best of" tour
Day 1: Juan de Acosta
Our way leads us along the caribbean coast, passing Cienaga where fresh fish is offered directly in the streets. You will see the ocean to your right and the wild mangroves to your left. After passing Barranquilla we leave the main road and ride through the countryside until we reach the small village Juan de Acosta where we stay in "El Cielo". Cielo means heaven and this is exactly what it feels like when we relax on the amazing terrace while the owner John prepares his spectacular local food only for us.
Day 2: Cartagena
Several dusty dirt roads lead us to a funny attraction of the Colombian coast: the Totumo, a small volcano. He doesn`t have lava inside but a sort of fango which the people say has healing forces. You might have a little bath and see if this is true. After that we go to the famous town of Cartagena, where we will arrive early enough to go and admire the beautiful colonial centre and enjoy the spectacular sunset from the wall of the ancient city.
Day 3: Cartagena - Isla Barú
Today we leave our bikes and get into one the the boats that are waiting in the little harbour of the old town. We are going to visit the famous "Islas del Rosario", an archipel of 28 small island surrounded by cristal clear water and corals. Get enchanted by the beauty of the place and go swimming, snorkeling or diving before we get to the legendary beach of Playa Blanca and may order a delicious piña colada under the palm trees. In the late afternoon the boat will take us back to Cartagena.
Day 4: Mompox
We follow our route and reach San Jacinto, famous for its handcraft. Colorful hammocks and the local "mochilas" can be bought at a fair price. On a winding tarmac road and a little offroad adventure, we arrive at the ferry and cross the Río Magdalena. The views of this landscape are simply impressive, it is rural Colombia and not at all touristic. At the end of the day we will arrive in Mompox where we will stay this night.
Day 5: Fundación
In the morning there is still some time to enjoy the very special atmosphere in Mompox. The old town has been restored during the past years and is now getting back its colonial charme. In contrast to Cartagena it is quiet and not at all turbulent. A nice place to relax and let the mind wander. A stroll along the riverside or a visit of the famous goldsmiths completes our stay before we get back on the dirtroads heading north. Tonight`s stay will be in the small town Fundación.
Day 6: Santa Marta
Leaving Fundación it is just a short ride on the highway, the so-called "Ruta del Sol" to the next adventure in the Sierra Nevada. A fantastic dirtroad is winding uphill along tomato-plantations, banana fields and coffee, coffee, coffee. The village of San Javier will mark the end of our road. Here we will have lunch together with the local coffee-farmers and get some insights in the "real" Colombian life. You will be tempted to stay because it is just so beautiful up there, but in the early afternoon we start our way back to Santa Marta.
What to expect:
This tour is intermediate to advanced level. It sometimes will take all day and you should be able to still concentrate after several hours of riding. The dirtroads are easy as long as it doesn`t rain.
Tour Costs: 1499 Euro I 6 Days I Leaving on request Minimum 2 persons
Included:
- an AKT 200 motorcycle and gas
- Helmet and gloves
- Medical insurance
- Multilingual guide (Spanish, English, German)
- Water, snacks, lunch
- night accomodation
What to bring:
- drivers license
- swimsuit and towel
- sunscreen
- insect repellent
- wash bag (toothbrush, etc.)