Gravel Cycling Adventure in Colombia

8 Days, Multiple Departures

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Gravel Cycling Adventure in Colombia
  • About
  • Gallery
  • Itinerary
  • Things to keep in mind
  • FAQ

Welcome to the coffee-scented mountains of the Western Colombian Andes. Filled with brightly colored towns and enchanting landscapes, Colombia’s main coffee-growing region is like something out of a fairytale, and perfect to discover Colombia by bike.

Our journey starts in the modern city of Medellín, city of eternal spring and birthplace of colourful Colombian artist Fernando Botero. Take in a 380 km loop east from Medellín into the mountains, past volcanoes and through coffee plantations. Stay in a magical mix of boutique guesthouses, rural eco-lodges & finish in style at a 5* hotel in the centre of Medellín.

Enjoy warm hospitality, delicious fresh food and soak up coffee culture.

Tour Highlights:

Discover Medellín by bike, the 'city of eternal spring' nestled on a high plane in the Andes mountains

Ride through Colombian coffee plantations & taste the best coffee in the world at its source

Bathe in the thermal waters at Termales Espiritu Santo

Discover the lush jungles & forests where Pablo Escobar built his luxury estate

Stay in local guesthouses, boutique hotels & finish in 5* luxury in Medellín

Is this tour for me?

ADVANCED

Rated 3 out of 4 our Advanced tours are designed for people who ride regularly and want back to back challenging days on the bike. Riders should be confident riding in a small group, comfortable on extended climbs (at your own pace) and have good bike handling skills on corners and descents. E-bikes are available on all of our tours.

About

Full Support

Local guesthouses & boutique hotels

Full board meals

Transfers from the meeting point in Medellín & back to Medellín

Airfare

Fly into Medellín.


"Their service is amazing. For our friends visiting Malaga, I have rented a bike several times. Every time the bike is clean, well-maintained, and adjusted to the length and weight of the rider. The team are an added value for Malaga. Their location in the historic center is perfect."

- Frank Van Os

Gallery
About The Host
Esteban and Ariel

Esteban and Ariel

Esteban is a Colombian cyclist passionate about everything with two wheels, mainly gravel! An expert in tours through Colombia, Esteban dedicates his time to traveling and knowing the best routes through his country.

Ariel is a triathlete from Argentina and has always loved to ride. After pursuing a sensible career in sales in Barcelona Ariel joined our Cycling Tours team to focus his life & career on... cycling!

Itinerary

Day 1 Welcome to Medellín!

Meet your guides and fellow riders in Medellín Centre and transfer (1 hour 40 mins) to our starting point on the shores of the Embalse del Peñol at 2,000 m altitude. We'll enjoy a relaxed afternoon getting the bikes set up and going for a warm-up ride before settling in to our first evening meal together.

EAT
Light lunch & evening meal

SLEEP
Embalse del Peñol

CYCLE
Warm-up ride, 35 km, 580 m

Day 2 Guatape to San Luis

The next day adventure calls! We strike a course south east through the forest. During the ride we'll descend from 2,000 m altitude to 600 m - rest assured there are still some good climbs to tackle en route! At the end of the ride we'll take a short transfer to tonight's hotel in Nápoles. In the afternoon there's an opportunity to visit Hacienda Nápoles, the estate of notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar.

EAT
Breakfast, lunch & evening meal

SLEEP
Nápoles

CYCLE
60 km, 845 m

Day 3 Doradal to La Cachaza

Our rest day ride takes us further south at lower altitudes. Cross from Antioquia to Caldas through farmland and open pastures. We'll pass through the town of San Miguel and hug the route of the Rio La Miel. In the afternoon relax in nature at our eco hotel or visit the Botanical Gardens of Magdalena - a centre dedicated to preserving the biodiversity of the region.

EAT
Breakfast, lunch & evening meal

SLEEP
Magdalena

CYCLE
37 km, 240 m

Day 4 La Cachaza to Norcasia

Today the climbing starts again as we start the journey west back towards Medellín. Our rolling route takes us towards the mountains on gravel tracks and a quiet country road. Farmland will give way to tropical vegetation as the altitude goes up! At our resting place in Norcasia a short detour to see the Mirador del Embalse Amaní is a must.

EAT
Breakfast, lunch & evening meal

SLEEP
Norcasia

CYCLE
64 km, 1,268 m

Day 5 Avani to Termales

Enjoy a spectacular day in the rural hills of Colombia! Ride west into the hills through coffee plantations and back into the Antioquia region. Our highest point of the day is 1,600 m, when we pass the Volcán el Escondido. At the end of the ride enjoy quality recovery in the natural hot springs. Disconnect and unwind in the spa or take a dip in the river.

EAT
Breakfast, lunch & evening meal

SLEEP
Antioquia

CYCLE
66 km, 1,789 m

Day 6 Termales to Sonson

The Queen stage of the tour packs a leg-sapping 2,500 m of elevation into just 55 km of riding. Climb high into the mountains on a mix of gravel & paved roads. Sleep in Sonson, a local town at 2,500 m. This is rural Colombia!

EAT
Breakfast, lunch & evening meal

SLEEP
Sonson

CYCLE
55 km, 2,512 m

Day 7 Mezopotamia to El Retiro

Today's grand finale is takes us cycling in coffee region. Ride on gravel tracks at altitude for the first half of the ride and enjoy a great descent to Nazareth. At the base of our last climb we'll stop for a delicious coffee at Café Finca El Reposo - taste the world's best coffee at its source! Our final climb takes us to El Retiro and the end of the road. After lunch we'll take a transfer to Medellín and celebrate the end of the ride in style!

EAT
Breakfast, lunch & evening meal

SLEEP
Medellín

CYCLE
69 km, 1,647 m

Day 8 Adios Colombia!

It's time to say adios to this beautiful country. Plan your onward travel from our last hotel in Medellín centre.

EAT

Breakfast

Things to keep in mind

Cancellations

Book your cycling tour with confidence. Booking a holiday is a reason to be excited & should not be a source of stress or uncertainty. Our cancellation policy offers complete flexibility & 100% of your booking is fully refundable & transferable up until 61 days before you travel. Take a look below at our refund & tour credit timeline & just let us know if you have any questions.

Cancellation policy for scheduled tours

Book with confidence with our refund & cancellation timeline. Any credit on your account is valid for 24 months from the date of issue.

DAYS TO DEPARTURECANCELLATION FEEFUTURE TOUR CREDIT
More than 90 days
No Fee
100% of deposit
61 – 90 Days
50% of Tour Price
75% of Tour Price
31 – 60 days
75% of Tour Price
50% of Tour Price
0 – 30 days
100% of Tour Price
No Tour Credit
Please note that Custom & Private tours have different conditions – please check the Custom & Private Tour Cancellation Policy below.

Once one guest books a scheduled tour it is guaranteed to run. In the event that a scheduled tour does not meet a minimum group size of 4 guests we reserve the right to reduce the level of support on the trip to one guide. The guide will either drive a support vehicle whilst guests ride self-guided or they will guide the group on the bike if a support vehicle is not required.

The group size will be communicated to guests 1 month before the tour departure date & we will schedule a call with each guest to discuss any changes in the delivery of the trip. Our goal is always to ensure we can deliver the best experience for every rider.

Cancellation policy for custom and private tours

Once booked, custom or private tours are non-refundable but we still offer complete flexibility to move the reservation for the complete group or issue each traveler 100% credit towards future travel up until 90 days before departure. Please see the tour credit & cancellation fee timeline below. Any credit on your account is valid for 24 months from the date of issue.

DAYS TO DEPARTURE
CANCELLATION FEE
FUTURE TOUR CREDIT
More Than 90 days
25% Tour Price
100% of deposit
61 – 90 Days
100% of Tour Price
75% of Tour Price
31 – 60 Days
100% of Tour Price
25% of Tour Price
0 – 30 days
100% of Tour Price
No Tour Credit
Please note that Scheduled tours have different conditions – please check the Scheduled Cancellation Policy above.

Custom and private tours are quoted with a minimum group size. In the unlikely event that the minimum group size is not met we reserve the right to update the quoted price per head. Should this not be accepted we will offer tour credits as per the timeline above or, before 61 days to departure, the opportunity to move the trip to dates when everyone can travel.

Cancellation policy for bike hire and Girona services

Book with confidence with our refund & cancellation timeline. Any credit on your account does not have an expiry date. No refunds or credits are possible after the rental begins. If we are forced to cancel a rental, we will award a 100% refund.

DAYS TO DEPARTURE
CANCELLATION FEE
FUTURE TOUR CREDIT
More than 31 days
No Fee
100% of price
14 – 30 days
10% of price
100% of price
72 hours – 14 days
25% of price
100% of price
72 hours or less
100% of price
0% of price
No refunds or partial refunds are available after a rental has started.

Girona Services refer to services including (but not exclusively) – hiring a guide, airport transfers, food experiences, day trips & vehicle support. If you have purchased any of these services as part of a tour package, our Custom & Private Tour Cancellation Policy applies (see above),

To book a scheduled, self-guided, custom, or private cycling tour, a 30% deposit is required at the time of booking. The remaining balance is due 3 months prior to the trip.

FAQ