Cycling Colombia: The Coffee Region & Beyond

Our adventures are built for small groups, with a maximum of 12 travellers on each guided tour. Each group is diverse, comprised of men and women of many different nationalities and ages. By travelling in small groups we leave minimal ecological impact, cause less disruption to the native life and are able to gain a better appreciation for our surroundings. Small numbers also allow greater flexibility and spontaneity: a dinner in a local home, an impromptu village wedding invite and any such experiences that can become among the most memorable experiences of your BikeHike adventure.

We understand that people come in many fitness levels, so we've graded our trips accordingly. There are four difficulty levels on our trips: Easy, Moderate, Challenging, and Strenuous. 

This is a “challenging” trip.

The route covers approximately 321 km / 199 mi in six continuous days of riding. The main challenge of the trip is the physical demands of six consecutive days of riding, along with a great deal of climbing. We will be riding an average of 6 hours per day. You should have a good level of fitness and the stamina to cope with being in the saddle for six consecutive days.

We strongly recommend that you begin a regular fitness program that includes regular cycling - that is if you are not already doing so. Working out four times a week (including some riding whenever possible), 60 minutes per session should be a minimum to prepare you for this adventure. In addition, try to get in some longer distance rides beforehand to prepare for your adventure. Doing some rides between 60-80 km (37-50 mi), with a good amount of climbing involved, would be optimal training for this tour.

BikeHike Adventures has been operating since 1994. 

The logistics of organizing tours to remote corners of the world can be very complex. Our trip development department spends long hours researching destinations, routes, ground operations and equipment. All itineraries are screened without clients before they are added to our growing repertoire of adventures. Nothing is untested. 

BikeHike's Founder, Trish Sare, also personally joined our BikeHikers for a fantastic inaugural trip when it first launched.

Our travellers share a common love for outdoor adventure. Most are looking for a physical adventure in an unfamiliar destination. A typical trip is comprised of men and women in good physical condition, who exercise regularly and are invigorated by a personal challenge. The age range on this trip is typically from 30-60, although we occasionally get younger and older travellers as well. 

This Cycling Colombia, The Coffee Region & Beyond adventure is a challenging trip and the route traveled is through an agricultural region which is lush and known for rain, so rain showers can happen at any time of the year. It is important to be prepared for rain while biking.

In order to ensure comfort and health, good outdoor gear is essential. We have prepared a packing list that you can download by clicking the link to the right on this page. 

The terrain is mostly backcountry paved and dirt roads with little traffic, although there will be sections where the traffic is heavier and the roads are busier. There are also a couple short sections of riding along gravel roads.

We use Specialized Rockhopper Comp 29 mountain bikes. Road bikes are available if you prefer, but 15% of the route is on gravel roads, which is why we suggest mountain bikes.

Yes. We will have a support vehicle shadowing our route, carrying all of the nuts and bolts (fresh water and snacks) and all of the group luggage so that riders don’t have to worry about carrying any gear while biking.

Colombian dishes and ingredients vary widely by region. This trip is through an agricultural region though and Colombia is one of the world’s largest consumers of fruit juices. So you'll encounter a great deal of fresh food, sometimes farm to table. Organic food is also a current trend through out the country, and fruits and veggies on menus are usually very natural and fresh.

The world is still getting to know modern Colombia and discovering it as a safe, politically stable tourist destination. However, the country abounds with opportunities for cultural exploration and adventure. Travellers are increasingly beginning to realize Colombia’s potential. Its largest cities are well-prepared for visitors with great development and infrastructure already in place. In fact, Bogota could rival many European cities for its cultural capital, boasting countless museums and art galleries that have earned international accolades. Colombia’s smaller, picturesque rural towns are equally worth visiting, especially in the plantation region surrounding Cali. There, you’ll discover deeply rooted traditions and a rich culture along with some of South America’s most welcoming people.

To tell you more about it, we recorded a great chat with one of our local Colombian guides, who has been working in tourism there for more than a decade. Listen to this chat to learn more about everything related to Colombia travel — from Colombia’s safety and culture to the cycling conditions in Colombia and more…

Bogota. You can arrive anytime on day 1 of the trip and depart anytime after 12:00pm on day 9 of the trip.

Although it's nothing substantial or anything to be worried about, we’ve listed all the elevations here:

• Bogotá: 8,400 feet (2,560 meters)
• Buga: 4,000 feet (1,200 meters)
• Roldanillo: 4,000 feet (1,200 meters)
• Cartago: 4,000 feet (1,200 meters)
• Cerritos: 5,000 feet (1,525 meters)
• Quimbaya: 5,000 feet (1,525 meters)
• Salento: 7,000 feet (2,130 meters)
• Cocora Valley: 8,400 feet (2,560 meters)

March, June, July, August, September and the first week of December, to try to stay away from the rainy seasons.

This trip is quite popular with singles. Unlike many adventure travel companies, we don't charge single supplement fees to solo travellers. Instead, we pair you with another traveller of the same gender. If we can't find you a roommate, you get your own room at no additional charge. A single private room supplement fee is only required if you specifically request a confirmed private room for the duration of the trip. Learn more about solo travel with BikeHike. 

We will do our best to accommodate special dietary requests (e.g. vegetarian, gluten free, etc.), but ask that you please discuss your request with us when signing up for a trip.

This trip is generally not a family focused trip for young children. However, this trip could be suitable for very strong and active older teenagers. 

We do offer many other Family Focused trips, some of which are able to accommodate children as young as six.