Colombia Off the Beaten Path
10 days through coffee country, rivers, and hidden Colombia.
Experience Colombia's most scenic regions on two wheels. Ride through colonial towns, natural reserves, lush coffee landscapes, and river valleys. This tour blends adventure, culture, and comfort for riders seeking a full sensory journey.
Itinerary
Medellín → Jardín via Southwest Antioquia
Leave Medellín heading south through Amagá, then roll past the pyramid silhouette of Cerro Tusa into Venecia. Pause for lunch in Peñalisa before winding through Tarso, Pueblo Rico, and Andes — deep coffee country with quiet mountain curves. End the day in Jardín, one of Colombia's most picturesque heritage towns.
Jardín → Manizales
A big day of varied terrain. Ride toward Riosucio with an off-road stretch via Marsella, then continue through Anserma, Risaralda, Arauca, and Palestina. Climb steadily toward the Nevado del Ruiz before descending to Manizales, where hot mineral pools at Termales del Otoño wait after a long day in the saddle.
Manizales → Salento
Drop from the thermal highlands into the heart of the coffee axis. Ride through Filandia's balconied streets and the rolling hills around Montenegro and Quimbaya before arriving in Salento for an evening of color, local cuisine, and mountain air.
Salento → Ibagué via Toche & Volcán Machín
A technical, scenic crossing of the Central Cordillera. Begin in the Valle de Cocora among towering wax palms, then follow La Carbonera's off-road climb, drop through Toche, and skirt the flanks of Volcán Machín before descending into Ibagué.
Ibagué → Desierto de la Tatacoa
Leave the Andes behind and ride south into the Magdalena valley, where the landscape dries out into the red and grey canyons of the Tatacoa Desert. Camp or stay among the ochre gullies and finish the day under some of Colombia's clearest night skies.
Tatacoa → Tierradentro
Climb back west into the Cauca mountains toward the Parque Arqueológico de Tierradentro — a UNESCO site famous for its pre-Columbian underground tombs carved into the hillsides. A full day of changing altitudes, from desert heat to cool highland evenings.
Tierradentro → Popayán via Silvia
A cultural ride through indigenous Cauca. Stop in Silvia to experience the Guambiano market and traditional dress before continuing on to Popayán — the "White City" — with its whitewashed colonial streets and renowned gastronomy.
Popayán → Cali
An easier day descending from the colonial highlands into the Valle del Cauca. Arrive in Cali — salsa capital of the world — with time to stroll the San Antonio neighborhood and take in the city's famous nightlife.
Cali → Roldanillo
Ride north through the sugarcane plains and paragliding country of the Valle del Cauca. Roldanillo is a quiet artistic town at the foot of the Western Cordillera, known for its world-class thermals and relaxed local rhythm.
Roldanillo → Medellín
The long final push home. Climb out of the Cauca valley and back into the Antioquia mountains, tracing ridgelines and river valleys all the way to Medellín. A long but spectacular finish to the ten-day loop.