Itinerary Include flights Leave this field blank Expand all Bogota to Bogota Fly to Bogota. Depart London. Day 1 Start Bogota. Land only passengers can arrive at the hotel in Bogota this afternoon/evening. Accommodation: Monserrat Hotel & Spa or similar Day 2 Bike fitting followed by Bogota 'Ciclovia' city ride and welcome dinner. Passengers on our Avianca group flight will have flown overnight and arrive today in the early hours of the morning. There will be time for a few hours rest and breakfast before setting out with the tour leader in order to try out your bike and cycle the car-free streets of Bogota as part of the weekly 'ciclovia' event. Every Sunday large parts of the city are closed to traffic as residents cycle, jog, walk, roller-skate in a remarkable display of utilising public space in the interest of leisure and togetherness. You'll have a chance to see the modern Bogota and also visit a market in the bohemian neighborhood of Usaquen. This immediate exercise is a great way to minimise the effects of jetlag! You will have the afternoon at leisure and we strongly recommend visiting one of the fantastic museums the city has to offer, which all offer free entrance on Sundays. Accommodation: Monserrat Hotel & Spa or similar Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 3 Visit Zipaquira Salt Cathedral; fly to Cali and transfer to Buga. In the morning we will visit the famous and unique Zipaquira Salt Cathedral, located inside a commercial salt mine. After the visit we will be driven to Bogota airport to catch a flight travelling southwest to Cali. From here we will be driven a short distance (approx. 1 hour 15 minutes) to the town of Buga where we stay and prepare for the point-to-point riding that will commence the following morning. Accommodation: Guadalajara Hotel or similar Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 4 Mostly flat ride following the Cauca River to Roldanillo. Buga is one of the oldest settlements in the region and an important religious place for the country as pilgrims flock to visit the Basilica which contains an image of Christ. Buga is surrounded by sugar cane fields and is located in close vicinity of the Cauca River. The tour starts out travelling in a northward direction, staying parallel to the Cauca River as we pass fields of sugar cane and fruit trees. Along the route we will stop to visit a sugar cane farm. The vast majority of today's road is fairly flat or with small undulations, and the route is very scenic thanks to the proximity of the Andean Western Cordillera and the possibility to see peaks of the Central Cordillera on a clear day. The temperature in the valley can get very high so be sure to wear sun cream and stay hydrated. Our destination is the town of Roldanillo and we will spend the night at a hotel just off the main plaza. (Ascent: 515m, descent: 530m) Accommodation: Hotel Casa Blanca or similar Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 5 Another flat ride passing fields of sugar cane and vineyards towards Cartago. Another day of cycling on a predominantly flat road which will take us through beautiful landscapes in preparation for the more mountainous rides in the days to come. We'll stop for some grape juice along the way and continue to the hotel on the outskirts of a small town called Cartago for a refreshing dip in the swimming pool! There maybe some traffic to navigate after our lunch stop. (Ascent: 381m, descent: 394m) Accommodation: Hotel Don Gregorio or similar Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 6 First mountain ride into the coffee country and the town of Pueblo Tapao. The first few kilometres of today's ride are along a flat road leading to an intersection from where we'll take the first soft climb of the tour heading south-eastwards to Alcalá and up into coffee plantation region. After passing Alcalá we’ll have lunch in a village called Quimbaya and continue through Montenegro. We’ll arrive at the hotel and have the afternoon free to rest and enjoy the swimming pool and surroundings. In addition to coffee plantations, the landscape is also home to banana and plantain, bamboo trees and flowers. A short walk down the road from the hotel there is a coffee theme park with a viewing platform at the entrance which is definitely worth a visit. (Ascent: 890m, descent: 530m) Accommodation: Finca La Tata or similar Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 7 Some challenging climbs with rewarding views and coffee tasting on the way to Calarcá via Rio Verde. Today we start riding on a fairly flat road surrounded by coffee, banana and pineapple plantations to the town of La Tebaida. After passing this town, we’ll stop for a drink break and ride for a short section on a busier route. At a point called 'La Y' we will deviate and take a secondary road to enjoy a nice downhill to Rio Verde and then continue onwards to the town of Buenavista. From Rio Verde there is a challenging steep uphill of about 4km to get to Buenavista - this is the hardest climb of the tour but very rewarding. We stop to have lunch in the town of Buenavista, and then there will be an opportunity to try one of the region's best exported coffee brands at a wonderful terrace with a beautiful view. After the break, there is still some climbing to be done but after reaching the top it will all be downhill back to Rio Verde on a different road. From Rio Verde, you will take the same road previously ridden to the hotel for the night. (Ascent: 1000m, descent: 1147m) Accommodation: Finca Los Aperos or similar Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 8 A day of steady climbing through typical natural scenery to Boquia, included coffee tour and botanical gardens. Today’s ride is 90% uphill! But don’t worry as it is not too steep. There is a steady climb after crossing the river all the way up to Boquia (near Salento), and we may encounter some traffic. Our first stop will be at the Quindío Botanic Gardens where we will learn about the local flora and also visit a butterfly farm. Afterwards we will have a coffee experience tour at Finca La Pradera and have a chance to learn about the process of growing coffee. We have l here before we ride the last portion of the route involving a very scenic final downhill to Boquia. The finca for the next two nights is beautifully situated and is a peaceful place for us to be based. After dinner some kids from the area will give a folklore performance. (Ascent: 591m, descent: 282m) Accommodation: El Rancho de Salento or similar Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 9 Free day to relax; optional ride or hike to Salento and Cocora Valley. You may wish to rest today and take a well-earned break from the saddle, remaining in the surroundings of our beautifully located ranch just outside of Salento. Alternatively you can opt for a wonderful walk in Cocora Valley to see the picturesque endemic Wax Palm trees. For those who want to cycle up to the highest point that we’ll meet on the tour (2410m above sea level), the ride from the accommodation and up to Cocora involves a 1000m climb. (Ascent: 1000m, descent: 1000m) Accommodation: El Rancho de Salento or similar Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 10 Some climbs in the morning towards Filandia followed by an exhilarating descent to Cerritos. Today we tackle an initially tough climb out of Boquia and the valley up to join the main road to take us towards the pretty coffee town of Filandia. Some traffic maybe expected today. It is claimed that because of its architecture, landscapes and hospitable nature of the locals, that Filandia is one of the most charming and attractive towns in the whole of Colombia. We’ll take a break here before setting off on a beautiful stretch of road down to Quimbaya and onwards to Alcala for lunch. This stretch from Filandia to Quimbaya is one of the tour highlights. In the afternoon we continue in the direction of Pereira and take a left turn before the city in order to reach Cerritos, our location for the night. (Ascent: 1220m, descent: 1830m) Accommodation: San Antonio del Cerro or similar Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 11 Gentle ride along the Cauca River before a climb to Anserma. Our penultimate day of cycling has it all. We start off gently with a fun downhill section leading to the Cauca River from where our route plateaus out as we are flanked on both sides by sugar cane fields. After lunch at a roadside restaurant with an adjoining tilapia farm, we follow a branch of the river northwards (Rio Risaralda). As the road becomes steeper and offers up spectacular views on our final climb into the highland town of Anserma. The town’s location on the edge of a mountain makes it completely different from other places seen on the tour, and several of the streets are too steep to be cycled so it lends itself to being explored on foot in order to get the maximum enjoyment! We will have dinner at a local restaurant and there are a couple of nearby bars to explore afterwards. (Ascent: 955m, descent: 375m) Accommodation: Mirador Santana or similar Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 12 Final day of riding involves a spectacular downhill section plus some climbs to Chinchina. Our last day of cycling is another stunning ride as we navigate some hilly sections on our way to Risaralda. From here we face a delightful downhill to cross the Cauca River once more and stop for refreshments in nearby La Rochela. Afterwards we will climb around 8km to Finca La Romelia, where we will stop for lunch. You will also get the opportunity to see thousands of orchids. After lunch you will be transfered to your hotel where you will spend the last night in Colombia. (Ascent: 874m, descent: 1481m) Accommodation: Hotel Curazao or similar Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Transfer to Pereira; fly to Bogota; depart. After breakfast we will transfer by private bus to Pereira airport where the tour will end and we'll fly back to Bogota in order to connect with international departure flights. Those who have booked the Cartagena trip extension will fly via Bogota up to the Carribean Coast. If there is a long wait at Bogota airport between arriving from Pereira and departing in the evening, it is possible for the tour leader to organise additional services for you should you wish. They will be able to organise this locally for a small charge. Meals included: Breakfast Day 13 Transfer to Pereira; fly to Bogota; end Bogota. After breakfast we will transfer by private bus to Pereira airport where the tour will end and we'll fly back to Bogota in order to connect with international departure flights. Those who have booked the Cartagena trip extension will fly via Bogota up to the Carribean Coast. If there is a long wait at Bogota airport between arriving from Pereira and departing in the evening, it is possible for the tour leader to organise additional services for you should you wish. They will be able to organise this locally for a small charge. Meals included: Breakfast Arrive London.
Cartagena Extension Code: XAY This extension is the ideal way to further your time in Colombia and explore the Magical Cartagena, or Cartagena de Indias. This city is located on the northern coast of Colombia in the Caribbean and it is the capital of the Bolívar Department. The city was founded on June 1st 1533 and named after Cartagena in Spain. During the colonial period, Cartagena served a key role in administration and expansion of the Spanish empire and it was a centre of political and economic activity due to the presence of royalty and wealthy viceroys. It is a city closely associated with pirates in the Caribbean and in 1984 the colonial walled city and fortress were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The detailed itinerary can be found here. Please ask your sales consultant for more details.
Colombia Citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most European countries do not require a visa and will be granted a 90-day entry permit on arrival. Please ensure you have at least 3 blank pages in your passport.
Colombia There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Yellow Fever. The risk of malaria is slight but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. Zika fever is a mosquito‐borne viral disease and a known risk in places visited on this trip. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, we therefore strongly recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Hotels & Fincas 10 nights hotels, 2 nights fincas (ranch property), in a mixture of traditional and modern properties with en suite facilities, some with swimming pools. The hotels we use are mid-range and will provide us with all the facilities that we'll require throughout the trip. A varied selection of properties includes a hotel in La Candelaria district of Bogota, and a wonderfully situated ranch in Boquia surrounded by beautiful scenery for our two night stay at Cocora Valley. We can arrange single rooms throughout the trip for a supplement (subject to availability). Please ask your sales consultant for details.
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Reviewed January 2020 Howard Reece-Smith Trip: Cycling Colombia A Mixed Bag First things first,this is hard cycling,long and steep gradients,and hot weather. The team of Paolo,Gustavo,Jonathan,Hernan and Caesar were sensational.Helpful informative,kind,supportive and excellent cyclists. The accomodation was patchy with the Mirador hotel in Ansema easkly the wlorst.Tiny double bed suitable only for 2 midgets.The bed rock hard and the room tiny and airless.Whoever could have approved it had obviously not spent a night there. The Food was cheap and often excellent but could fall to earth with a bang,when a tepid lasangne was served still in the silver foil.Unsxurprisingly one of our number spent the night vomiting with food poisoning.No suggestion of bubbling hot there. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Achieving the climbs What did you think of your group leader? As above, a paragon of virtue,as were the whole team. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be ready for a very hard ride or accept that you will have to take the bus,sometimes. Is there anything else you would like to add? The scenery is spectacular,the roads vary from sublime to ridiculous.Some of the wayside trips are very good ,but English is pretty much not spoken.
Reviewed December 2019 Peter Gomes Trip: Cycling Colombia Cycle Colombia - Excellent trip through a beautiful and varied country. Recommended. A undulating ride through verdant countryside between Cali and Pereira, plus a few days in each of Bogota, Medellin & Cartegna. Lots to see on and off the bike, so the perfect mix of riding and sightseeing. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? As ever there are so many. Here are a few. 1. We added a couple of days in Medellin before the main trip started and were glad we did. A lovely city centre in the valley & stunning views from the cable car network that soars up the steep valley sides. Plus one of the best meals I have ever had. 2. We added a couple of days in Bogota too and that gave us a chance to see as many of the many sights as possible, as well as go on a cycle tour of the capital. We loved the street art in both cities. 3. Once the tour proper started - the Sunday cyclovia - shutting down swathes of the city of cyclists, skateboarders, walkers and runner of all ages & abilities to come together and play. What a wonderful idea. Cities around the world - please copy. 4. Catedral de Sal at Zipaquira : spectacular. 5. Views from the coffee stop San Alberto Estate at Buena Vista. 5. The wax palm trees at El Bosque de las Palmas near Solento. 6. The Orchid tour at Finca Romelia in Palmera on the final bike day. 6. We added the Cartegena Extention on the end of the trip & this too was well worth doing with colonial Spanish architecture and an energetic vibe particularly around the various plazas. What did you think of your group leader? Gustavo was Head Boy in the nicest sense - organised, thorough, enthusiastic - making it all happen without hitch so that you are able to leave your brain at the airport knowing everything will be sorted for you, leaving you to ride, eat drink and enjoy. His sidekicks - the double act that was Gustavo & Paola - were a truly delightful couple - albeit they did make those hills look remarkably easy. Completing the foursome was driver Cezar - not a man of many words but someone who made everything (bikes, luggage, etc) magically appear at the right place and time, every time. A good team. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Don't be put off by the Grade 5 - the route is almost entirely on road, not technical, and whilst undulating, it is (based on figures from my Garmin) no harder (in terms of ascent) than grade 4 trips we have completed in Chile/Argentina and Albania/Macedonia. There is some (but not a lot) of traffic but this is far less than in the UK (& we live in the country). Is there anything else you would like to add? Bogota is a city with lots to offer and its worth spending extra time there before or after the trip to do it justice. Some of the museums were superb, and there is much more besides. Go visit Medellin - before everyone else cottons on. Cartegena is a nice unwind after the time on the bike. Our whole trip ended up being a full three weeks and that felt about right.
Reviewed December 2018 stuart jackson Trip: Cycling Colombia Personally Challenging Trip Despite missing the first day's sight-seeing around Bogota, having a slight injury the first week, and then succumbing to some gastric bug the second week, this trip had enough highlights to be memorable for other reasons. The subterranean Salt Cathedral is amazing and unique, the orchid farm collection another superb destination. Long climbs followed by the inevitable speed-junky's downhills ensure that the challenging label is lived up to. There are many miles of busy main roads with pollution-belching monster trucks, but if you can see past those then this is a great cycle. The team of Andrea, Gabriel, assisted by Jonathan, Jose and Cezza are always on hand with help and a smile; thank you guys. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Achieving BuenaVista summit the first week, and then the hard climbs the second week running on an empty tank. What did you think of your group leader? Very good and ably assisted by a good team.
Reviewed April 2018 Thomas Kelly Trip: Cycling Colombia Cycling in wonderful Colombia Colombia is a fascinating country and we experienced it all from bustling Bogota with its 8 million population to the lived in non touristy Cartago and the locally very popular Salento. When cycling, one is struck by the lush green cultivated hills rising up on both sides of you. it could be sugar cane, plantain, bananas, papaya or the distinctive coffee plants, all stunning and all tended by hard working locals. Colombians are really beautiful people and welcoming. We visited over Easter and observed the locals attending in large numbers the various religious services in beautiful churches. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? There were many magic moments but conquering the climb to the hilltop town of Anserma probably stands out. A long steady climb to a bustling little town like no other. My madeira cake in a little bakery near the mini bus hub was most welcome that afternoon. Our visit to the amazingly beautiful Finca La Romelia on our last day of cycling will also live long in the memory. I would also have to mention the king of the mountains and drum playing Australian from Wales who supports Liverpool and cycled with a sombrero attached to his helmet and a poncho in Colombian colours, he inspired me too. What did you think of your group leader? Andres our group leader was an absolute gentleman with a great sense of humour. I also found him to be extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of his country. While soft spoken he was a very competent leader of an outstanding team who delivered time and again when they were called upon. Whenever you needed information, help or just encouragement one of the team would appear as if by magic. We could not have asked for more from this special team of people who worked non stop every day to make our visit to their country so memorable. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? The cycling is classified as challenging and it was, so come prepared. Expect some rain during your trip, it really is inevitable but does not take away from the enjoyment. Doing the Ciclovia in Bogota on the same morning as you arrive in Colombia is probably not a good idea, consider arriving earlier if you can. Carry insect repellent on the cycles as there are lots of stops at coffee plantations etc. We received an excellent booklet covering each days cycle on our first night. It is a good idea to bring this to each briefing and note down the coffee and lunch stop points for the next day, this helps in pacing yourself. Some of the roads cycled are very busy and on occasions diesel emitting trucks on uphill sections are also challenging.
Reviewed April 2018 María Martínez Trip: Cycling Colombia Cycling Colombia’s coffee region Beautiful landscapes What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The coffee region so green and lush and the beautiful green mountains What did you think of your group leader? Found the leading guide Andres a bit arrogant and failing sometimes to convey information. Oscar, another guide, was amazing. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Climbs are tough but very rewarding. Just need to get your rhythm. No need for snacks as they were provided. Insect repellent and sunscreen absolutely necessary. Is there anything else you would like to add? Colombia is an amazing country every bit worth a visit. Lovely people, beautiful landscapes, a lot of history and delicious fruits!
Reviewed January 2018 John O,Donnell Trip: Cycling Colombia Cycling Colombia Really brilliant country really brilliant staff.Weather very changeable and cycling was challenging with in everyones abilities[im 70 and another cyclist 76]Felt safe at all times and really enjoyed the scenery which was amazing I think vegetarians may need to be aware of limited options at some of the remote hotels as you cycle point to point on most days.Suggest more use is made of supermarkets during the day so as to supplement any needs.Didnt worry me but it can be difficult for some. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Ready to throw in towel on a massive climb to our finishing town TEMP was 38c down to last couple of gears then saw a small child struggling up the mountain leg in plaster using a zimmer frame following her dad to get to where ever they were going .Got up the rest of the climb in a bigger gear and pigged out on cakes and juice at the local supermarket. What did you think of your group leader? The whole crew were amazing and worked as a team Impressed with respect they all showed to the mechanic[Hose] who they referred to as Don Hose.Brilliant to see and we all were delived safely to the trips conclusion.No mean feat Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Make use of the Supermarkets as you may not eat a given hotel meal eg Fish as one rider didnt Was the only option.I ate everything but did buy up a few extras from time to time All good fun loved it even if things went pear shaped from time to time[things of my own doing eg Bumping into a car riding off at the wrong time] Just stick to your own ability and pace When I felt ok I went hard if not took it slowly and looked at the incredible scenery Is there anything else you would like to add? I will go back to see the rest of Colombia it was simply the biggest but best surprise packet of all my travels I have ever been on
Reviewed January 2018 John O,Donnell Trip: Cycling Colombia Cycling Colombia Really brilliant country really brilliant staff.Weather very changeable and cycling was challenging with in everyones abilities[im 70 and another cyclist 76]Felt safe at all times and really enjoyed the scenery which was amazing I think vegetarians may need to be aware of limited options at some of the remote hotels as you cycle point to point on most days.Suggest more use is made of supermarkets during the day so as to supplement any needs.Didnt worry me but it can be difficult for some. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Ready to throw in towel on a massive climb to our finishing town TEMP was 38c down to last couple of gears then saw a small child struggling up the mountain leg in plaster using a zimmer frame following her dad to get to where ever they were going .Got up the rest of the climb in a bigger gear and pigged out on cakes and juice at the local supermarket. What did you think of your group leader? The whole crew were amazing and worked as a team Impressed with respect they all showed to the mechanic[Hose] who they referred to as Don Hose.Brilliant to see and we all were delived safely to the trips conclusion.No mean feat Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Make use of the Supermarkets as you may not eat a given hotel meal eg Fish as one rider didnt Was the only option.I ate everything but did buy up a few extras from time to time All good fun loved it even if things went pear shaped from time to time[things of my own doing eg Bumping into a car riding off at the wrong time] Just stick to your own ability and pace When I felt ok I went hard if not took it slowly and looked at the incredible scenery Is there anything else you would like to add? I will go back to see the rest of Colombia it was simply the biggest but best surprise packet of all my travels I have ever been on
Reviewed May 2017 Ania Sroka Trip: Cycling Colombia cycling columbia - the ups with the downs I absolutely loved this holiday. Have a group of like-minded people all sweating around me and puffing and panting, made for a very cathartic experience. At times I thought that I was going to collapse, but I also knew (or hoped) that all the other people in our party were feeling the same way. I would not have gone as fast or as far just off my own steam. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing or rather hearing other cyclists behind me passing me which urging me on. Sharing moments with other exodus travellers and guides. Delighting in the wonderful array of fruits and fruit juices offered inbetween our cycling efforts. Knowing that no matter how slow we were (or rather I was), that there would always be a guide behind urging me on). The list goes on and is too numerous to put down on paper. What did you think of your group leader? Gabriel was an inspiration with his 'universal' helmet and helpful insights into the history, politics and culture of the towns and departments we cycled through. Axel was a great help making sure that nobody was left behind and always made sure we were ok. Oscar, words cannot describe how much I enjoyed his company, always showing more concern for us than himself. Jonathan was the quiet one but always there and an inspiration. Cesar was such a support making sure we all had enough drinks and snacks whenever the van stopped for a break. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Don't underestimate your ability even though everyone else 'seems' to look fitter, faster and stronger. No matter how slow you might be, everyone pulled together and supported those of us that struggled. It was a fantastic opportunity to get to know a beautiful area of the world which added to the enjoyment sometimes helped alleviate the sore 'saddle'. Is there anything else you would like to add? I am always impressed by the enthusiasm and effort that is put in to these holidays. All the staff regardless of roles seem to really pull their weight and by the time the holiday was at its end, it felt as though we were one great big family where it felt to me as if so much had been shared and learned.
Reviewed April 2017 Peter Long Trip: Cycling Colombia Cycling Colombia - quite a challenge. Described as challenging, this is a not a trip for the faint-hearted. Plenty of hills but with magnificent views once you make it to the top. Rather a lot of riding on busy roads, but may be it was because of the Easter holiday that there was so much traffic. Excellent accommodation and support. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Getting to the top of the patios hill climb in Bogota, after thinking I was going to die due to the altitude! What did you think of your group leader? The support team were excellent. Gabriel at the front, Oscar in the middle and Axel at the back, all provided encouragement. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Get fit and don't be afraid of getting wet! Is there anything else you would like to add? A very good group of fellow travellers.
Reviewed March 2017 John Edwards Trip: Cycling Colombia A Great Trip Columbia is a huge and varied country. This was a great trip that gave our party a terrific view of part of Columbia in a short space of time. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The cycling was through a wonderful hilly landscape so the views achieved through the climbs had to be the highlight of the trip. There were many 'made it' moments rewarded by the fabulous landscape. What did you think of your group leader? Gabriel was a novice leader who did a great job. He had a nice light touch and was fun to be with. Potentially he could have been more definitive with what the days cycling would involve but was always happy to answer individual questions. In addition, we were provided with a booklet of the exact profile of each days ride (a great innovation which I have not experienced on other trips) so questions were more to do with reassurance than lack of information. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Some of the climbs are quite long and some short and steep. All of our party had done some preparation or were already cyclists therefore no one found the challenges too hard. My advice is prepare as much as you can. For some of us who are not cyclists spin classes really helped get the legs in gear.The team were great at accompanying the group which was all ages up to nearly 70. Is there anything else you would like to add? I think the local operator, Pure Columbia, had put a lot of thought into making the best out of the local conditions. Most of the hotels were above my expectations and where they were more simple I was confident that given we were experiencing non tourist areas they were as good as they could possibly be. The same went for the roads, yes there were some stretches of highway but these were kept to a minimum and a means to get us to long stretches of beautiful country sections. Also we did the Cartagena extension and Pure Columbia did a great job on the organisation. If you can do it do so, the Caribbean coast is a fantastic contrast to the interior. We loved the boutique hotel in Cartagena's old town. The guided tour was great and they made available a trip to nearby islands for a bit of real Caribbean swimming.