Trips are available anytime
Just let us know what fits your schedule and we'll be ready.
What's Included:
Everything Included - Our trips and rentals include reliable easy to ride motorcycles, all riding gear, beautiful hotels, and off-the-beaten-path locations for an authentic experience Colombian experience.
✓ Adventure Motorcycle
✓ Unlimited Mileage
✓ Accommodations in hotels
✓ All airport and hotel transfers
✓ All meals included
✓ Fuel and road tolls
✓ Protective gear including helmet, jacket, gloves, knee protection
✓ Rain Gear
✓ Cellphone holder
✓ Wireless / USB Charger
✓ Basic emergency medical insurance
✓ High-quality 50 liter dry bags
✓ Locking 50 liter top box
✓ Tire repair kit including electric air pump and tire tubes
✓ Luggage storage at our office
✓ 24 hour customer support for any needs or emergencies during the trip.
What to Expect:
Our routes are made for intermediate riders.
The mild off-road sections are simply unpaved roads where cars can easily drive.
Rides are at a relaxed pace and our guides are very patient with everyone.
We calculate 5 hours of actual driving time per day but with stops for pictures, breaks and lunch, each day is a full 8 hours of being out and about.
There is always plenty of time to explore the towns and have a nice relaxing meal after we arrive.
THREE BOOKING OPTIONS
① All-Inclusive Guided Tours
Our all-inclusive tours include a knowledgeable local guide / mechanic, fully prepped adventure motorcycle, motorcycle gear, prepaid and booked hotels and all meals. Single occupancy hotel rooms- your own private room each night at no extra charge.
② Motorcycle + Hotels
(aka Self-Guided + Hotels)
Our self-guided tours include a fully prepped adventure motorcycle, prepaid and booked hotels, motorcycle gear, detailed route map, and 24-hour customer support. Single occupancy hotel rooms- your own private room each night at no extra charge.
③ Motorcycle Rental Only
(aka Self-Guided)
Fully prepped adventure motorcycle rental. All motorcycle gear included as well as 24-hour customer support. Explore on your own or with a group of friends. Let us help you plan a great trip.
FEATURED IN
2 DAY / GUATAPE & SAN CARLOS WATERFALLS
Adventure MotorBike Trip
TOTAL DISTANCE / ? km (? mi)
RIDING CONDITIONS / ?% Paved / ?% Intermediate Off-Road
SKILL LEVEL / ?? Skill Level
MAX ELEVATION / ?? m (?? ft)
MIN ELEVATION / ?? m (?? ft)
HIGHLIGHTS
Guatape
El Peñol Rock
Waterfalls in San Carlos
Snaking through mountain roads
Beautiful scenery the entire time
Steak dinner on the town square
RIDE DESCRIPTION
Want to explore beyond Guatape? This trip is for you! San Carlos is a small pueblo near Medellín that hasn’t yet been discovered by many foreigners. But it’s a hidden gem surrounded by mountains, rivers, waterfalls, and nature.
An adventure motorbike tour to Guatapé is a great one to get your feet wet. But some excellent dual sport riding is to be found if you keep going to the next towns of San Rafael and San Carlos. These are two small towns that are hidden gems near Medellin and are surrounded by mountains, rivers, waterfalls, and nature. The best part is that they haven't been discovered by tourists yet!
The main roads are paved, but everything else is not. First off the road from Guatapé to San Rafael is a 35 kilometer, twisty as hell rip of a road with an elevation drop of over 1,000 meters. I would suggest if you want to stretch out a trip to Guatapé to two or three days, you can’t go wrong staying in one of the resorts around San Rafael, and using it as a base to explore the unpaved countryside.
The food and booze is cheap, the coffee is great, and unlike Guatapé, you won’t need a jacket at night.
ROUTE MAPS & NOTES
IS COLOMBIA SAFE?
The answer is a resounding YES. Colombia is exactly the opposite of what Netflix Narcos series portrays. People have to realize that Pablo Escobar was killed three decades ago. We've led hundreds of tours around the country and have never had any problems with security.
Anthony Bourdain summed it up perfectly:
"If you want to find bad people in Colombia, you can surely find them, as you could in New York or Los Angeles. But nowhere have my crew and I been treated better or with more kindness and generosity. I'd bring my family on vacation there in a heartbeat. And hope to soon. As I said before: Colombians are proud. Let them show you what they are proud of."
ITINERARY
Day 0 / Arrival in Medellin
Recommended Hotel:
Inntu Hotel Laureles
Courtesy airport pickup: Upon arrival at the José María Córdova International Airport, a driver will be waiting for you at the arrivals area holding a sign with your name and wearing a fluorescent shirt for easy identification. They will then take you directly to the Inntu Hotel in the Laureles neighborhood.
The Inntu Hotel is located in the trendy Laureles neighborhood of Medellin, a vibrant area known for its tree-lined streets, outdoor cafes, and eclectic mix of restaurants and bars. The hotel itself is a contemporary, eco-friendly property that offers guests a comfortable and stylish stay, with amenities such as a rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the city, a fitness center, and a restaurant serving organic cuisine. The neighborhood is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, offering a lively and authentic Medellin experience with plenty of opportunities for exploring, shopping, and dining. Its central location also makes it an ideal base for visitors to explore other areas of the city, with easy access to major attractions.
Day 1 / Medellin to San Carlos
Recommended Hotel:
Hotel Campestre La Cascada
Overnight Parking:
TBD
This adventure motorbike tour to San Carlos takes you through a winding road passing through the town of Granada. The road is totally beautiful with spectacular views. Sometimes there is mountain mist which makes the scenery even more magical.
Once you get to San Carlos, we recommend taking a hike to the 30 meter tall La Viejita waterfall. La Viejita is a nature trail of approximately one mile (900 meters) with easy access and is one of the most beautiful trails in the area. Climbing up further along the trail, you come to a second waterfall known as “La Cascada” that has a pool of water at the bottom for swimming. If you want to explore other waterfalls and swimming holes we recommend getting a local guide. You can check with the local tourism office, called SENA, located in the town square to find reputable guides.
Located walking distance from the Hotel Campestre La Cascada is the San Antonio waterfall. The path has a couple of covered bridges that cross a stream and the paved trail is covered by trees and surrounded by nature. The hike and seeing the waterfall makes for good photo opportunities but they aren't exactly the best for swimming due to the rushing water flowing through.
A short motorcycle ride out to the other side of San Carlos is the huge Piedra del Tabor that dominates the landscape. This gigantic Stone Monolith rises to a height of about 9,500 feet (1,800 meters) above sea level. It is possible to get here on an 8 hour round trip while going through thick vegetation.
Steak dinner on the town square is a great evening activity. We recommend checking out the Al Carbón de Leña restaurant that has great steak. La Costica Dulce restaurant is also recommended and has a great view of the town square from the second floor.
Day 2 / San Carlos to Guatape then Back to Medellin
Recommended Hotel:
Diez Hotel Categoria
Day two is another great day and the ride to Guatape is beautiful. Leaving San Carlos, head north past the Mirador San Carlos lookout point towards San Rafael. This road is rugged and unpaved and starts off taking you across the top of a mountain. Dropping down from the mountain, you will ride off-road through a valley before arriving in the town of San Rafael. San Rafael is a convenient place to stop and get a quick cup of coffee before riding the final 45 minutes to Guatape on pavement.
Guatape is a nice town but can be quite touristy and crowded, especially on weekends and holidays. There are shops selling t-shirts, wood carvings, and other souvenirs on pretty much every corner.
The big draw here is the famous Piedra del Peñol and the view of the lake and surrounding area from the top. The Piedra is a high granite monolith (technically an inselberg) that rises from near the edge of a man-made lake called the Embalse Guatapé. A brick staircase of 659 steps rises up through a broad fissure on the side of the rock. From the top, you’ll soak up magnificent views of this fertile region, the fingers of the lake sprawling amid a vast expanse of green mountains.
The ride to Medellin takes around two hours on a paved road and is fairly uneventful if there isn't any traffic. Starting about an hour after leaving Guatape you will notice that the traffic begins to get heavier. Highway congestion from busses and people returning to Medellin can make the highway more challenging. The last leg of the trip dropping into Medellin's valley is a bit steeper so be sure to watch your speed and increase your following distance.
