Motorcycle trip

Colombia

Geography Colombia

Columbia is the fourth largest country of South America in terms of surface area. Its highly varied terrain is ideal for a motorbike trip. Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, Columbia has about 3 000 km of coastline. The western part of Columbia is characterized by the mountains of the Andean Cordillera with several peaks attaining an altitude of around 5 000m. The Andes are divided into three zones: the western Cordillera, central Cordillera and the Eastern Cordillera, which cuts across the country from the North to the South. In the centre, two big rivers irrigate the valleys: Magdelena and Cauca. The eastern part of the country is made up of two major regions: Llanos, the Great plains of Orinoco and in the South, Amazonia, on the border with Peru and Brazil. Columbia is extremely rich in birds with more than 1700 species including the famous condor of the Andes. The country also has a large number of plant species including the orchids. In order to protect this extraordinary biodiversity, Columbia has 36 national parks and 15 protected areas. Apart from breath-taking landscapes and natural beauty, you will also discover, during a motorcycle tour in Columbia, interesting and charming cities like Cali, Medellín or Cartagena de Indias on a Royal Enfield.

History and culture in Columbia

Various civilizations thrived in Columbia much before the Spanish arrived. The Spanish Conquistadors landed in the early 16th century, seeking the mythical Eldorado. After years of civil wars and Spanish occupation, the independence movement was set in motion under the leadership of Simon Bolivar and Santander. Columbia was proclaimed independent in 1824. In the 20th century, the history of Columbia is characterized by several revolts and violence. Furthermore, in the 1970s, drug cartels flourished with cocaine smuggling. At the head of the Medellin cartel, Pablo Escobar, the drug baron, became one of the most famous Columbian figures in the world. In the early 2000s, the country found its way back to peace with the election of Uribe. Columbia veered towards security and economic prosperity. During your motorcycle tour in Columbia, you will have the chance to discover this multicultural society, which is a mix of Spanish settlers, indigenous Indians and African slaves. Today the Indians constitute a significant minority, but represent around 80 different ethnic groups. They have managed to preserve their traditions and customs and make Columbia one of the most interesting destinations culturally.