Caribbean Explorer: 9-Day Coast, Desert & Jungle

Starting from Santa Marta, this is the whole Caribbean coast in nine days. Ride east into the La Guajira desert all the way to Punta Gallinas, the northernmost point of South America, then loop back through the jungle and mountains of the Sierra Nevada.

Expect hard-packed desert plains, rocky climbs, sand dunes and secret jungle trails, with plenty of coastal cruising in between.

Off the bike: a boat tour of a wild flamingo sanctuary, indigenous salt flats, river tubing, a cacao farm and the oldest coffee farm in the north.

DAY 1: SANTA MARTA TO MAYAPO (5 hrs)
Flamingo sanctuary by wooden boat, lunch in the fishing village of Dibulla and sunset on the beach.

DAY 2: MAYAPO TO CABO DE LA VELA (3 hrs)
Indigenous salt flats and desert riding, then optional kite-surfing, fresh seafood and cheap beers.

DAY 3: CABO DE LA VELA TO PUNTA GALLINAS (5 hrs)
Hours of enduro across hard-packed plains and rocky climbs to the Taroa dunes at the top of the continent.

DAY 4: PUNTA GALLINAS TO RIOHACHA (5 hrs)
The biggest day of the tour. Load the bikes onto canoes to shortcut the desert, and try goat for lunch.

DAY 5: RIOHACHA TO MENDIHUACA (1.5 hrs)
Rest day. Cruise down the coast to Cayena Beach Villa for a well-earned afternoon of luxury on the beach.

DAY 6: MENDIHUACA TO BURITACA (4 hrs)
A three-hour enduro loop through Quebrada del Sol, then an afternoon tubing down the Buritaca River.

DAY 7: BURITACA TO PASO DEL MANGO (5 hrs)
Secret jungle trails, lunch at a private waterfall, an artisanal cacao farm and a night at a wildlife reserve.

DAY 8: PASO DEL MANGO TO MINCA (5 hrs)
Marinka waterfall, Los Pinos viewpoint, barbecue at Camaritas and the infinity pool at Casas Viejas.

DAY 9: MINCA TO SANTA MARTA (4 hrs)
A 4am night ride for sunrise over the snow-capped peaks, La Victoria coffee farm, and back by 4pm.

Optional Day 10: the desert oasis of Macuira National Park.

Best for: Riders with experience covering long distances on small bikes. Mixed on and off-road.