Santander off-road motorcycle tour: 9 days

We leave Rentamotos Colombia for the town of Matanza, passing through Sabana de Torres. The route combines asphalt with 40 km of dirt road, with changing landscapes and warm weather all day.

This stage demands focus and experience. On the unpaved section we find old bridges, tunnels of the former railway, potholes and drop-offs, a real challenge for adventure riders. In the evening we rest in Matanza to recharge for the next day.

After a great local breakfast we leave Matanza for Guaca, where we spend the night.

The route offers stunning high-mountain scenery. We climb gradually through Vetas to Berlín and cross Baraya, where the air gets noticeably cooler. On the way we stop at one of the most beautiful lagoons of the Santurbán páramo, a mirror of water surrounded by frailejones and untouched nature. Most of the day is on dirt roads, a genuine off-road stage.

From Guaca we ride to Mogotes on a loop through Ortices lagoon, Molagavita and San Andrés, then take the famous road to Cepitá, home of one of the region's great culinary treats: goat (chivo) and pepitoria, a traditional Santander feast.

After lunch we ride the national road along the majestic Chicamocha Canyon, then turn toward Pitiguao and on to Mogotes. A demanding, almost fully off-road day with only 20 km of pavement.

We leave Mogotes for Virolín, but first we ride the famous viral Guane crossing, one of the most impressive landscapes of the whole trip. This stretch through San Joaquín and Ricaurte has become a must for riders thanks to its dreamlike views and postcard mountain curves.

Then we stop at Casa Mogotes for a delicious mute santandereano soup, and continue to the Hoyo de los Pájaros via Charalá, finally resting in Virolín. An almost fully off-road day with only 10 km of pavement.

From Virolín we ride to Aguada on a day that tests our riding skills. The crossing from Virolín to El Olival is especially demanding, with mud and loose rock that require technique and focus.

On the way we visit the river that turns red, a fascinating natural phenomenon, pass through Vado Real and Suaita, and stop at the Hoyo del Aire in La Paz, an awe-inspiring natural sinkhole. Short in distance but intense, with only 20 km of pavement.

From Aguada we head into a refreshing day of surprising landscapes. First stop: the impressive Alférez Canyon, with a river that in some seasons turns an intense blue. Its crystal-clear water is perfect for a well-deserved swim.

Then we continue to Florián on a stretch full of rivers, mountains and curves, one of the most fun stages of the trip.

We wake up in Florián to explore two of the region's most impressive natural treasures: the famous Ventanas de Tisquizoque, a unique rock formation with spectacular canyon views, and Charco Azul, a paradise of crystal-clear water.

Then we ride 80 km of dirt road to El Peñón through the picturesque towns of La Belleza, Sucre and Bolívar, arriving in time for an Andean sunset.

We get up at 4:30 a.m. to climb Cerro de Panamá and watch an unforgettable sunrise over the Santander mountains.

Then we explore the mysterious Pandora Forests, full of lush vegetation and trails, and finish with pure adrenaline: rappelling into La Tronera cave, known as the Heart of the World. Few kilometers but plenty of emotion, ideal to recharge before the ride home.

An early start for the last day. On the way back to Medellín we stop at the Hoyo de las Águilas, a little-explored cave with no known exit.

We ride via Landázuri and Cimitarra back to Medellín: a long 340 km day with a 40 km dirt section, one last off-road touch after 9 days in Santander.