DAY 1 TO 4

Colombia

Starting in and ending the 52-Day Trans Amazonian Challenge in Colombia will mean we get to see two distinct parts of the country. The first part riding south from Cali consist of paved roads through incredible gorges and canyons in the southern part of the country. Highlights include the salsa capital of the world Santiago de Cali, the white walled colonial city of Popayan. Pasto’s historic center and the famous Las Lajas cathedral. Super scenic views and thousands of tight curves.

Day 1: Fly-in to Cali, day 2: Cali to Popayan, day 3: Popayan to Pasto, day 4: Pasto to Otavalo

DAY 5 TO 8

Ecuador

We continue through the high Andes mountains in Ecuador as we cross the Equator. Highlights include the handicraft market in Otavalo. Devils waterfall in Baños, the avenue of volcanoes with the majestic Cotopaxi and world heritage city Cuenca. The good pavement continues through the mountains and the views of the Andes mountains are equally stunning in Ecuador.

Day 5: Otavalo to Baños, day 6: Activities in Baños, day 7: Banos to Cuenca, day 8: Cuenca to Mancora

DAY 9 TO 19

Peru

As we enter Peru we reach the Pacific coast and the landscapes turn to desert with high sand dunes and rugged stoney terrain. Midway through the country we head to the east to ride more of the Andes mountains only to return to the coast near the capital Lima. In the south we again cut east and cross the Andes mountain range near Machu Picchu to reach the Amazon.

Highlights include surfer beach town Mancora, the Chan Chan ancient city site in Trujillo. The Duck canyon’s cliffhanger roads and tunnels, ceviche and Pisco Sour. Nazca Lines fly-over, historic Cusco and Machu Picchu. The terrain is mostly paved and extremely varied from high mountains with thousands of twisties to straight flat desert roads.

Day 9: Mancora to Trujillo, day 10: Trujillo to Huaraz, day 11: Huaraz to Lima, day 12: Activities in Lima, day 13: Lima to Nazca, day 14: Nazca to Abancay, day 15: Abancay to Cusco, day 16: Activities in Cusco, day 17: Day-trip to Machu Picchu, day 18: Cusco to Puerto Maldonado, day 19: Puerto Maldonado to Assis Brazil.

DAY 20 TO 33

Brazil

One of the main tasks in the TAC is to cross the South American continent coast to coast trans Amazonas. The real Amazon starts as we enter Brazil in Puerto Maldonado. From here we will encounter all types of terrain. The Trans Amazonian highway is being built, but  on some sections still means tire tracks through the jungle. If wet we will have our works cut out for us. Of course the tour is planned to run during the dry season, but this is no guarantee we won’t encounter slippery mud.

Many of the villages are truck stop type cities and accommodation is in places basic though always in hotels. Highlights include the trans amazonian “highway”, the wild life, the jungle, the riding, the people and the challenge of crossing the continent. We end our crossing in Belem a big modern city before taking a day boat trip crossing the now huge Amazon river. From Macapa we have more offered to reach the border river between Brazil and French Guiana.

Day 20: Assis Brazil to Rio Branco, day 21: Rio Branco to Porto Velho, day 22: Porto Velho to Humaitá, day 23:Humaita to Apui, day 24: Apui to Jacareacanga, day 25: Jacareacanga to Itaituba, day 26: Itaituba to Altamira, day 27: Altamira to Tucurui, day 28: Tucurui to Belem, day 29: Activities in Belem, day 30: Amazon Ferry, day 31: Amazon Ferry to Macapa, day 32: Macapa to Oiapoque, day 33: Oiapoque to Cayenne.

DAY 34 TO 55

French Guiana

Our short visit to French Guiana brings us through the capital Cayenne where we will include a visit to the French European space center and devil’s island Kourou. French Guiana is part of the EU and you will find young French police officers out an a year of practice and french supermarkets, a welcome chance to fill up all deposits.

Day 34: Activities in Cayenne, day 35: Cayenne to Paramaribo.

DAY 36

Suriname

The visit in Suriname is even shorter, but an interesting look at just how different the different colonial powers left the colonies. Suriname have many architectural references to the Dutch colonists with small waterways and dams and agricultural lands.

Day 36: Paramaribo to Georgetown

DAY 37 TO 40

Guyana

Entering Guyana, an old British colony the architecture and infrastructure once again completely changes. We have more time in Guyana and will have a day to fly out to the Kaieteur Falls and check out capital city Georgetown, before heading back into the jungle.

Day 37: Activities in Georgetown (Kaieteur Falls), day 38: Georgetown to Iwokrama River Lodge, day 39: Iwokrama River Lodge to Lethem, day 40: Lethem to Boa Vista.

DAY 41

Brazil

We return to Brazil in order to reach Venezuela as there are no direct connection from Guyana. This part of Brazil is quite outback and far from the main power, meaning dirt road and run down infrastructure.

Day 41: Uairen to Boa Vista to Santa Elena.

DAY 42 TO 48

Venezuela

Venezuela is a country that have been in political turmoil the for years now and the situation is very fluid. This could affect our plans to cross the country by motorcycle. The borders have been opened and closed several time during the last 5 years and it is uncertain whether the situation will stabilize enough for the authorities to allow us passage by the time we reach the border from Brazil. If as expected they do allow us to pass the plan is to stay in the southern parts of the country which is the least affected by the corruption and instability.

We spend a day extra halfway in Ciudad Bolivar and fly out to see the worlds tallest waterfall – Angel falls on a day trip. The southern plains of Venezuela are spectacular and full of wildlife. There are many cattle farms and agriculture areas and everyday life is really slow pace. Should the crossing of Venezuela be made impossible by the political situation then Plan B is to re-route our itinerary and spend more time in Brazil, French Guiana, Suriname and Guyana and then fly back to Colombia from Georgetown.

Some Motolombia staff will stay behind and organize shipping of the motorcycles back to Colombia by container. This means in all cases that the tour will be the same length and we will make sure you return to Cali in time for you return flight.

Day 42: Santa Elena de Uairen to El Callao, day 43: El Callao to Ciudad Bolivar, day 44: Activities in Ciudad Bolivar (Angel Falls), day 45: Ciudad Bolívar to Caicara del Orinoco, day 46: Cascara del Orinoco to Mantecal, day 47: Mantecal to San Cristobal, day 48: San Cristobal to Bucaramanga.

DAY 49 TO 52

Colombia

Returning to Colombia we ride from the Eastern border town of Cucuta back to Cali. But first we visit Bucaramanga and Medellin to big cities, the latter being Pablo Escobar’s stronghold up through the 80’s and early 90’s until he was shot dead by police in ’93.

We also go through the wonderful coffee region and visit a working coffee farm before returning to Cali for our grand final farewell dinner and celebration of an incredible trip to what is surely one of the worlds last adventure riding frontiers.

Day 49: Bucaramanga to Medellin, day 50: Medellin to Salento, day 51: Salento to Cali, day 52: Fly-out from Cali.

OBS

Itinerary may change without further notice due to weather, road- or any other condition that the operator or its guides feel will jeopardize the safety of the group or material.