Huila, a region waiting to be explored
8 Days - Multisport Bike Tour
A tour especially created for nature and adventure lovers. Live days filled with different contrasts, colors, smells, flavors, sounds, and climates unparalleled in one of the most beautiful, unexploited, and unexplored regions in Colombia. Live a unique experience with the culture, customs, gastronomy, people, and the landscape of this beautiful department.
TRIP DETAILS
Difficulty
6 - 7 of 10 (Medium/high)
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Days
8 days
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Start/Finish
Neiva, Huila - Colombia
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Included Activities
Mountain biking (Bikes Included) in rural and natural areas, visit some artisan stores, visit some farms, a boat trip, adventure activities.
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Unique experiences
*Multisport (Biking /Rafting /Kayaking /Canyoning /Hiking).
*Hot springs, the ideal place to rest, relax, and recover your body and mind.
*Ride under the stars in a Tropical Dry Forest - "La Tatacoa Desert".
*Delicious variety of local cuisine.
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Meals
All meals, snacks and hydration (water and isotonic drinks). All meals are made with local, fresh products, allowing you to experience local, traditional, and typical Colombian cuisine.
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Lodging
Private rooms in small lodgings, village hotels, rural accommodation or traditional farms. Charming, cozy places that allow you to rest with the tranquility that each community provides. All places have typical, regional architecture to appreciate and experience.
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Bikes
Bicycles with aluminum frame, front suspension with blocking, Shimano® gears / 9-speed, hydraulic disc brakes.
We have 27,5 or 29 wheel/rim and 16”, 18”, 20" frame size bicycles to make your ride as comfortable as possible regardless of your size or gender, and they also come with an antiprostatic seat for men and a silicone cover for women. - A tour car accompanying the riders during the entire tour -
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TRIP ITINERARY
Day 1: Meet in Neiva. Transfer to the Hotel and the First Ride.
Pickup time: After 1:00 p.m.
Distance covered by bicycle: ~15 Km. (1,5 - 2 hours)
Altitude: Between 440 and 600 m.a.s.l.
We will go by car to the hotel in Neiva (find your flight on Kayak.com). This afternoon, we will fit the bicycles, we will see the map of the journey, a technical instruction and then a warm-up ride around Neiva and Palermo Town.
Day 2: La Tatacoa Desert - The Tropical Dry Forest Route
Distance covered by bicycle: ~30 Km. (3,5 hours) + ~14 Km. (2 hours) at night
Activities: Hiking – 3km. (Optional)
Altitude: Between 350 and 630 m.a.s.l.
A unique place in Colombia, the Tatacoa is, without a doubt, the most rugged environment to ride a bicycle, and one of the most beautiful in the country. Nearing 40 degrees during the day, this desert will put anyone’s resistance to the test who dares cross it. Its only motivation is its dazzling beauty for those who face this challenge. It’s a place filled with magic and stories about the Magdalena River, including paleontology and stories of beings from other worlds. To finish a day of splendor, we will take a ride under the stars – approximately two hours – cycling in the dark to the Astronomy Observatory to see, up close and personal, the different stars, galaxies, and planets that surround our own.
Day 3: Palermo – The Route to the Reservoir
Distance covered by bicycle: ~47 Km. (5 hours)
Altitude: Between 600 and 800 m.a.s.l.
Today, we will ride through the rural area of the Municipality of Palermo, appreciating its extensive agricultural cultivations. This route allows us a panoramic view of the Central Andes Range, the majestic Nevado de Huila, and the planes that surround the city of Neiva. Close to 50 kilometers of unpaved roads will take us to the Municipality of Yaguará, rolling among cattle farms, and cotton and tobacco cultivations. This town is famous for the delicious variety of local cuisine. Located in front of the Betania Reservoir, we’ll take advantage of the afternoon to explore its streets and the boardwalk over the reservoir.
Day 4: Yaguará – The Mirador Route
Distance covered by bicycle: ~20 Km. (3 hours)
Activities: Boat trip and Kayaking (Optional)
Altitude: Between 570 and 710 m.a.s.l.
We’ll take advantage of this day to recover with a relaxing 20-kilometer bike ride. Riding through the Yaguará Municipality, between rice cultivations and cattle ranches, we’ll arrive at the Alto de la Zeta – a place that allows us to appreciate the greatness of the Betania Reservoir. Early afternoon, you can enjoy a boat trip on the Betania Reservoir to appreciate this amazing mirror of water, and if you want, you can practice kayaking. A day of rest and recovery, all surrounded of a beautiful landscape.
Day 5: Iquira/Tesalia – The Route Between Rivers
Distance covered by bicycle: ~48 Km. (5-6 hours)
Altitude: Between 570 and 1.400 m.a.s.l.
Surrounded by the Magdalena, Yaguará and Paez Rivers, this route gives us a glimpse into the great tributaries of the region – a zone filled with life that supplies water and food to the habitants of the Department of Huila. We will ride until we reach the municipality of Tesalia, passing through Iquira. Iquira is known for its characteristically mountainous topography, alternating with valleys, plateaus, hills and small canyons. Arriving at Tesalia, we will visit a cheese factory for a Quesadilla tasting, a delicious local treat that combines traditional cheese with sweet guava.
Day 6: Paicol – Territory Paez Route
Distance covered by bicycle: ~44 Km. (4 hours)
Activities: Rafting
Altitude: Between 800 and 1660 m.a.s.l.
Another challenging day as we will ride between mountains of coffee cultivations and experience dramatic climatic changes as we ascend from 800 meters above sea level to 1,660 meters above sea level – which are ideal conditions for cultivating Colombia’s iconic grain. This will be an exhausting day because of the strenuous ascent. Afterwards, we will begin our descent reaching the banks of the mythical Paez River where we will leave our bicycles to go white water rafting. For two hours, you will experience the thrill of Class II and III rapids until arriving to Paicol where we will return to the hotel and rest after such a demanding, adventurous day.
Day 7: Campoalegre/Rivera – The Hot Springs Route
Distance covered by bicycle: ~15 Km. (1 hour) + ~22 Km. (2,5 hours) << Optional
Activities: Canyoning/Rappel
Altitude: Between 800 and 900 m.a.s.l.
This will be your compensation for 6 days of demanding physical activity. But for the pay off, you’ve got to gear up for another 6-kilometer prolonged ascent – a tough challenge but definitely not impossible. All this for enjoy a waterfall of 22 mts Approx., a good place for rappelling, and then splitting with direction towards the Green Municipality of Huila, Rivera. This town has many different hot springs, the ideal place to rest, relax, and recover your body and mind. You’ve earned it!
Day 8: City Tour in Neiva / Transfer
You have a morning to enjoy the City, live its day-to-day bustle, walk its streets, share with its people, enjoy a specially-prepared coffee, and taste the delicious fruits of our country. We will begin our drive back to the airport or hotel in Neiva at 11:00 a.m.
Rates:
Price per person
Price Guarantee Promise: Once confirmed, we guarantee your price will not increase.
Note: If you would like to take a longer tour, with specific activities, we can personalize your tour. Send us your wishes at info@retrociclas.com, and we’ll get back to you with our best proposal.
Includes:
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Accommodation in village hotels or traditional farms.
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Private transport from Neiva – internal transports..
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We pick up and drop off the participants at the hotel or airport of Neiva.
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Luggage transfer.
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Outdoor activities: Kayaking, Rafting, Hiking, Canyoning and boat trip.
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All meals.
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Snacks and hydration (water and isotonic drinks).
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Visits to artisan workshops, farms and admission to the above-mentioned natural attractions.
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Mountain bike hire: 26”, 27,5” or 29” rim, made entirely of aluminium, Shimano® gears and front suspension.
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Safety helmet hire.
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Technical and safety instruction.
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Maps and route profiles.
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Waterproof layer in case of rain.
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Souvenir and digital photos of the activity.
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Hotel insurance and taxes.
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Insurance for adventure activities/medical assistance card.
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Bilingual (Spanish/English) guide specialized in nature and adventure activities.
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Air transportation to Neiva City.
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Expenses and services not specified in the plan.
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Wear light, comfortable clothing (Dry-Fit or cotton t-shirt, shorts or waterproof trousers, and a light rain jacket).
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Wear suitable shoes for cycling and/or walking (closed shoes such as sports shoes or boots; no sandals).
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If you need pedals with clips for your bike shoes, please give notice.
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Bring a small backpack.
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Other optional items to bring: a hat, sunglasses, sunblock, insect repellent.
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Avoid excessive drinking the day before.
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Avoid staying up too late the night before.
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Do not take or buy alcoholic beverages or hallucinogenic substances on the trip.
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Do not drop litter or take flora and fauna home.
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Follow the requests and recommendations of the guides who accompany you on the tour.
Not included:
Recommendations:
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