BOYACÁ: LAND OF CYCLISTS, PEOPLE AND MAGICAL TOWNS ROAD CYCLING TOUR Boyacá is so amazing, so beautiful and its people are so charming, that is impossible to fully express with words what it is about. Not only a factory of top cyclists, but also a factory of great and hard working people, the agricultural region of Colombia by excellence and a region where you are going to want to stay because time stops once you enter to Boyacá and life priorities change. We will ride through a region that with it's mountains create unique routes and also unique landscapes, we will pass through beautiful towns where many of our cyclists are from, which means we will ride through their training routes and you will enjoy each one of the kilometers ridden. 58(*$0(/,168,7(*$7,1($848(%(&-<9 7(/(3+21()$;,0,/( LQIR#YR\DJHVWHUUDQDWXUDFDZZZYR\DJHVWHUUDQDWXUDFD DAYS: 11 DISTANCE: 584,4 kms / 363,1 miles MAP: https://www.strava.com/routes/7412950 DESCRIPTION Cycling through Boyacá on the routes of the bests cyclists of Latin America, where sportsmen as Nario Quintana where forged is a privilege and a pleasure; we will visit their home towns and we will ride across the most amazing landscapes, by beautiful lakes and beautiful towns such as Suesca, Villa de Leyva or Mongui. After leaving Boyacá, we will enter to the eternal plains of the eastern lands of Colombia, where we will have the most amazing experience with nature and we will be surrounded by its greatness. 58(*$0(/,168,7(*$7,1($848(%(&-<9 7(/(3+21()$;,0,/( LQIR#YR\DJHVWHUUDQDWXUDFDZZZYR\DJHVWHUUDQDWXUDFD Day 1: Arrival to Bogotá • Pick up at the Airport and transfer to B.O.G Hotel (http://www.boghotel.com/) • Lunch if arrive before noon • Short city tour around the hotel area depending on time of arrival Located at 2600m and with its imposing eastern hills we find the capital and the largest city of Colombia, Bogotá. 8million people from all over the country, make Bogotá a multicultural city with a vast options for all kind of activities related with culture, nature, history, etc. The weather in Bogotá is mainly cold, around 17ºC all through the year, making it a cool and fresh city to be in. • Welcome dinner at Club Colombia Restaurant (http://www.restauranteclubcolombia.com.co/) and introduction about the route 58(*$0(/,168,7(*$7,1($848(%(&-<9 7(/(3+21()$;,0,/( LQIR#YR\DJHVWHUUDQDWXUDFDZZZYR\DJHVWHUUDQDWXUDFD Day 2: La Calera – Suesca – 85,4kms / 53 miles • 6:00am: Pick up at hotel and drive to La Calera for about 1-hour • 7:00am: Typical breakfast in La Calera • 8:00am: Start the ride https://www.strava.com/routes/6638404 • About the ride There are two options for this route, we can do it all flat, or we can detour to do the iconic "Climb of the Blade" to start to get familiar with a Colombian climb around 3000m. We can divide the group in two so you can choose between doing it or keep going flat for this 1st day. 58(*$0(/,168,7(*$7,1($848(%(&-<9 7(/(3+21()$;,0,/( LQIR#YR\DJHVWHUUDQDWXUDFDZZZYR\DJHVWHUUDQDWXUDFD • About Suesca: Suesca is the national hotspot for rock climbing, is a small town with great energy where many people gather together to practice different type of adventure sports. Apart from its natural cliff of about 1km long that makes an amazing and beautiful spot for rock climbing, Suesca has also a great number of natural places to visit such as lakes, mountains which makes it a great place to stay for the night. • Accommodation: Casona Quesada Hotel (http://www.casonaquesada.com/) • Optional activities in Suesca: Hiking or rock climbing 58(*$0(/,168,7(*$7,1($848(%(&-<9 7(/(3+21()$;,0,/( LQIR#YR\DJHVWHUUDQDWXUDFDZZZYR\DJHVWHUUDQDWXUDFD Day 3: Suesca – Villa de Leyva – 112kms / 69,6 miles • 8:00am: Start the ride https://www.strava.com/routes/4300258 • About Villa de Leyva: Declared National Monument and National Heritage, Villa de Leyva is a town where it seems that time stopped. A beautiful colonial town, with a perfect mix of architecture, culture, nature, paleontology and archeology that makes Villa de Leyva a place worth to stop and explore more deeply. • Accommodation: Hotel Plazuela de San Agustín (http://www.hotelplazuela.com/) 58(*$0(/,168,7(*$7,1($848(%(&-<9 7(/(3+21()$;,0,/( LQIR#YR\DJHVWHUUDQDWXUDFDZZZYR\DJHVWHUUDQDWXUDFD Day 4: Recovery Day Villa de Leyva • Optional activities to choose from (1 included): o Hike through Iguaque National Park – 16,1kms / 10 miles Start very early in the morning (6-7am). During the hike in the Sanctuary of Flora and Fauna of Iguaque, we will find the sacred Iguaque Lagoon, which in Muisca mythology was the cradle of human species. From this lagoon emerged "Bachué", mother of all Muisca men, reason why there is a belief that visiting this place cleanses the soul and purifies the spirit. There are a total of 7 lagoons; we will visit just the first one. o Visit to La Periquera Waterfalls 7 beautiful waterfalls where we can do many activities such as rappel inside the waterfall, hiking, or just enjoying this magnificent place. o Tour Villa de Leyva Town, Ráquira & Surroundings We will visit the Terracota house (house of clay), The Fossil (fossil of a cronosaurus of about 110million years), Infiernito (Astronomy field of the Muiscas), and Ráquira Town, one of the most colorful towns of Colombia, and certainly the most colorful town of Boyacá, houses of all colors, and ceramic handicrafts everywhere is what Ráquira is all about. Here in Ráquira we will join a pottery lesson where they will teach us how to work clay and make our own vessel. 58(*$0(/,168,7(*$7,1($848(%(&-<9 7(/(3+21()$;,0,/( LQIR#YR\DJHVWHUUDQDWXUDFDZZZYR\DJHVWHUUDQDWXUDFD Day 5: Villa de Leyva – Paipa – 79kms / 49,1 miles • 8:00am: Start the ride https://www.strava.com/routes/7457428 • About the ride: After we climb to Cucaita, we will stop at Rafael Antonio Niño statue, an emblematic cyclist from this town, time for a short rest and we will keep going to Tunja. Passing Tunja we will cycle to Combita, home town of the Giro and Vuelta winner and 2 times second place and 1 third in Tour de France, Nairo Quintana. Time for taking photos at the murals of Nairo’s house. After that we will head towards Paipa where we will finish our day. • Accommodation: Hotel Sochagota (http://www.hotelsochagota.com/) 58(*$0(/,168,7(*$7,1($848(%(&-<9 7(/(3+21()$;,0,/( LQIR#YR\DJHVWHUUDQDWXUDFDZZZYR\DJHVWHUUDQDWXUDFD Day 6: Paipa – Aquitania – 89,6kms / 55,7 miles • 8:00am: Start the ride https://www.strava.com/routes/7457436 • About the ride: We will keep climbing the lands of Boyacá and now we head towards the biggest lake of Colombia and the second highest navigable lake of South America, Tota Lake, which is at 3200m; but before we will make a stop in one of the most beautiful towns of Boyacá, the colonial town of Mongui which with its cobbled streets will transport us to the past. • Accommodation: Refugio Pozo Azul (http://www.hotelrefugiopozoazul.com/) 58(*$0(/,168,7(*$7,1($848(%(&-<9 7(/(3+21()$;,0,/( LQIR#YR\DJHVWHUUDQDWXUDFDZZZYR\DJHVWHUUDQDWXUDFD Day 7: Aquitania – Yopal – 140,5kms / 87,3 miles • 8:00am: Start the ride https://www.strava.com/routes/7457440 • About Llanos Orientales (Eastern Plains) The Eastern Plains of Colombia are divided in 4 departments, Arauca, Casanare, Meta and Vichada, and represent 28% of the total territory of Colombia, nevertheless, the region is highly uninhabited, one of the reasons why the nature and diversity of the region is well maintained and preserved. While we leave Boyacá and enter to the eastern plains of Colombia we will appreciate the beautiful and endless landscapes of this region of the country. • Accommodation: Hotel Estelar Yopal (http://www.estelaryopal.com/) 58(*$0(/,168,7(*$7,1($848(%(&-<9 7(/(3+21()$;,0,/( LQIR#YR\DJHVWHUUDQDWXUDFDZZZYR\DJHVWHUUDQDWXUDFD Day 8: Yopal – Paz de Ariporo – 93,3km / 58 miles • About the ride: We have finished our cycling trip, but we still have one more exciting experience surrounded by nature, we will be picked up in Yopal to go to Juan Solito Eco Lodge and have the most amazing experience of the Eastern Plains. • Accommodation: Ecolodge Juan Solito (http://www.juansolito.com/) Day 9: Safari • About the Safari: The astonishing biodiversity in our eastern plains allows for us to offer a Safari where our guests can experience our landscapes and fauna in a controlled environment, with all safety precautions, while enjoying our wildlife that includes: capibaras, white tail deer, crocodiles, cattle, wild horses, herons, curlews, little owls, double-striped thick-knee curlews, jabiru storks, a wide variety of ibises among many other bird species Day 10: Morning Adventure and transfer to Yopal • About the day: We can choose between horseback riding, a journey through the river or a nice hike, the adventure continues and the majesty of nature will keep blowing our minds. At the end of the morning we will transferred to Yopal • Accommodation: Hotel Estelar Yopal (http://www.estelaryopal.com/) Day 11: Transfer to airport 58(*$0(/,168,7(*$7,1($848(%(&-<9 7(/(3+21()$;,0,/( LQIR#YR\DJHVWHUUDQDWXUDFDZZZYR\DJHVWHUUDQDWXUDFD What’s Included What’s not Included • Pick up at hotel • Bicycle • All meals • Bike Rental: $40.00 USD per cycling day • Accommodation 4* • Bicycle assembly • Specified activities • Bicycle assembly: $50,00 USD per • Hydration bicycle • Snacks • Airfare and transportation to and from • Water Bottle the trip pick-up/drop-off locations • Cycle Jersey • Alcoholic beverages • Companion car • Activities not specified • Spare tubes • Assistance during the tour • Shuttle back to hotel • Bike transportation to Bogotá after the tour * Suggested hotels are subject to availability, in any case, hotels of the same level will be chosen.