MOTORCYCLE-TRIPS · SOUTH AMERICA
Motorcycle Tour Colombia, Ecuador & Peru - Stage 1
If the full eight-week expedition is too long for you, you can simply book this first stage on its own.
How long?
29 Days
When?
Winter, Autumn
Price
€ 7,829
/ Person
The Journey
Stage 1: The North - Gold and the Incas
Your journey begins in Cartagena, Colombia, as you set off southwards on your motorcycle. Four weeks and around 7,000 km through Colombia, Ecuador and Peru will take you from Cartagena via Quito and Lima, past Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca, all the way to La Paz in Bolivia. This Colombia Ecuador Peru motorcycle tour covers 29 days: 1 preparation day, 2 flight days, 21 riding days (average 330 km/day, 250-400 km) as well as 2 rest days in Quito and Lima and three flexible buffer days for excursions. If you have both off-road and on-road experience, physical fitness and team spirit, this is the trip for you. Your experienced multilingual tour guide or co-guide grew up in South America and knows exactly how to run these kinds of expeditions.
IMPORTANT - Description of services: This trip is an expedition, not a package holiday in the legal sense. OVERCROSS organises and leads the expedition, but cannot guarantee fixed stages, accommodation, riding times or routes - changes are part of the expedition character. Participation is at your own risk; technical preparation, resilience and personal responsibility are essential. Please check the latest travel and safety advice from the Foreign Office before departure.
Key Highlights of the Trip
Key Highlights of the Trip
01
Start in Cartagena, Caribbean
01
Start in Cartagena, Caribbean
Your motorcycle adventure begins in the historic colonial city of Cartagena on Colombia’s Caribbean coast.
02
Tatacoa Desert & old towns
02
Tatacoa Desert & old towns
You’ll explore Santa Cruz de Mompox on the Magdalena River and the bizarre rock formations of the Tatacoa Desert.
03
Quito & Ecuador’s volcanoes
03
Quito & Ecuador’s volcanoes
You’ll visit Quito, whose old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and ride past Cotopaxi and Chimborazo.
04
In the footsteps of the Incas
04
In the footsteps of the Incas
On this Inca trail motorcycle tour you’ll see Ingapirca, the Kuelap fortress and the mummies of Leymebamba.
05
Gold mines & Nazca Lines
05
Gold mines & Nazca Lines
You’ll ride to the Yanacocha gold mine, view the Nazca Lines from the air and follow Lake Titicaca to La Paz.
Colombia
Your Colombia Ecuador Peru motorcycle adventure begins in Cartagena on the Caribbean coast. Around 1,900 km take you through the Magdalena Valley, the Tatacoa Desert and along winding mountain roads all the way to the border with Ecuador.
Days 1-8
Cartagena, arrival
Your Colombia Ecuador Peru motorcycle adventure starts in Cartagena, the pearl of the Caribbean. After your arrival, you check in to the hotel and meet your guide team and fellow riders for the first time. Cartagena enchants with its colourful colonial streets and Caribbean flair, the perfect start to your expedition in the north of South America.
Cartagena, briefing & bikes
Today in Cartagena is the tour briefing: you receive your motorcycle, check your gear together with the team and load up your luggage. If you have chosen the Yamaha Tenere 700 option, today you take over your rental bike. With everything prepared, your Colombia motorcycle journey sets off south the next morning.
Santa Cruz de Mompox, colonial town
From Cartagena, your Colombia motorcycle adventure takes you to Santa Cruz de Mompox, a beautiful colonial town on the banks of the Magdalena River. The dreamy streets and the town’s history on Colombia’s largest river set the mood for the next stages and show you the country’s tranquil side.
Honda, along the Magdalena
You follow the Magdalena through its wide plain, surrounded by mountain ranges, to the small town of Honda, not to be confused with the motorcycle brand. This stage of your enduro journey blends flowing country roads with views of Colombia’s green river valley, taking you deeper into the heart of the country kilometre by kilometre.
Tatacoa Desert, rock formations
Today your Colombia Ecuador Peru motorcycle adventure reaches the extraordinary Tatacoa Desert with its bizarre rock formations, giant cacti and the ‘Valley of Wishes’. The dry, reddish landscape is one of the most photogenic destinations in the north of the country and a striking contrast to the lush river valley.
Mountain stage, up to 1,600 m
Through seemingly endless bends, your adventure bike climbs into the mountains up to the 1,600-metre contour. This winding mountain stage of the Colombia motorcycle tour demands concentration and rewards you with sweeping views over the Andean foothills before descending back into the valley later on.
Mocoa, route south
From the heights, you descend again to Mocoa at 604 metres. As the border crossing at Ipiales is very busy, on this stage of the Colombia motorcycle journey you take the little-used route directly south towards Ecuador, quiet roads away from the main traffic arteries.
Borderlands, farewell to Colombia
On peaceful backroads, you approach the border with Ecuador. This final stage of your Colombia motorcycle adventure leads through sparsely populated mountain country, a quiet farewell to Colombia before the border crossing and a new chapter of the expedition begins the next day.
Ecuador
In Ecuador, your Ecuador motorcycle adventure takes you through the Andes, past the Equator, the volcanoes Cotopaxi and Chimborazo, and through Quito’s UNESCO-listed old town. Around 1,300 km lie between the border and the road to Peru.
Days 9-17
Border, entry to Ecuador
You cross the border and begin the Ecuador section of your motorcycle adventure. Beyond the border town, you head west. Ecuador is one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, and even the first kilometres of your Ecuador motorcycle journey reveal the lush nature of the Andes.
Papallacta, cable car & hot springs
A special stage: as a bridge has been washed away by floodwater, the bikes have to be transported one by one across the river by cable car. After this river crossing, you take a well-earned break in the hot springs of Papallacta, a highlight of your enduro adventure through Ecuador.
Otavalo, indigenous market
Your Ecuador motorcycle adventure takes you to Otavalo, home to the largest indigenous market in South America, famous for its colourful textiles. Among the stalls, you get a vivid impression of Andean culture and can discover a handmade souvenir or two.
Mitad del Mundo, Equator crossing
20 km before Quito, in San Antonio de Pichincha at the ‘Mitad del Mundo’ monument, the Equator crossing awaits. With one foot on each hemisphere, you mark a symbolic milestone on your Ecuador motorcycle journey before continuing to the world’s highest capital city.
Quito, rest day in the old town
Rest day in Quito: the world’s highest capital sits at 2,850 metres in an Andean basin. You explore the intact old town from the Spanish colonial era, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a peaceful contrast to your Ecuador enduro adventure and a chance to recharge your batteries.
Cotopaxi, volcanoes of the Andes
Beyond Quito, your Ecuador motorcycle journey takes you through Cotopaxi National Park, past the flanks of the Cotopaxi (4,000 m) and Chimborazo (4,500 m) volcanoes, the highest point of your entire Andean adventure. The highland scenery with snow-capped peaks is simply unforgettable.
Riobamba, Nariz del Diablo
South of Riobamba, you park the bikes and take a small train over the famous Devil’s Nose (Nariz del Diablo). Afterwards, your enduro adventure continues through the Ecuadorian Andes heading south, where the first Inca sites are already waiting.
Questions about the tour itinerary?
Our tour guide is happy to answer any questions about the day-by-day route, stops, and details.
Cuenca, Ingapirca Inca site
On the way to Cuenca, Ecuador’s third largest city, you visit Ingapirca, the country’s most important Inca site. Here, your In the Footsteps of the Incas motorcycle tour begins its main theme, following the traces of a great civilisation that will accompany you all the way to Peru.
Podocarpus, route to Peru
On adventurous tracks with endless bends, you travel from Cuenca about 400 km through Podocarpus National Park, rich in flora and fauna. Your Ecuador motorcycle adventure approaches the small border town of La Balza, the threshold to Peru and the next stage of the expedition.
Peru
Peru is the heart of this In the Footsteps of the Incas motorcycle tour: around 3,300 km from the northern Andes via Kuelap, Cajamarca and the Yanacocha gold mine to Lima, Nazca, Arequipa and Lake Titicaca.
Days 18-28
San Ignacio, border town in Peru
At the border town of La Balza, you cross into Peru and your Peru enduro adventure begins. About 50 km further is San Ignacio, your first stop in Peru, where you spend the night in a hotel. Peru entices with breathtaking landscapes, rich history and excellent local cuisine.
Leymebamba, mummy museum
Your Peru Andes motorcycle journey takes you to Leymebamba, known for its museum with more than 200 mummies. The stop at Museo Leymebamba gives you a deep insight into the region’s pre-Hispanic cultures before the route continues into the highlands of the northern Andes.
Kuelap, Inca fortress
Today you reach Kuelap, the ‘Machu Picchu of the North’, one of the most important fortresses from Inca times. On your In the Footsteps of the Incas motorcycle tour, Karajia and Revash are also among the impressive sites on this stage, showcasing the architectural skills of the Andean cultures.
Cajamarca, Inca baths
Just a short walk from your hotel in Cajamarca are the famous Inca baths, Baños del Inca. This stage of your Peru enduro adventure combines hot springs with the history of one of the most significant cities in the Andes, ideal for shaking off the fatigue of long riding days.
Yanacocha, Andean gold mine
From Cajamarca, you make a detour to the Yanacocha mine, one of the largest and, at 3,500 to 4,100 metres, highest gold mines in the world. This excursion is the heart of the Peru Gold Mines motorcycle adventure and a striking testament to the region’s mining history.
Trujillo, Chan Chan & Huanchaco
In Trujillo, you visit the partially reconstructed adobe ruins of Chan Chan. In the evening, you enjoy grilled fish by the sea in Huanchaco. This coastal stage of your Peru enduro adventure offers a relaxing contrast to the Andes and a free day to breathe in the Pacific air.
Lima, rest day on the coast
Via the ‘Duck Canyon’, you leave the coast again for the Andes and reach Lima. On the rest day in the capital, you try a typical ceviche by the Pacific in the evening, a well-deserved break on your Peru Andes motorcycle journey before heading further south.
Ica, oasis & dune surfing
From Lima, you ride along the coast to an oasis on the outskirts of Ica, where you can try dune surfing by motorcycle. Sand instead of tarmac, this stage of your Peru enduro adventure brings a welcome change and plenty of riding fun in the dunes.
Nazca, flight over the lines
Onwards to the Nazca plain. On a scenic flight, you view the world-famous Nazca Lines (geoglyphs) from the air. This experience makes the Nazca Lines motorcycle adventure one of the highlights of your time in Peru, mysterious figures only visible from above.
Arequipa, marathon stage
The goal of your 700 km marathon stage is the white city of Arequipa. This long ride through desert and highlands is demanding but rewards you with one of the most beautiful colonial cities on your Peru Andes motorcycle journey, framed by snow-capped volcanoes.
Puno, Lake Titicaca to the border
From Puno, the route follows Lake Titicaca to the Bolivian border. At over 3,800 metres, you ride alongside the world’s highest navigable lake, a grand finale to the Peru enduro adventure before the final border crossing of your expedition.
Bolivia
To round off your Colombia Ecuador Peru motorcycle adventure, you cross the border into Bolivia. Around 120 km along Lake Titicaca take you to the capital, La Paz.
Day 29
La Paz, arrival & departure
From the border crossing, it’s about 120 km to the Bolivian capital La Paz, where your Colombia Ecuador Peru motorcycle adventure ends. After arriving in the world’s highest seat of government, it’s time to say farewell to the group before you catch your return flight.
Want a detailed description of all tour days?
Our expert will walk you through the full itinerary and answer all your questions.
PRICE
from
€ 7,829
/ person
Price Options
Expeditions Participants
€ 7,829
Additional Options
Rental motorcycle Yamaha Tenere 700 for this motorcycle trip
€ 4,639
Trip includes
- All hotel and lodge nights on the South America motorcycle expedition
- Breakfast and dinner
- Multilingual tour guide for the South America expedition
- 24-hour emergency hotline via OVERCROSS
- Rescue service in case of evacuation up to a maximum of €5,000
- Provision of a satellite phone specifically for the motorcycle expedition
- Insolvency protection according to BGB §651r - mandatory for OVERCROSS tours
- Online tour guide connected to the team via satellite tracker
- On request, location and status updates to relatives and friends
- Maps for the South America crossing
- Support with visa questions and, if needed, organisation
- Tour pack with travel information to prepare for the motorcycle expedition
- Equipment and packing list to prepare adventure riders
- If you choose the 'Yamaha Tenere 700 rental bike' option: transport of the rental bike
- Post-expedition get-together
- Ride with your own motorcycle
FAQS
-
Is Colombia a safe destination for motorcyclists?
Colombia’s security situation has improved significantly in recent years. However, we still avoid a few specific areas on this motorcycle tour - your experienced multilingual tour guide is fully informed about this. -
How is a motorcycle expedition different from a standard motorcycle tour?
A motorcycle expedition is a longer, often more adventurous journey. Unlike a more tourist-oriented motorcycle tour, the focus is on exploring remote places, riding unusual routes and overcoming challenges. See also the Wikipedia link to 'expedition' on this page. -
Do I need special visas or documents for this motorcycle tour in South America?
Yes, you’ll generally need a valid passport and, depending on your home country, possibly a visa for the countries you cross on this motorcycle expedition. The OVERCROSS team will be happy to help you with the paperwork, such as visa applications. -
What type of motorcycle do I need for the tour?
If you’re not booking one of our Yamaha Tenere 700 rental bikes, we recommend an adventure or enduro bike under 1000 cc. Basically, you can ride any motorcycle you’re comfortable with - the main limits are usually with the rider, not the bike. -
What challenges might I face on the motorcycle expedition through South America?
This motorcycle expedition will challenge you in several ways: mental strength, long stages, cultural differences, language barriers and technical riding demands. -
What are the roads like in South America?
Roads range from well-developed highways to unpaved tracks in rural areas. The main routes are usually well maintained, but things get tougher in remote regions. On this expedition, you’ll ride a mix of different terrain. -
What tyres do I need for this motorcycle tour?
Manufacturers like Continental, Metzeler or Mitas offer quality tyres for this type of trip. Ultimately, tyre choice is very individual. On our bikes, we usually use Heidenau K60 Scout, as this tyre has a centre strip on the rear from a certain size upwards. -
What kind of luggage system do I need on my bike?
Our OVERCROSS rental bikes come with an aluminium pannier system. Of course, you can also opt for a soft luggage system. -
What modifications should I make to my motorcycle?
We recommend engine protection, crash bars and hand guards for your motorcycle. -
Do I need an extra fuel canister?
No, your standard tank capacity is sufficient for this trip. -
Do I need a credit card?
Yes, you’ll need a credit card with enough funds and the ability to withdraw cash. -
Should I bring cash on the motorcycle tour?
It never hurts to have some cash, but you can also withdraw money with your credit card along the way. -
What equipment do I need for the motorcycle expedition?
You’ll receive a complete equipment list for this motorcycle tour before departure in your tour pack. -
How much time should I allow for shipping my vehicle?
Depending on the route (south or north), your bike will be shipped to Cartagena (Colombia) or Ushuaia (Argentina). To ensure all bikes arrive in time for the tour start, they must be shipped at least 2 months in advance.
OVERCROSS note on itinerary
The above travel description is a non-binding online proposal and does not represent a binding travel itinerary. We expressly reserve the right to make changes to the route, schedule, and accommodations (§ 651d BGB in conjunction with Art. 250 EGBGB). The terms and conditions of OVERCROSS apply.Terms and Conditions of OVERCROSS
Similar Adventures
motorcycle-trips
6 tours
Send request
How did you
hear about us?
