Essential Information - Viva Colombia

Before booking your holiday with us, please check the status of your chosen tour. We strongly advise against booking any flights or making other travel arrangements until the tour is marked as Guaranteed. 

To confirm your place, simply pay the deposit. This deposit can be refunded at any time until the tour status changes to "Guaranteed". Your final balance will be due 56 days before the tour start date. 

When you book, you are agreeing to our booking conditions – please take a moment to read them in full. 

Each tour requires a minimum number of participants to go ahead. As bookings come in, the status will update from Available, to 2 More to Guarantee, and finally to Guaranteed once the minimum is met. You can always check the current status on the ‘Dates and Prices’ section of the tour page.

Please note: For groups of fewer than four participants, the guide will lead the tour from the support vehicle rather than riding with the group on a bike. This ensures both guiding and logistical support can still be provided.

Tour status definitions: 

✅ Guaranteed – The tour is confirmed and open for booking. 

✅ Guaranteed – Limited – Confirmed to run, but only a few spaces left. 

⏳ Available – 2 More to Guarantee – Tour is open but needs just 2 more bookings to confirm. 

🟢 Available – Open for booking but not yet confirmed to run. 

📩 Contact – Please get in touch if you're interested in this tour. 

❌ Fully Booked – This tour is no longer available. 

Once a tour is marked Guaranteed, you can confidently go ahead with booking your flights and making travel plans. We don’t cancel trips once they reach guaranteed status, except in very rare and exceptional circumstances. 

🚐 Support Vehicle

A dedicated support vehicle is with the group throughout the tour—carrying luggage and offering assistance when needed.

🏨Accommodation
Comfortable and convenient overnight stays are included throughout the trip.

🍽️ Most Meals
Enjoy a variety of local meals—most are included (see trip notes for full details).

🚰 Snacks & Mineral Water
Stay refreshed with snacks and mineral water provided during cycling days.

✈️ Airport Transfers
Transfers are included on both the first and last day of the tour.

🧭 Expert Local Guides
Led by knowledgeable, English-speaking local professionals for a richer experience.

🛫 International Flights
Flights to and from  tour destination must be arranged independently.

🍷 Alcoholic Drinks
Alcohol is not included in the tour package.

🍽️ Unlisted Meals
Meals not specified in the itinerary are at your own expense.

🛂 Visa Fees
Any visa costs are the responsibility of the traveller.

🛡️ Travel Insurance
Must be arranged separately before departure.

💰 Tips
Gratuities for guides and support staff are not included.

🚲 Bike Hire
Available on request for an additional fee.

📍 Start of Tour – Pereira (Sunday)

Your cycling adventure begins in Pereira on Sunday.
We understand that our travellers arrive from all over the world, so no matter what time you land at Pereira Airport on the start date, you and your luggage will be transferred to the joining hotel.

⏱ If you arrive before midday, your room may not be ready immediately and you may need to wait for check-in.

🏁 End of Tour – Medellín (Saturday)

The tour finishes in Medellín 14 days later, on Saturday.

If you’d like to arrive early or extend your stay, redspokes can assist with extra accommodation and airport transfers for an additional cost.

💷 Flights & Booking Advice

International flights are not included in the tour price. 

We recommend booking a multi-destination ticket:

Arrival: Pereira (PEI)

Departure: Medellín (MDE)

🔍 Check flights on www.kayak.com or www.opodo.co.uk for the latest prices and options.

✈️ From the UK, popular airlines for this route include American Airlines (AA) and Air France.

Colombian Currency

The local currency is the Colombian Peso (COP). Cash is the most widely used payment method, especially outside major cities.

Prices for food, services, and shopping are listed in COP

Credit and debit cards are accepted in cities, but cash is essential in rural areas

What to Bring

Travellers from the UK, EU, US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand:

Bring a Visa or Mastercard debit/credit card for ATM withdrawals

You may bring some USD or Euros as backup, though exchanging them locally is less convenient than using ATMs

Where to Exchange

At Pereira Airport (PEI): ATMs are available in the arrivals area and are the most convenient way to get Colombian Pesos

💡 We recommend withdrawing a small amount upon arrival to cover initial expenses

❌ Airport currency exchange counters often offer poor exchange rates

Better rates are available at local banks or exchange offices in Pereira

✔ Your redspokes guide will assist you in locating reliable ATMs and advising on the best places to exchange money throughout the tour.

💸 Spending Money

We recommend budgeting around £350 / $470 for the duration of the tour for incidental costs like drinks, snacks, souvenirs, and optional meals.

Typical Costs in Colombia

🧭 Helpful Tips

Cash is useful in rural areas and for small purchases

Notify your bank of travel plans to avoid card blocks

Carry small denomination notes for easier transactions

Expect minor ATM fees—check with your bank before travel

Your guide is always available to help with money matters

💁‍♂️ Staff Tipping

Tipping is a great way to thank your guides and support team for excellent service.

💷 Recommended: £60–£80 per person
💵 Or $80–$100 equivalent

Tips are normally pooled and shared by the team, coordinated by your guide. While not mandatory, they are appreciated and seen as a gesture of gratitude—not a substitute for fair pay, which redspokes ensures for all staff.

You’ll have the full support of a back-up vehicle throughout the tour — either a jeep or a bus — providing peace of mind as you ride. The support vehicle will:

🚐 Transport your main luggage between overnight stops

🪑 Offer a lift if you need a break from cycling

🛠️ Stop roughly every 12 miles (20 km) to offer assistance and refreshments

Our tour leaders carry a comprehensive tool kit and will assist with common bike issues. All you’ll need to carry is a small daypack for essentials like a camera, snacks, or a light jacket.

If you're bringing your own bike, please make sure it’s in good working condition before the tour. We strongly recommend a full service by a professional bike shop prior to travel, as we can't guarantee we'll have the parts or tools for every possible repair.

Your comfort and safety on the road are our priority — whether you're riding or taking a breather in the van.

For this tour we have brand new GW Alligator bikes with semi slick tyres and Deore components in a range of sizes and have added eBikes in a range of sizes to this tour for those needing  extra zip up the hills!

🔧 Our support vehicle carries a complete toolkit, spare parts, and a track pump to handle any issues along the way.

⚙️ Customise Your Ride
All bikes come with standard flat pedals. If you prefer using SPD or clip-in pedals, feel free to bring your own.
Similarly, if you have a personal saddle you’d like to use, you're welcome to bring it along.
🧰 Our guide will be on hand to fit your pedals and saddle to your hire bike.

🪖 Helmet Policy
Please note that cycle helmets are not included in the bike hire.
🛑 You must bring your own helmet — helmet hire or purchase cannot be guaranteed on location.
✅ Wearing a helmet is mandatory while cycling. Failure to do so is at your own risk and may impact the validity of your travel insurance.

Our Colombia tour is suitable for:

✅ Mountain bikes

✅ Cyclo-cross bikes

🛠️ Pre-Tour Bike Check
We strongly recommend having your bike professionally serviced before the trip. Key checks include:

🔧 Tighten all bolts and quick-release clamps

🛞 Adjust and tension wheel spokes

⚙️ Check & lubricate all bearings

🛑 Inspect gear & brake cables

⛓️ Check chain wear

🧽 Fit new inner tubes

👀 Inspect tyre treads and wheel rims for wear

A well-tuned bike means a smoother, safer ride on Colombia’s varied terrain.

🧰 What to Bring for Your Bike
Pack these essentials to stay road-ready:

🔧 Multi-tool

🪛 Tyre levers

🔄 Spare inner tubes

🧯 Pump

🧵 Spare spokes

🛑 Disc/brake pads (check with your bike shop)

🔗 A few extra chain links

💧 Fluids or bleed kits (for unique components)

📦 Transporting Your Bike
Your bike must be included in your airline luggage allowance

A boxed bike typically weighs 15–20 kg

Be prepared for excess baggage fees if you exceed limits

Most airlines accept bikes in:

📦 Cardboard bike boxes

🧳 Soft bike bags

💼 Hard-shell bike cases

⚠️ Always check airline requirements before travel to avoid surprises at check-in.

Bike Support & Grading
We offer a range of optional extras to help tailor your trip to your needs:

🚲 Bike Hire
Need a bike? Quality bikes and e-bikes are available to hire for an additional fee.
You can request this:

✅ At the time of booking

✉️ Or later via email (subject to availability)

🛏️ Single Room Upgrade
Prefer your own space? A single room supplement is available on most tours (additional cost).
Request this:

When you book, or

Contact us later (subject to availability)

🏨 Additional Accommodation & Transfers
Arriving early or staying on after the tour?
We can arrange:

🛬 Extra airport transfers

🛏️ Pre- or post-tour hotel stays
All at additional cost.

🚴‍♂️ Who Travels with redspokes?
We welcome a diverse mix of cyclists on our tours — from solo travellers to friends and couples. Everyone’s welcome!

🛏️ Room Sharing & Solo Travellers
Our tour prices are based on twin-share accommodation.
If you're travelling solo, don’t worry — we’ll pair you with another solo traveller of the same gender.

Prefer your own space?
A single room is available on most tours for an additional charge (subject to availability).

📩 You can request a single room at the time of booking or later by contacting us.

🍽️ Meals on Tour
Most meals are included in your trip price — though evening meals are excluded to give you the chance to explore local cuisine independently.
📅 Check the itinerary for specific meal inclusions.

🥗 Dietary Requirements
The Colombian diet is predominantly meat-based, but we are happy to cater for vegetarians and other dietary preferences. Please let us know your requirements when booking.

☕ What to Expect at Mealtimes
Breakfast
A hearty start to the day with fresh juice, coffee or hot chocolate, eggs, fruit, and bread.

Lunch (12–4pm)
Often the main meal in rural areas. Usually includes:

A soup starter

A main dish

A drink

And an optional sweet dessert

Dinner
Typically a lighter meal, though in cities, dinner is often served around 7–8pm.

🧑‍🍳 Traditional Colombian Dishes
🥣 Ajiaco – Chicken soup with 2–3 types of potato, corn, sour cream, avocado, capers & guasca

🥯 Arepa – A cornmeal bread, served with almost every meal

🍛 Bandeja Paisa – Grilled steak, pork rind, chorizo, rice, red beans, fried egg, avocado, and sweet banana — a Colombian favourite!

🍉 Fresh Fruit – Colombia offers an incredible variety of tropical fruits year-round

It is a requirement that all participants are fully insured for the entire duration of the tour. Your travel insurance must include coverage for:

🚑 Personal injury & medical expenses

⚰️ Death & repatriation

🚁 Emergency rescue (including helicopter/air evacuation)

🎒 Loss or theft of luggage and equipment

❌ Trip cancellation or curtailment

🔧 Negligent damage or breakage of hire equipment
(All damage costs must be paid locally and reclaimed from your insurer.)

📌 Important Notes
✅ Your policy must not have exclusions for cycling, adventure travel, or any activity included in your tour.

📝 All insurance claims must be directed to your insurance provider.

🕒 We strongly recommend taking out insurance at the time of booking, to ensure you're covered if you need to cancel prior to departure.

🇬🇧 Insurance for UK Participants
For those booking from the UK, we recommend:
🔗 Snowcard Insurance Services
They specialise in mountain and adventure sport travel insurance — including mountain biking.

 🛏️ Accommodation – Colombia
Over the course of this tour, you’ll enjoy:

🏠 11 nights in charming guest houses

🏨 3 nights in comfortable hotels

🍽️ Breakfast included daily

Each stay is carefully selected for:

🚴‍♂️ Cyclist-friendly atmosphere

📍 Convenient locations along the route

😌 Group comfort and local character

Expect a warm welcome, a good night’s sleep, and a base that supports your unforgettable cycling journey through Colombia’s vibrant landscapes.

We strongly recommend that you consult your GP or a local Travel Health Clinic at least 8 weeks before departure for advice on general health precautions for travel to your destination.

You should also review guidance from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) or equivalent authority in your country, such as the CDC (USA), Travelvax (Australia), or Public Health Agency of Canada.

You must hold a valid passport in order to travel.  Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the date of your return from any overseas destination. 

Visa and entry requirements for most countries can and do change from time to time and so we strongly recommend that you consult the government travel website for where your passport was issued.

For UK nationals, please visit the gov.uk website for up to date information about entry requirements for Colombia.  The website also provides vaccination advice as well as the option to sign up for Alerts so that you are aware if requirements have changed. 

🌤️ Viva Colombia Tour – Climate by Month

The tour spans Colombia’s Coffee Region and Andean Highlands, including areas like Pereira, Salento, Filandia, and the Los Nevados National Park. The climate here is shaped more by altitude than by seasons, making conditions relatively stable year-round.

☀️ July & August (Dry Season)

• Season: Dry or "summer" period (despite being near the equator)

• Weather: Mostly dry, sunny, and pleasant

• Temperature (day): 22–28°C (72–82°F)

• Temperature (night): 12–18°C (54–64°F)

• Rainfall: Light, occasional showers – especially in higher altitudes

• Humidity: Moderate, comfortable in the mountains

Great time for cycling – dry roads and lush green landscapes after earlier rains.

❄️ December (Start of Dry Season)

• Season: Start of the dry season; weather improving after short rains in Oct–Nov

• Weather: Sunny, mild to warm with fresh mountain air

• Temperature (day): 21–27°C (70–81°F)

• Temperature (night): 11–17°C (52–63°F)

• Rainfall: Generally low, though occasional light showers are still possible

• Humidity: Low to moderate

December is one of the best months to visit – excellent weather and festive atmosphere in towns.

🎒 What to Pack
Packing is personal, and this is only a suggested checklist. Please adjust based on your preferences.

🚴 Cycling Gear
🪖 Cycle helmet – Mandatory and must be worn at all times when cycling

🕶 Sunglasses

🚰 Water bottles or a Camelbak

👕 Base layer tops

🧥 Fleece jacket / pullover

🌧 Waterproof biking jacket (breathable fabric)

🩳 Padded cycling shorts

👟 Cycle shoes or trekking shoes

🧦 Lightweight & heavyweight socks

🧤 Fingerless cycling gloves

🏕 General Clothing
🩳 Trekking shorts

👖 Trousers

👕 Lightweight t-shirts

👔 Long-sleeved shirt

🧢 Warm fleece hat

🧣 Buff or neck gaiter

👙 Swimwear

🧴 Lip balm & sunscreen

🧼 Towel

🩹 Personal First Aid Kit (our guides carry basic supplies, but we recommend bringing your own)

💊 Paracetamol or Ibuprofen

💊 Diarrhoea relief (Lomotil, Diacalm)

💧 Rehydration salts (e.g. Dioralyte)

🧴 Antiseptic cream

🍬 Throat lozenges

🩹 Plasters (band-aids)

👃 Nasal spray

👁 Eye drops

🛌 Ear plugs

🧴 Anti-bacterial hand gel

🧻 Antiseptic wet wipes

🦟 Insect repellent

⚡️ Miscellaneous:

🍫 Energy bars / gels / snacks

🧃 Energy or recovery drink mix

📸 Camera

📱 Mobile phone – highly recommended

📶 Mobile Phone & SIM Cards
Bring your mobile phone: It’s essential for communication, navigation, translation, and photos.

SIM cards are widely available at airports, convenience stores, or mobile kiosks in major cities.

Look for prepaid local SIMs with data—they are usually inexpensive and offer good coverage in most areas.

eSIM options may also be available depending on your device.

✅ Be sure to unlock your phone before departure if it's locked to a network provider.

Electricity in Colombia runs at 110 volts with a frequency of 60hz. Plugs and sockets are of type A & B 


     Type A               Type B

🇨🇴 Country Overview: Republic of Colombia
🏙️ Capital Bogotá
👥 Population 49 million
🌍 Area 1.14 million sq km (440,831 sq miles)
🗣️ Major Language Spanish
✝️ Major Religion Christianity
👵 Life Expectancy 71 years (men), 78 years (women)
💰 Currency Colombian Peso (COP)