5-daagse Punta Gallinas-motortocht

I did the five day trip from Santa Marta to Punta Gallinas and back. It was truly incredible. Jack was my guide and it felt like I was on a trip with one of my best friends. He also made sure that the trip felt very safe and adventurous at the same time. Perfect ending of my 5 week journey through Colombia.

Un'esperienza da dimenticare l'organizzazione scarsissima ci hanno assegnato dei mezzi non compatibili per attraversare il deserto con Jeep poi il personale non era qualificato né conosceva i percorsi il cibo che ci hanno proposto scadente i luoghi dove ci hanno fatto dormire orribili e ovviamente ci hanno fatto pagare anche l'aria che respiravamo a livello di sicurezza abbiamo rischiato moltissimo in quanto i piloti non erano competenti infine non abbiamo avuto nessun supporto quando siamo stati ammalati da parte dell'organizzazione non erano puntuali e non erano nemmeno coordinati tra di loro consiglierei di fare un'altra attività lavorativativa

While visiting family in Australia for Xmas last month I discovered that my “cousins” (4 Aussie boys aged 20 to 30) had booked a 5-day motorcycle tour in a remote part of Columbia. What started as the chiding of the “old man” and a challenge for me physically turned into so much more when I decided to join them for this adventure. The 5-day tour getting to Punta Galinas (the Northern most part of South America) is an area not easily accessible. This tour had us traveling through a variety of terrain including bustling urban areas (leaving and returning to Santa Marta), winding coastal roads through beach villages, barren harsh desert crossings with patches of deep sand, technical single track on rocky terrain up and down elevation, ocean front sand dunes and high mountain villages. At one point we even “ferried” our motorcycles a short 5 minutes on 20ft. wooden boats between peninsulas to save a days worth of back-tracking to continue our route. Suffice to say taxi, tour bus or Uber are not options and the places we toured are only accessible by motorcycle or lifted 4x4 off-road vehicles. Many companies can surely link together a challenging terrain package to satisfy a two-wheeled enthusiast but Adrenaline Addicts did something more that I didn’t expect by providing a unique and rich cultural experience of a part of Columbia very far from the wealthy privileged few living more posh lives in the business cities like Bogota. Travel is something that I value and a rich life for me is a life filled with experiences and not necessarily things. Many thanks to our moto guides Santiago and Robin for showing me a part of this country I didn’t know or understand and for educating me on the history of the region, the people and lifestyles of those living in the region and some of the political challenges facing the country in serving the needs of the people in the region. Most of the areas we transited were underdeveloped and poor. We saw families living in the desert without shoes, plumbing optional, fresh drinking water scarce and electricity never guaranteed. We experienced unexpected protests of the people in the Northern most port city who closed down the roads and rails to the port city to get government attention for the needs of the region. Our guides organized a visit to an indigenous tribe living high in the mountains solely off the land and resistant to change or the influx of modern amenities. A simple life they having been living for generations. Humbling and thought provoking for me……. As a gift of being allowed to ride high up and visit their villages we stopped at a market along the way and purchased rice, flour, cooking oil and beans to give to households living in grass huts. We also brought candy and treats for the children who rarely are afforded such things. In short…I’m thankful that our moto guides delivered more than just 5 days of a terrain challenge. I’m equally as grateful for the rich cultural experience and education mixed in with it. Thank you Santiago and Robin again for broadening my perspective. If you want a unique adventure and don’t mind 5 days of two-wheeled travel I highly recommend this trip. If 5 days is too long for you on a motorcycle I’m sure you would enjoy one of Adrenaline Addicts’ shorter trips because of how they organize and deliver their tour experiences. A great experience is more dependent on the people guiding you as well as the people you meet along the way and this adventure hit a home run for me this week. I’m homeward bound in the morning with a fresh look on living the life I have left…. Adrenaline Addicts rocks!