Colombia, All or Multiple Cities Thread

[Heiko]

Cartagena:
Hotel Holiday (Calle de la media luna)you can park your bike in the patio.

Medellin:
Casa Kiwi
You can park your bike safe. If you need tyres contact
www.ruta40.com.co. They will link you to Moto Angel for technical service (the name is programm).

Bogota:
go to Hostelling International (Carrera 7 (between Calle 6 & 7).They have a famely room with 4 beds & if it's not busy you are alone.

Villa Leyva:
if you come into town look out on the right for a sign "Colombia Highlands" & ask for Oscar. He has a very nice sight out of town where you can camp (only 10 min.to walk into town). He tells you about things to do around Villa Leyva.
If he is not there go straight to the Plaza, make a left, next right, go down the street, make a left,cross the bridge, make a right (right after the bridge on a dirt road), go up & you see on the left hand side a military post, go ahead for qabout 300m & make a right & go steep up(you see a white house)

Salento (between Prereira & Armenia):
when you get into town have a look down the 1. road on the left (you are on top of the hill). You see a sign "Valle Cocora". Go down the gravelroad, at the end you see on the left hand side 2 places to stay, take the second one & pitch up your tent (tey don't privide rooms). A very nice & relaxing place.

Popayan:
Hotel Capital on Carrea 5 & between calle 7 & 8. Rooms without window but there's a patio where you can stay.

Pasto:
go to the Bus Station here you will find some hotels where you can park your bike safe (i don't rember exactly the place where i staed).

CU out there Heiko


[This message has been edited by Heiko (edited 18 July 2005).]

[Paul Thoreson]

I'm writing about Casa Kiwi in Medellin. Ok, so I own the place...is it legal to make a post here about my own place? I hope so. Anyway, the dorms are $7.00 USD. That's about the going rate in Colombia. For the last year or so I've given moto travelers a 10% discount. When Ted Simon came through about a year ago I hadn't started that yet: Sorry Ted. In the first year of business I've had about 20 bikers stay at my place. The Germans Alex and Henno even camped out on my patio. If you're interested in the biggest discount, that is definately the way to go. And yes, we have a safe garage. In fact, the patio is over top of the garage, so camping out is also the best way to be close to your baby/best friend.

Now I'm happy to announce a 20% discount for all bikers, regardless of whether you show up on a 50cc scooter or a 1200cc Goldwing. You know what, that would only be taking the price down to $5.60, so why don't we just make things easier and call it an even $5.00 per night for all motoqueros. Regardless of your time of arrival, you'll also get a complimentary bienvenidos cerveza.

You might be saying, ''I'm never going to travel to Colombia, it's too dangerous, so who cares about free cerveza.'' Motorcycles are dangerous. Colombia is great, especially on a motorcycle. I rode from Alaska to Ushuaia, arriving in Colombia in May 2004. During that time I have travelled to every corner of Colombia - and opened up a hostel - because I love the country, and especially Medellin, so much. It is by far my favorite country in the Americas. Sorry, this post is turning into something that might belong in another thread, so I'll leave it at that.

Please write to me if you would like more information on Colombia or anything else about Central or South America. And hopefully I'll see you one day in Medellin! www.casakiwi.net

Happy Travels, and keep the Shiny Side Up.

[AndyT]

Thanks for the post. I already knew of your establishment, and hope to stay with you in November sometime. Riding from USA starting August '06.

[Stretcher Monkey]

Hello Paul,

Do you remember me? I was your very first guest back in March 2005. Colombia made such an impression on me that I will be returning later in the year, possibly for good. Thanks for the hospitality, and I expect you to see the fotos that you took on our last day's riding. Good to see you finally made it to Tierra del Fuego in the end.

Saludos

Mick Pugh

[RickMcD]

Paul, My friend Ralph and myself (Rick) (couple of old guys) :=) met you in Guanajuato, Mexico in early 2003. You had just started your trip and were traveling with another fellow. We were doing the "Ruta Maya" as a tune up for a SA trip sometime. Glad to see you had a sucessful trip and made it to Ushuaia. Ralph and I are heading to Ushuaia in Late September or early October after I get back from Prudhoe Bay. Hope we can meet up at your place.
Rick

[Paul Thoreson]

Mick, how could I forget you?! Porfavor! You were my first moto guest, arriving to the hostel about 7pm at night, a couple of hours after dark...and in the rain. I'm glad you enjoyed Colombia so much and have plans to return. Drop in to Casa Kiwi in Medellin when you get back.

Rick, sure, of course I remember you guys too. It seems like so long ago when we met in Mexico. At that time I though it would take me 10 months to reach Ushuaia and Buenos Aires. I guess I let the trip get the better of me, since it actually took 3.5 years to reach the bottom. I'm not complaining though. It's good to hear your South America plans are falling into place. I look forward to seeing you guys in Colombia.

Andy, I look forward to meeting you in Medellin this fall.

By the way, there is a great HU Community in Medellin, Colombia, with different groups doing rides almost every week out into the beautiful scenery surrounding Medellin. There are also a good number of big bikes in Medellin, which also means great access here to parts and service. Ruta 40, mentioned by Heiko, is a great shop, as is Moto Angel.

There is a whole neighborhood in downtown full of shops selling just about any accessory, and shops doing any kind of work you might need. And of course they work the Latin way. If something's broken, fix it, don't throw it away and pay exorbitant prices replacing it with something new - especially when that 'something new' isn't available anyway. They've come to work this way from necessity.

They really are very ingenious in the way that they see problems and come up with solutions using whatever materials they have available. And yes, the fixes usually last a long time. Example: in Medellin I can fix my clutch cable for $2, just replacing the cable and using the existing hose. The full cable and hose unit from Kawasaki in Seattle costs about $30. So, where would I prefer to do mantainence on my bike? Anywhere south of the US border!

[AndyT]

Medellin: Casa Kiwi

Owned by HU member Paul Thoreson. Garage for the bike, refrigerator full of cheap , interesting mix of other travellers, the hot water works, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, and Ducati dealers within walking distance plus a bunch of independent shops, and you won´t go hungry with all the restaraunts in the neighborhood. Pool table, big screen TV (didn´t get American football though)It doesn´t get much better than this. www.casakiwi.net

[Lone Rider]

Originally Posted by AndyT

Medellin: Casa Kiwi

Owned by HU member Paul Thoreson. Garage for the bike, refrigerator full of cheap , interesting mix of other travellers, the hot water works, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, and Ducati dealers within walking distance plus a bunch of independent shops, and you won´t go hungry with all the restaraunts in the neighborhood. Pool table, big screen TV (didn´t get American football though)It doesn´t get much better than this. www.casakiwi.net

Sounds like a nice haven...or heaven.

[BklynDakar]

I am staying at a great moto friendly hostel in Medellin called Hostel Medellin. It is in a safe neighborhood, close to transportation and has an enclosed garage. It is run by very friendly Colombians who are well connected in the motorcycle community in Medellin. The only problem is that you may not want to leave )

Hostel Medellin
Carrera 65 Nº 48 - 144 Sector Suramericana - Medellín - Colombia
(GPS: N 06º15´ 16.5´´ W 075º34´53.8´´)
Teléfonos: +57 (4) 230 05 11 Celular: +57 311 334 80 83.

HOSTAL MEDELLIN
info@hostalmedellin.com

[gatogato]

Any of you guys know a good place to have your motorcycle fixed in Cartegena Columbia. My f650 2001 has water mixing with the oil and is in serious need of fixing.

Thank You,
Geoff

[Mr. Ron]

Can't say much about Cartegena, do you think the bike might make it to Medellin? Thats the place to get fixed up. Mauricio at Ruta 40 tel.574-262-30-59 or [ Ruta 40 ]. Also contact the HU community. Hey Tibby, are you out there? Can you help a brother out?
also Moto Angel in Medellin, awesome guys!
2XGatos...beware. Motorcyclists in Colombia are required to carry Seguro Obligatario, insurance. The cost varies, but i know in Medellin you can only purchase one year. I have heard that you can purchase one month in Cartegena, but you have to research. It is well over 100 for the year $$! I saying this because on the road south to Sincelejo there is a police check point. The crusty and extremely corrupt old bastard WILL ask for your seguro. He will then impound your bike until you either produce the seguro or finally offer him a nice bribe.We had to bribe him with $23 each, so avoid this route. This was the only time travelling in all of Colombia that i was asked, and we were both warned about this checkpoint.

[BklynDakar]

Just so there is no confusion.

Hostal Medellin, run by local 'paisas' from Medellin, in a quiet part of Medellin, has a website at HOSTAL MEDELLIN

CasaKiwi, recently opened by an America, recently took the domain hostelmedellin.com and redirects you to CasaKiwi.

They are very different places.

[pitstophostel]

Hey Bikers. A huge hostel has just opened in Medellin Cra 43e no 5 - 110
Patio Bonito www.mapas.com.co :: Mapa de Colombia

It has a secure parking area within the hostel and plenty of room for any work you have to do. With swimming pool, Irish bar, Sauna´s and Jaquzzi, it´s more of a hotel than a hostel. The PitStop Hostel, Medellin





There is an opening Party on the 15th of March, hope to see some of you there for a or 2.

Paul

[kaiserkyhl]

After riding from Chile all the way up to Oregon and across to Miami, I'm now back in Cali, Colombia with my bike and my Colombian, soon to become wife, Diana and we're expecting a baby in December.

1st of August 2008 we started a super nice hostel in the good and secure part of Cali in Colombia.

If you head this way its cheap, quiet, safe and close to everything you need (incl. BMW, KTM, Suzuki dealers close by and the cities best mechanic at Austurias) and we´ll help you in any way we can.

We have airport pick-up and since I have flown my bike in and out of Cali, I can help with all the legal matters of arriving or leaving Colombia.

Casa Blanca Hostel, Avenida 6 bis, Calle 26n, #57, Santa Monica Residencial, Cali, Colombia. Tel. (+57) (2) 396 38 49 Fax. (+57) (2) 668 99 86 or mail me at mike@casablancahostel.com
GPS koordinates: N 03.28.147' W076.31.773
Casa Blanca Hostel > bienvenido! welcome! :::::::::::::::::::::

Check my travel video diary at YouTube - kaiserkyhl's Channel

[mollydog]

Congrats on the new Hostal! Sounds like you've had a long ride!

I'm assuming you somehow shipped your bike from Florida to
Colombia?

I've been searching for the best/least expensive ways to do this. Any info you've got, I'd love to hear it!

The distance is so short one would think it would not be too expensive to fly a bike from Miami to Colombia?

Thanks in advance! Good luck with the new Hostal!

Patrick