Kiwi tour firm launches ‘Bike Ecuador and Colombia’ tour

12/8/2015

Kiwi tour firm launches unique ‘Bike Ecuador and Colombia’ cycle tour

A New Zealand tour operator specialising in South American trips has successfully pioneered a new month-long cycle tour of Ecuador and Colombia.

Latin Link, run by Wanaka-based Gary and Francis Tate, has been running tours to the continent since the early 90’s.

Gary Tate says Latin Link’s first cycle tour was a 29-day ‘Bike the Andes’ trip, which has now been running for six years.

As a long-time mountain biker, Gary had ridden parts of Ecuador in 2013, and had visited Colombia a number of times, “and felt it was ideal territory for a bike tour.”

“It’s certainly a first for a Kiwi company – we are aware of some U.S. and U.K. firms offering limited cycle tours of one country or the other, but I understand that ours combining both, is unique.”

Mr Tate says that in fact the fully-guided tour had been a long time in the planning; issues to overcome included “finding decent quality bikes” in the two countries, and “being able to link all the stops together in a cost-effective manner. “

He had no concerns about safety in Columbia, but knew the public’s negative perceptions were based on the country’s outdated reputation for drug-related murders and the activities of leftist rebels.

The eight-person group who were on the inaugural Bike Ecuador and Colombia (Andes to the Caribbean’) trip in June (2015) had a great time, embracing the challenges of high altitude riding and extremes of heat and cold, with good humour.

“The diversity of Ecuador was a major surprise for many. We had some exhilarating downhill rides there through a real variety of landscapes and landforms.”

Ecuador was also unique in the quality of the accommodation, much of it in lovely historic country haciendas dating from colonial days, he says. “Now they provide fine tourist accommodation - a real bonus, and the food was sensational.”

Colombia with its friendly people was also a pleasant surprise for members of the group. The country presented some challenging rides and spectacular scenery in areas like Villa de Leyva, a picturesque town of whitewash buildings and cobblestone streets where western movies have been filmed.

One of the rides took cyclists deep into the Chicamocha Canyon, known as the ‘Grand Canyon of Columbia.’
Mr Tate says many folk are not aware that Colombia has a Caribbean coast, and the colourful walled city of Cartagena, a lovely old former colonial seaport, was a real highlight.

One of the riders on Bike Ecuador and Colombia was freelance journalist Grant Dyson, who had also been one of the “willing guinea pigs” on the Bike the Andes trip.

My wife and I had a great adventure on that first trip and didn’t need a lot of persuading to tackle this tour – we were excited to be visiting a different part of the continent, he says.

“You get a sense of real adventure on a trip like this, riding through some remote areas where local people are still growing crops in the way they’ve done for centuries.

“Cycling is a pretty authentic way to experience South America’s daily life and customs.

At the same time you know you’re pretty safe riding in a group and with a back-up vehicle (sag wagon) if you end up having a bad day.”

Mr Dyson says that as a long-time journalist, he looks back on their stay in Medellin as a particular highlight. “It was fascinating to see the former ‘murder capital’ of Latin America (where the drug cartels battled each other) transformed into an attractive modern city with clean, safe streets, its own underground, and a pleasant climate that gives it its title of ‘city of eternal spring.’

The Ecuadoran capital of Quito also had a fascinating bloody history and impressive colonial architecture.

“At one stage we cycled up around 4000 metres in tundra country on the lower slopes of a mountain called Cotopaxi, spotting vicunas (related to llamas) and stopping to view an Inca fort. All that makes for a very memorable day out!”

“As a coffee addict I also much enjoyed our overnight stay and tour of a ‘finca’ or coffee farm in Colombia.”

The quality of our guides is another point to note, Mr Dyson says.

Our guide in Ecuador was Andres de la Torre from the capital Quito, a well-known guide who had close to the perfect blend of skills – combining a huge knowledge of flora and fauna, local customs and lifestyles, with cycling ability and safety sense. “It was all served up with a dry sense of humour.”
Mr Dyson says Latin Link deserves its reputation for safe, value-for-money adventures which Gary and Fran have earned the hard way, from so many years of visiting the continent and putting tours together.

“But I’d add a note of caution that if you’re planning to cycle South America, that gentle 10km ride for coffee on a Sunday doesn’t cut it for training. “It is harder than that and do it justice you need to do some hill work and more serious training.”

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