Reason #1:<\/h4>\n\n\n- The Panaderias<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\nAlthough we never warmed to cheese in our Milo or understand their fanatic love of Arrepas, we did get addicted to all the goodies you can buy in the numerous Panaderias (bakeries) dotted over this wonderful country. \u00a0From your staple of Pan (bread) to sweet pastries, we won’t be surprised if you get to know these bakeries intimately. \u00a0Don’t leave without trying a Pan de Bono, Bu\u00f1uelo, and Pan de Yuca.<\/div>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.worldbiking.info\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Reason-one-Panaderias.jpg\" "\\"Reason")
<\/a><\/div>\n\nReason #2:<\/h4>\n\n\n- Fruit<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nThe endless variety of colourful fruit, much endemic to Colombia, creates a visually fascinating, mouth-watering, taste-exploding experience to the new comer. \u00a0Delicious fresh fruit juice and smoothies are also found in abundance. \u00a0Make sure you try all the weird and the wonderful, such as the guanabana…… do dooo do doo do……. ma naaa ma na………<\/div>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.worldbiking.info\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Reason-two-Guanabana.jpg\" "\\"Reason")
<\/a><\/div>\nReason #3:<\/h4>\n\n\n- Coffee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
If you love coffee as much as my husband, you’ll start to wonder why you didn’t visit Colombia sooner. \u00a0Not only do you have access to internationally recognised, locally grown, great quality coffee, you can visit a coffee plantation first hand which are very easy to find. \u00a0It makes for an interesting day out for you, as well as supporting this vital industry for Colombia.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.worldbiking.info\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Reason-three-coffee.jpg\" "\\"Reason")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nReason #4:<\/h4>\n\n\n- Colombians love tourists and love cycling.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
After so many years as a no-go zone for tourists, Colombians embrace foreigners as old friends and want to ensure you have the best possible experience in their country. \u00a0More than once we were at the receiving end of unexpected generous hospitality and kindness. Because Colombia still doesn’t get a lot of tourists, it feels like you are getting a more authentic experience. Also, it’s easy to find kindred spirits in this country as cycling seems to be a popular sport. \u00a0Don’t be surprised (particularly on the outskirts of the big cities) to have pelotons speeding by you with friendly smiles and some encouraging words to boot.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.worldbiking.info\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Reason-four-cyclists.jpg\" "\\"Reason")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nReason #5:<\/h4>\n\n\n- Variety<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nColombia has a bit of everything – Salsa dancing and music galore; a great environment to learn Spanish; Surprise gems, such as Las Lajas; Caribbean coastline; beaches aplenty; different cultures; exciting and remote cycling routes; mountains and the start of The Andes; a piece of the Amazon jungle; historic colonial towns such as\u00a0Cartagena and Popay\u00e1n and large modern cities such as Medell\u00edn and Bogota. \u00a0There’s no chance of getting bored in this welcoming and friendly country.<\/div>\nAfter passing through 16 countries on our bike trip through The Americas, Colombia is still one of our favourites and one that we want to return to and explore more.<\/div>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.worldbiking.info\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Reason-five-Las-Lajas.jpg\" "\\"Reason")
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/div>About the Cyclists<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\nRoland and Belinda began their epic journey together in July 2009, when they started heading south on a tandem bike (Big Bird) from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska.<\/p>\n
Their goal was to cycle approximately 30,000km on the Pan-American Highway and ultimately end up in Ushuaia,\u00a0 Argentina.<\/p>\n
And they did it!\u00a0 After adventures a plenty they packed up Big Bird in January 2011 and are now trying to aclimatise to “normal” life back in New Zealand.<\/p>\n
You can read about their adventures cycling the Americas at Cycling with Sally<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
- \n
- The Panaderias<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\nAlthough we never warmed to cheese in our Milo or understand their fanatic love of Arrepas, we did get addicted to all the goodies you can buy in the numerous Panaderias (bakeries) dotted over this wonderful country. \u00a0From your staple of Pan (bread) to sweet pastries, we won’t be surprised if you get to know these bakeries intimately. \u00a0Don’t leave without trying a Pan de Bono, Bu\u00f1uelo, and Pan de Yuca.<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n\n
Reason #2:<\/h4>\n
\n- \n
- Fruit<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nThe endless variety of colourful fruit, much endemic to Colombia, creates a visually fascinating, mouth-watering, taste-exploding experience to the new comer. \u00a0Delicious fresh fruit juice and smoothies are also found in abundance. \u00a0Make sure you try all the weird and the wonderful, such as the guanabana…… do dooo do doo do……. ma naaa ma na………<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
Reason #3:<\/h4>\n
\n- \n
- Coffee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
If you love coffee as much as my husband, you’ll start to wonder why you didn’t visit Colombia sooner. \u00a0Not only do you have access to internationally recognised, locally grown, great quality coffee, you can visit a coffee plantation first hand which are very easy to find. \u00a0It makes for an interesting day out for you, as well as supporting this vital industry for Colombia.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nReason #4:<\/h4>\n
\n- \n
- Colombians love tourists and love cycling.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
After so many years as a no-go zone for tourists, Colombians embrace foreigners as old friends and want to ensure you have the best possible experience in their country. \u00a0More than once we were at the receiving end of unexpected generous hospitality and kindness. Because Colombia still doesn’t get a lot of tourists, it feels like you are getting a more authentic experience. Also, it’s easy to find kindred spirits in this country as cycling seems to be a popular sport. \u00a0Don’t be surprised (particularly on the outskirts of the big cities) to have pelotons speeding by you with friendly smiles and some encouraging words to boot.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nReason #5:<\/h4>\n
\n- \n
- Variety<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nColombia has a bit of everything – Salsa dancing and music galore; a great environment to learn Spanish; Surprise gems, such as Las Lajas; Caribbean coastline; beaches aplenty; different cultures; exciting and remote cycling routes; mountains and the start of The Andes; a piece of the Amazon jungle; historic colonial towns such as\u00a0Cartagena and Popay\u00e1n and large modern cities such as Medell\u00edn and Bogota. \u00a0There’s no chance of getting bored in this welcoming and friendly country.<\/div>\nAfter passing through 16 countries on our bike trip through The Americas, Colombia is still one of our favourites and one that we want to return to and explore more.<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
About the Cyclists<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\nRoland and Belinda began their epic journey together in July 2009, when they started heading south on a tandem bike (Big Bird) from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska.<\/p>\n
Their goal was to cycle approximately 30,000km on the Pan-American Highway and ultimately end up in Ushuaia,\u00a0 Argentina.<\/p>\n
And they did it!\u00a0 After adventures a plenty they packed up Big Bird in January 2011 and are now trying to aclimatise to “normal” life back in New Zealand.<\/p>\n
You can read about their adventures cycling the Americas at Cycling with Sally<\/a>.<\/p>\n
<\/div><\/div>\n
- Variety<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Colombians love tourists and love cycling.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Coffee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Fruit<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n