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SANTA MARTA-RIOHACHA

Splendid Caribbean sundowns are the trademark of Colombia's northern panhandle and a favorite for saltwater-minded backpackers. This is the route so many take for fun in the sun and all the way east to the Venezuelan border.

By far, the most popular destination is really the first one, Parque Nacional Tayrona, a verdant and easily walkable forest that takes you to unmolested beachfront that solely caters to walkers, horeseback riders, and no cars. By hiking you first come to a pretty ritzy set of cabanas and restaurant, but you can also just keep walking west on the beach where you will come to Cabo San Juan, which has hammocks, outdoor showers, camping area, lockers, and a rustic but well-run cafeteria. Read More...

LATACUNGA-GUAYAQUIL

Deep in the heart of Ecuador, this route lets you see highlights of both sierra and coastal rural life, from the highest Andean communities to life in its richest lowland agricultural region

Depart Latacunga, home to the fantastic Mama Negra festival every September, west into the Quilotoa circuit, a beloved loop road that traverses the Cotopaxi highlands and returns to Latacunga. However, you won't be going around the whole loop, just half of it. Along the way to Zumbahua, stop off to see the unique and colorful paintings on leather of the Tigua community. Read More...

CALI-IPIALES

If you finished dancing your heels of in the World's Salsa Capitol, Cali, and are now heading on your way to Ecuador, no need to rush as there's a lot to see in between.

One of the most beautiful landscapes in all South America is Parque Nacional Munchique, sitting to the west but equally between Santander de Quilichao for the north entry and Popayan for the south entry. The main feature of the park is the spectacular reservoir Morales, which you can get to faster through the north entry, and then prepare yourself for some unforgettable hiking vistas. Read More...

ARICA - S.P. de ATACAMA

Don't let the bleak-looking desert discourage you. Northern Chile will not fail to impress you with its beauty and fascinating charms.

Arica is a walkable, safe, and hip city that is famous for Chilean sandwich bars, so wander around the street Patricio Lynch and try out the chacarero or the barro luco! Climb up to the top of El Morro for stunning and expansive views. A day-trip tour worth booking is to Putre and the high plains region of Parque Nacional Lauca. If you want to explore closer in to town, right on the outskirts you'll find one of the largest collection of mummies in the world, dating back 9,000 years, at the Museo Momias Chinchorro. Read More...

GUAYAQUIL-HUAQUILLAS

So, maybe you've had enough of the big city in Guayaquil and are looking for a nice escape without going too far. If so, this route will do the trick, and you can do as much or all of it as you wish.

Just "around the corner" from Guayaquil on the road to Machala is the Reserva Ecologica Manglares-Churute, a national park protecting the fragile mangrove ecosystem and its habitat, including a wide variety of water fowl, reptiles, and even dolphins. You can get off the bus to trailheads at various points near the communities of La Flora and El Mango, but it's best to ask the bus driver to let you off at the Centro de Informacion Churute. There is a trail that takes you through dry forest and also to the large duck nesting lake Laguna Canción (Song Lake). Read More...

Featured Routes

SANTA MARTA-RIOHACHA

LATACUNGA-GUAYAQUIL

CALI-IPIALES

ARICA - S.P. de ATACAMA

GUAYAQUIL-HUAQUILLAS

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