Off-road through the Andes - On the road with photo enthusiasts - Colombia 2025 - 6
2025-02-16/17 - Off-road through the Andes
Today we travel to Zapatoca in a 4x4 chiva. A chiva [↗] is a local form of transportation. We have chartered a tourist version of it. The journey on a proper road would take hours longer than the off-road route across the mountains. However, the unpaved road is not that bad. Apart from 1 or 2 spots, I've driven it quite often in the USA.
We start at 9 o'clock. Well, 9:30am because the luggage has to be strapped to the roof first. On the way we stop a couple of times. It's good to be able to stretch our legs.
We reach our hotel at 2pm. It's the only one on this tour that's a bit out of the way. But it has a swimming pool, and the view is nice. It is mainly aimed at locals who come here at the weekend to party and relax. Not much else happens today.
The next day is mainly a transfer day. We fly to Medellín in the late afternoon. The distances here in Colombia are so great that it makes sense to fly (Columbia is roughly 3 times the size of Germany). If we would travel by bus, we would have to plan 2 extra days.
The original plan was to photograph one of the waterfalls in the area. That would have been a 5-hour hike including a climb on a rock. I turned it down in advance, as did a few others in the group. Now the whole thing has been canceled. After all, we have to be at the airport on time. Instead, we'll have a look around Zapatoca in the morning and then make a stop or two along the way.
We want to set off at 8:30am and this time our driver is more than punctual. We drive the 3 km to Zapatoca and park right next to the main square with the cathedral. It is surprisingly beautiful. The larger churches here often have beautiful windows, while the ceiling is rather simple. You won't find any of the pomp and circumstance of Bolivia, for example.
Afterwards, I wander through the alleyways. Zapatoca is a nice place that is hardly touristy. As in Barichara, there are constant ups and downs. Many beautiful details to photograph here. It's also interesting that there are at least two muscle shacks in the center. Although it is Monday morning, there are quite a few people exercising in both.
After an hour, we want to move on and, as almost always, all participants are at the bus on time.
As soon as we leave the vicinity of Zapatoca, the road deteriorates rapidly. In theory it is asphalted, but in reality, there are potholes or gravel for long stretches.
We drive down many switchbacks to the bridge over the Rio Sogamoso and up again on the other side. But before we reach the bottom, we stop at the Renault Monument. An old Renault has been placed on a rock here. If you're interested in the story behind it, you can find it here [↗] (in Spanish language only).
We are so early that we have a relaxed lunch in Bucaramanga before heading to the airport. It's now 27°C, while it's snowing at home.
The Avianca flight has been brought forward an hour from the original schedule, only to be delayed by 45 minutes again. Like most of our group, I use the time at the gate to sort or edit pictures.
When we arrive in Medellin [↗], it's a quick trip to the hotel and for most of us a beer in the neighborhood.
Medellin's entertainment district is nearby and comparatively safe. The police show a clear presence, and the usual risks of a red light/party zone probably outweigh the criminal problems. But why the beer reserves have not been replenished since the weekend is something none of us understand 😉.
