For those who love strong sensations, they will fall in love discovering all that the landscapes of Colombia hide; between the different snow-capped mountains to climb, the wonderful rivers and the sea beds full of corals that they must explore, etc.. Colombia has not finished surprising you here. You need to check if your insurance covers the practice of extreme sports.
Paragliding
A lot of places in Colombia are available for paragliding, thanks to the high reliefs and above all the wonderful landscapes. Initially you start from a height and most of the time on a cliff, accompanied by a special monitor for this type of practice. It is necessary to have a good weather for the day of the flight, otherwise this experience could be cancelled, that’s why it is advisable to take care of the rainy seasons. The flight can be relatively long, it depends on the budget of each one and it can include 360° type acrobatics. It is possible to make a video during the flight, which is an excellent idea to capture the moment.
Rafting & Kayaking
Colombia has a wonderful relief, and this makes it a great place for rafting and kayaking. Near the pleasant city of San Gil, a reference place to practice this sport, located in the department of Santander, you can enjoy “Rio Fonce, Rio Suarez and Rio Chicamocha”, three rivers with rapids from type 2 to 4 +. Without forgetting other well-known places like the Rio Magdalena in the department of Huila, Rio Barragan in Quindio and Rionegro in Cundinamarca.
Rafting & Kayaking
Colombia has a wonderful relief, and this makes it a great place for rafting and kayaking. Near the pleasant city of San Gil, a reference place to practice this sport, located in the department of Santander, you can enjoy “Rio Fonce, Rio Suarez and Rio Chicamocha”, three rivers with rapids from type 2 to 4 +. Without forgetting other well-known places like the Rio Magdalena in the department of Huila, Rio Barragan in Quindio and Rionegro in Cundinamarca.
Diving
Thanks to the 3000 km long coast from the Pacific to the Caribbean and the numerous islands, Colombia offers several options for diving; especially around Providencia and San Andres (the third largest coral reef in the world declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Malpelo Island, Capurganá, Sapzurro, Baru and Taganga. The country’s sea beds are ideal for diving and also for people with high levels of diving, for different levels of difficulty.
From sites like Old Providence and MCBean Lagoon in the San Andrés Biosphere Reserve, to the turbulent waters of the Pacific coast for expert divers due to the level of difficulty in these areas. About the rates, diving in the Caribbean coast is cheaper and the prices are around COP$650.000 for a week and with PADI certification. It is recommended to check the dive centers before registering.
Cycling and Mountaineering
Cycling is a sport very appreciated by Colombians, this common passion is now possible thanks to entertaining races and the mountainous relief that has allowed Colombians to be competitive cyclists, participating regularly in the Tour de France. The best places to practice mountain biking are San Gil thanks to the route of the Chicamocha canyon, Armenia in the Peñas Blancas route, Medellin in the Santa Elena and Guatapé route, Salento with the Alegría and Simón Bolívar routes etc.
Kite Surfing
You can also kite surf in Colombia! There are excellent kite surfing spots on the Caribbean coast between Cartagena de Indias in La Boquilla and Baru Island, Barranquilla with Puerto Velero, in Santa Veronica and further east with Guajira, there are several options. There is a large selection of schools, perfect for beginners and for high levels. In fact, some places on the coast have the ideal conditions to practice this discipline, with plenty of wind and waves. All this in spectacular places for all kinds of tastes, from the city of Cartagena to the fishing villages and coconut palms. It is necessary to choose the best season for this practice that goes from December to May.
Speleology
Explore the depths of the caves of Rio Claro (Antioquia) or Cow Cave (Santander), Water Box Caves (Huila), disappearing deep into the rocks passing through small narrow tunnels that will take you to places over 20 meters high. You will have the chance to discover the fauna, be in total darkness and observe wonderful and ancient rock formations that date back thousands of years.
Motorbike
What better than taking the road by motorcycle to discover the different landscapes that Colombia hides? Enjoy the country’s roads to discover the coast of Santa Marta, Cabo de la Vela or explore the surroundings of Guatapé. It is possible to discover the Tatacoa desert and its amazing colors by motorcycle. Why not discover a colonial town like Villa de Leyva with a great nature. Some routes can be difficult to remember, it is necessary to have some element to orientate yourself like a GPS or mobile phone.
Surfing
Colombia has incredible beaches where you can practice surfing, on the Caribbean Coast and on the Pacific Coast, adapted to all levels. The places are easily accessible on the Caribbean coast and are more frequented; they are also adapted to a beginner public, a situation that is not very favorable in the places destined to this activity on the Pacific coast.
The places where this activity is practiced on the Caribbean coast are low or medium level: Costeño beach, Cartagena Jetty, El Muelle, El Bolsillo, etc. It is more difficult to access the Pacific Coast, but it is a quieter place; the beaches for surfing are mainly located near Nuquí. la Termales, El Valle, Pico de Loro etc. The best season for surfing in Colombia is from December to March and from July to September.
Torrentismo
Torrentismo is an adventure sport that is practiced in nature. The main objective of this sport is to go from the beginning to the end of certain places, such as canyons, rivers, waterfalls, slots, etc. The idea is to cross different obstacles alternating walking, swimming, climbing, rappelling, jumping, etc. This activity is in the category of sports of strong sensations, it is a demanding discipline and requires a lot of practice, taking into account some safety rules. We recommend you to choose a good excursion to practice this kind of sport. The sites that offer this type of activity and most frequently in Colombia are Ibagué and Minca.