After decades of civil war, a new peace deal has finally opened the country’s remote interior to handy travelers, making Colombia the hottest adventure destination on the planet. You can go fishing for peacock bass—arguably the world’s toughest fighting fish Opens a New Window. —which requires an adventure Opens a New Window. in its own right just to get to them, or prowl for payaras (vampire fish). And there are plenty of other exploits to be had—if you explore Colombia by some untraditional means. See what we mean.
1. Cycling: Coffee Country
For the past five seasons on the cycling circuit Opens a New Window. , Colombia has racked up more Grand Tour podiums (11) than any other country—which speaks not only to the caliber of Colombia’s riders but also to the world-class terrain they have for cycling. And though Colombia is best known for its monstrous climbs, including Letras Pass, the world’s longest road climb at 51.5 miles, there’s far easier terrain in the country’s Coffee Triangle, a rolling green landscape dotted with haciendas and chic guest-houses. The biking culture here is huge, and riding through it is like touring a coffee version of Napa. Even better, an increasing number of operators run tours, including Trek Travel, which launched a six-day trip through the area for 2018.
