2-Day Coastal Motorcycle Tour

The Caribbean coast rewards riders with surprises. This two-day motorcycle trip from Santa Marta mixes coastal roads, hills, rivers, waterfalls, jungle trails, hostels, and beach time into one active package. You ride toward Palomino, tube the Buritaca River, spend the night at El Rio hostel, then head toward Tayrona National Park for off-road riding, a waterfall, and a secret beach.

I like that meals and accommodation are included, so the $359 price is easier to judge. I also like the small-group focus, with groups advertised at up to six people, because a motorcycle guide can give more help when the road gets rough or a rider needs a slower pace.

The main consideration is intensity. Each day lasts about eight hours, and the trip combines motorcycling with tubing, hiking, cliff jumping, and off-road riding. The extra tour information also gives a maximum of 18 participants, so ask Adrenaline Addicts Motorcycle Tours and Rentals to confirm your exact group size before booking.

Key points to know before you ride

• Palomino and Buritaca share the first day: You get coastal riding, Italian pizza, and river tubing before sleeping at El Rio hostel.
• Tayrona brings the most varied riding: Day two includes an introduction to off-road riding on the trail toward the Lost City.
• Water activities are built into the price: River tubing and cliff jumping at Quebrada Valencia are part of the plan.
• Guides receive the strongest praise: Oscar, Max, Santiago, Brandon, Jack, and John are all named in positive feedback, with patience and safety receiving special attention.
• Beginners may be welcome: Several riders with little or no motorcycle experience received an introduction and felt comfortable quickly.
• The schedule is full: Plan for two long days, not a gentle scenic ride with lots of spare time.

What $359 buys you on Colombia’s Caribbean coast

At $359 per person, this is not simply a motorcycle rental with a suggested route. You are paying for a guided two-day trip, meals, a place to sleep, river tubing, waterfall time, a jungle hike, and access to a mix of road and off-road riding.

That package matters in Santa Marta. You could rent a Honda XR150L dual-sport motorcycle separately, and the company also offers rentals, but a guided tour removes much of the work. You do not have to plan where to stop for food, choose a safe route, or work out how to combine Palomino, Buritaca, Quebrada Valencia, and Tayrona in two days.

The value is strongest if you want a ready-made adventure. It is less compelling if you only want several quiet hours on a motorcycle and prefer to choose every stop yourself.

All meals are included, as is accommodation. That makes the price more predictable, though you should still budget for personal drinks and other expenses unless the operator confirms they are covered. The first-day description includes all-you-can-drink river tubing in Buritaca, but the wording is not specific about what drinks are provided, so ask before you assume alcohol is included.

Starting in Santa Marta at 9:30 a.m.

The tour begins at Cra. 21 #16-54 in Comuna 4, Santa Marta, and returns to that same meeting point at the end. The 9:30 a.m. start gives you a clear morning departure rather than a pre-dawn transfer, and the starting point is near public transportation.

That said, do not treat the meeting point casually. Arrive early enough to deal with transport, directions, and any final questions about the motorcycle. A late start could put pressure on a schedule already packed with riding and activities.

The group size deserves a quick check. The trip is described as capped at six for a personal experience, while the additional information gives a maximum of 18 people for the activity. Those numbers do not match. Since group size affects how much attention you receive, confirm the size of your departure when you book.

The guides are one of the best reasons to choose this company. Oscar is praised for making the trip unforgettable. Max is singled out for his language skills in French, English, and Spanish, as well as his ability to keep a group of five engaged. Santiago receives warm praise for the route and stops, while Brandon is described as patient with new riders. Jack and John handled a group of five with care and humor.

Those details point to a useful strength: the guide is not just there to lead the motorcycles. The better guides adjust the pace, help nervous riders, explain the area, and keep the day moving.

Day one: coastal riding, Palomino pizza, and Buritaca tubing

The first day takes about eight hours and heads along the coast toward Palomino. You cruise up and down seaside hills by motorcycle, with the road itself serving as a major part of the experience.

This is a good opening day because it lets you settle into the bike while enjoying a strong mix of scenery and food. The Caribbean coast gives you ocean views, mountain roads, and changing terrain in a relatively short stretch. Riders who want only polished pavement should ask how much of the route is on regular roads, since the trip later includes clear off-road sections.

The Palomino stop includes wood-fired Italian pizza at Prima Luna Restaurant. That may sound like an unusual choice on a Colombian coastal route, but it gives the day a welcome change from roadside meals. A wood-fired pizza lunch also offers a more substantial break than grabbing a quick snack between stops.

You will want to pace yourself. Eight hours can pass quickly when a trip includes several stops, but the combination of riding, eating, tubing, and moving on means there may not be much time to linger at every place. If Palomino is your priority, ask how long you will have there.

The day continues to Buritaca for river tubing. The water activity is included rather than offered as an optional add-on, which helps the tour feel like a full coastal adventure instead of a motorcycle ride with a few photo stops. You can expect a change of pace here: after the noise and focus of riding, the river provides time in the water.

The all-you-can-drink wording deserves clarification before departure. The supplied details do not define the drinks, the time limit, or the conditions. If you do drink alcohol, be especially careful about the order of activities and the next riding segment. Safety should come first on any motorcycle tour.

You spend the night at El Rio hostel, described as Colombia’s best hostel in 2018. The hostel stay is part of the appeal, especially if you like social, informal accommodation rather than a standard hotel. Still, a hostel is not the same as a private room in a resort. Ask about room arrangements, since the available details do not specify dormitories, private rooms, or bathroom setup.

This overnight stop also breaks up the trip sensibly. You avoid making the full coastal route a single punishing day, and you get a chance to experience the social side of Colombia’s Caribbean coast.

Day two: off-road riding near Tayrona

The second day is also about eight hours and shifts the focus from coastal cruising to rougher terrain. You get an introduction to off-road riding on the trail toward the Lost City.

The phrase introduction matters. This is not presented as an extreme motorcycle expedition reserved only for expert riders. Several riders with little or no motorcycle experience were able to get a basic lesson and felt safe early in the ride. A few riders even described learning to ride during their time with the company.

That does not mean you should arrive without preparation. Off-road riding requires attention, balance, and a willingness to accept slower progress. If you have never ridden a motorcycle, tell the guide at the start. Brandon’s patient teaching and the positive comments about other guides suggest that beginners can receive help, but your comfort level still matters.

The Lost City trail adds a serious sense of place. You are not just riding a generic dirt track. The route points toward one of the region’s best-known jungle areas, giving the day a stronger connection to the mountains and interior coast.

Next comes Quebrada Valencia waterfall, where cliff jumping is included. This is one of the tour’s most active stops and may be the moment that separates a fun adventure from a trip that feels too intense. You should be comfortable with water activities and jumping from a cliff if you want to take part fully.

The information does not give the height of the jump or say if an alternative activity is available. If you prefer not to jump, ask the guide what your options are. A waterfall stop can still be enjoyable without forcing yourself into the most dramatic activity.

Lunch is at The Journey Hostel in Tayrona. Like the pizza stop on day one, this keeps meals tied to local places rather than making the whole experience feel like a transport exercise. The hostel setting also fits the trip’s informal style.

The final major activity is a jungle hike to a secret beach inside Tayrona National Park. This brings together the trip’s main ingredients: walking, forest, water, and the Caribbean coast. You should wear clothing and shoes that can handle both a hike and a wet day, though the supplied details do not specify equipment or a recommended packing list.

The hike is a good reason to choose this tour instead of a standard motorcycle loop. You do not spend the entire two days sitting on a bike. You ride to places that require time on foot, then experience them at a slower pace.

Riding skill, safety, and the beginner question

The strongest practical message from the tour is that beginners may be able to take part. Riders with no prior motorcycle experience received an introductory lesson, then went on to ride the coast. That is encouraging if you want to try dual-sport riding but do not own a bike or have much practice.

Still, I would not confuse beginner-friendly with effortless. The tour includes hills, coastal roads, and off-road riding. You need to listen carefully, accept instruction, and speak up if the pace or terrain feels wrong.

The guides receive repeated praise for being attentive, patient, kind, and safety-minded. Weather also appears to be handled with some flexibility. When conditions were not ideal, the guide worked to preserve as many activities as possible. That is useful on the Caribbean coast, where weather can change the shape of a day.

The activity says most people can participate, but it does not provide detailed motorcycle requirements, licensing rules, protective gear information, or a formal skill level. Contact the operator about those points before booking, especially if you have never ridden.

Who will enjoy this two-day ride?

I would recommend this tour to you if you want a packed introduction to the Santa Marta area and prefer active days over long hours at a hotel. It suits riders who enjoy mixing motorcycle time with swimming, hiking, food, hostel stays, and a little controlled discomfort.

It is also a good fit for a small group of friends. The guides have experience with groups of five, and the advertised cap of six should allow for a more personal ride if that limit applies to your departure.

You will likely enjoy it if you are curious about motorcycle travel but do not yet have much experience. The company’s staff have helped beginners get started, and the route includes enough variety to keep the trip interesting after the first lesson.

You may want a different plan if you need private accommodation, dislike hostels, do not want to get wet, or prefer a relaxed schedule. The tour asks you to switch often between riding, water activities, meals, hiking, and overnight accommodation. It is an experience built around motion.

Booking, timing, and cancellation details

Confirmation arrives within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. The tour is usually booked about five days ahead, so last-minute planning may be possible but is not something I would count on.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least three full days before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not refunded or accepted. The tour also needs a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not reached and the company cancels, you can choose another date or experience, or receive a full refund.

The activity returns to the original Santa Marta meeting point. That makes it easier to fit into a Santa Marta stay, but plan your next connection with care. The tour ends after a long second day, and the exact return time is not provided.

Should you book the coastal motorcycle tour?

Book it if you want a lively, hands-on way to see the coast and are happy with a full schedule. For $359, the combination of guided motorcycle riding, meals, lodging, tubing, a waterfall, a jungle hike, and Tayrona beach time gives you solid value.

I would be most careful about three questions: how many people will actually ride in your group, what motorcycle experience and gear are required, and what the river tubing drinks include. Once those points are clear, this is a strong choice for adventurous beginners, active couples, and small groups of friends.

Skip it if your ideal Santa Marta holiday means slow mornings, polished hotels, and no off-road riding. Choose it if you want the coast to feel less like a series of viewpoints and more like a two-day story told on two wheels.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Cra. 21 #16-54, Comuna 4, Santa Marta, Magdalena, Colombia.

What time does the tour begin?

The scheduled start time is 9:30 a.m.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the original meeting point in Santa Marta.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately two days, with about eight hours of activities on each day.

Are meals included?

Yes. All meals are included in the tour price.

Is accommodation included?

Yes. Overnight accommodation is provided at El Rio hostel on the first night.

Is river tubing included?

Yes. River tubing in Buritaca is included.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour highlights a group size capped at six for a personal experience, while the additional information states a maximum of 18 participants. Confirm the expected group size with the operator before booking.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least three full days before the experience start time. Cancellations and changes made less than three full days before the start are not refunded or accepted.