Bosconia – Rio Frio.

117 kms. We had planned to ride some 80 kms this day and make a stopover in Aracataca, the birth place of Gabriël Garcia Marquez. There is a the house where the Nobel-prize winner was born, a statue of one of the main characters of “100 years of solitude” and they say that you can feel his stories in the town. So this seemed a good plan. But we missed the town altogether! On our map, the very good German made map of Kolumbien from Reise Know-How, Asrataca was on the road. Later, when we had passed it a long time ago, it appeared that we should have taken a left. We had seen this point, but nothing at all was indicated and following our map we continued our way. Later, when we were in doubt, we asked some soldiers at a Reten Militar, and they explained to us how it was. We decided to go on and just see where we would find something to spend the night. It was only after 117 kms that there was this roadside hotel & restaurant. A bit crude, but OK.

Rio Frio – Taganga (Santa Marta).

49 kms. We have reached the coast, The Carrribean sea. It was a flat stage, but for the last part, after leaving Santa Marta. You have to cross a very steep hill, 177 meters ascent. We intended to stay in Case de Félipe, but this was full. They were so kind as to make some calls for us and arranged that we are staying now in Villa Maria. Nice homely atmosphere. There seemed to be many hostels fully booked, and this in a period that the vacanciones are over. It was a hot day again, but we especially felt this in the last part, when we head to conquer this last hill. We will check out the famous beaches later this day.

The tracks:
Download 20100118_bosc_riofrio.gpx
Download 20100119_riofrio_taganga.gpx

Bosconia – Rio Frio:

Riofrio – Taganga:

Profile with the nasty little hill between Santa Martha and Taganga: