62 kms. 915 vertical meters. Maybe the most beautiful stretch until now.

We got up before 05.00, had breakfast opposite of the hotel and were riding before six in the dark. Sun up at 06.20 (gps-data). A very beautiful and easy road along the big rio Cauca until Puerta Valdivia at 42 km. There we had to cross the river (09.00 hrs, alt. 144) and the ascent started immediately. There were very steep parts, but we could stay on our bikes. The sky was a bit overcast, temps never got over 35˚C. We stopped every 100 alt.meters and made 2 longer drinkstops, bought some bananas. Reached Valdivia at app. 13.30 hrs. We are staying in Estadoria El Rancho, a restaurant under a large thatched roof with residencias, quite nice. The the architect of the hotel appears to be utterly stupid, in our view at least. Valdivia has been built on a very steep slope. The main road passes under the village, which is literally hanging over the road and El Rancho. The hotel is built along the road on the slope into a deep and beautiful valley. To go to our room we even have to go down two stairs, not up. The window is on the side, looking onto the grass and the dirt of the slope next to the wall. In the wall on the valley-side there is no window!! What a missed chance. It would be an asset, a room with a view! They didn’t think of it and we have no view at all from our room. Different perceptions?

Later we walk and climb up into the village, which appears to have a nice and lively square, with a big church, bars. taxi stop and lots of playing children. Quite nice. Many children are crossing around on the not very big square and there is even a girl on rollerblades. As a parent I would be very worried, as to 3 sides the streets go very steeply down.

There is a heavily guarded police station as well, looks a bit overdone. Many policemen, heavily armed, as they often are in this country. With pistols and rifles. We would’t be able to distinguish them from the military if they wouldn’t be wearing vests with the text “Policia” on it. Later we hear that not so far from here is the heartland of the para-militaries. Actually we have no idea what lives under the surface here. Our experience with the people are very positive. Like other bloggers we read, we rank the Colombians one of the kindest people we ever encountered.

Pics: start here.

The track: Download 20100203taraza_valdivia.gpx