Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of bike tours does Mountain Bike Colombia offer?
Mountain Bike Colombia runs guided riding adventures nationally throughout Colombia. Our three main categories: full-day local Antioquia MTB adventures based out of Guatapé, multi-day Andes and Coffee Region expeditions, and custom adventures built around what each client needs. We also run the Free Morning Ride every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at no cost, and the Amazon Expedition — a 5 to 9-day humanitarian mission into the Colombian Amazon. If you would like to explore riding opportunities in Colombia, book a Discovery Call.
Where do the tours start?
All rides taking place in Antioquia start in Guatapé, from Casa de Ciclistas — our home base at Calle 32 #28-91 on the Malecón. Multi-day adventures in the Andes, Coffee Region, and beyond start in other parts of the country. Start location, logistics, and how to get there are all covered as part of your onboarding communications once you book. For Amazon expeditions, staging is handled separately and covered in full during your Discovery Call.
What fitness level do I need?
Every ride carries two ratings: physical fitness level and MTB experience level. Both run on a four-point scale: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Pro Level. Each tour page shows both ratings along with the elevation profile so you can match the ride to where you actually are. If you are unsure, the Discovery Call is the right place to start — we will be straight with you about whether a ride is a good fit.
How big are the groups?
Maximum 8 riders on wilderness rides. We keep groups small deliberately — these are not mass-tourism routes. Small groups mean better guide attention, more flexibility on trail, less environmental impact, and a fundamentally better experience. You have time to stop and photograph, time to linger at a viewpoint, time to move at your own pace and actually connect with the landscape and the people around you. That is not possible in a group of 20.
Is the Free Morning Ride really free?
Yes. No cost, no registration, no catch. It runs Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7:30am from Casa de Ciclistas. Bring water and good shoes. It is a real backcountry loop through Guatapé with local guides — not a taster session or a promotional ride. It is the same trail we ride every week.
What happens to the money from tour bookings?
Proceeds we earn are reinvested into Dulce Amazónica, the Amazon cultural embassy we co-founded with Casa de Ciclistas, and into the humanitarian mission at the heart of every Amazon expedition. This covers food, housing, transport, bike maintenance, guide services, and ambassador training, plus fair pay for visiting Indigenous ambassadors from 20+ Amazon communities. Through our support of Dulce Amazónica and the Embassy of the Colombian Amazon, this work reaches indigenous refugee communities, remote communities, and vulnerable communities throughout the Colombian Amazon — not only those directly on our expedition routes. It also funds community infrastructure: clean water collection and storage systems built directly for communities without reliable water access, food security programs including live chicken systems that give communities a sustainable, ongoing protein source, and the logistics of physically moving people, supplies, and essential materials into remote areas. On expedition, bikes are not just transport. They are the means of getting in, carrying what is needed, and reaching people who cannot be reached any other way. Although we are entitled to make a profit from our labor, services, and sales, we voluntarily choose to contribute these funds to this project because our core values require it. Our work is built on four principles: the Dignity of every person and community we encounter, the Sovereignty of indigenous peoples over their own lands and knowledge, the irreplaceable value of Ancestral Wisdom, and Fair Trade as the only honest basis for exchange. Paying it forward is not a marketing position. It is what these values look like in practice.
Is Mountain Bike Colombia a licensed tour operator?
Yes. Colombia-registered tourism company, operating since 2019 as JOJOCO S.A.S. Marcel and Johana have personally ridden every route we offer — none of this is sourced from a catalogue or handed off to a third party. Safety protocols and emergency preparedness are part of how every expedition is built, not an afterthought.
Can I join an Amazon expedition even if I am not an expert cyclist?
The riding on the Amazon expedition is not technically demanding — it is listed as Novice skill level. What it requires is physical fitness. On riding days, you may cover around 35km across mixed terrain. The Amazon expedition is not a bike tour. Bikes are how we get in — into remote Indigenous territory that has no other practical access. The work is humanitarian. The physical demands are real, and they are part of what makes the mission possible. A Discovery Call is the right first step: we talk through your fitness, your experience, and what each day on the ground actually looks like.
Do I need to bring my own bike?
Bikes are included on all our guided adventures — no rental fee. For longer expeditions, we encourage riders to bring their own dialed-in bike if possible. You know how it rides, it fits you, and it will perform better across extended terrain. That said, it is not required. Let us know when you book and we will sort the right setup for you.
How do I book a tour?
It depends on the ride. For local and full-day rides, you can book directly — pick a date, reserve your spot, and we will see you at the start. For longer multi-day excursions, a Discovery Call is recommended first so we can cover logistics, fitness, gear, and what to expect. For the Amazon Expedition, a Discovery Call is required before booking — no exceptions. The call is a scheduled online meeting: you pick a time that works, we confirm it, and Marcel or Johana will meet you there.
What is included in the price?
It depends on the tour. Day rides include guide, bike, and helmet. Full-day rides also include breakfast and lunch at Casa de Ciclistas. Multi-day expeditions include accommodation, meals, guide services, and in-field logistics — support vehicle, boat transfers, or porterage where the route requires it. What is not included: international flights, travel or medical insurance, personal gear, and accommodation outside the expedition dates. Each tour page lists full inclusions and exclusions. If something is not listed and matters to you, ask before you book.
Is it safe to travel in Colombia?
Guatapé and the surrounding region where we operate are safe and visited by international travelers year-round. MBC monitors conditions continuously. Routes, timings, and logistics are planned with local knowledge built over years of operating in this region. We do not run expeditions in areas where conditions are not appropriate. That said, Colombia is a dynamic country. Conditions can change, and if they do, we adapt. We will not send you somewhere we would not go ourselves.
What is your cancellation policy?
Amazon expeditions are non-refundable once confirmed — logistics and community commitments are made well in advance. For all other rides: cancel more than 60 days before departure and your deposit is fully refunded. Cancel within 60 days and no refund applies, because guides, accommodation, and logistics are already committed. All cancellations must be submitted in writing. See our full
Cancellation and Refund Policy for details.
Do I need to sign a waiver?
Yes. All participants sign a waiver before joining any MBC activity. Multi-day and remote expeditions require the full Participant Agreement, which covers assumption of risk, release of liability, medical declaration, code of conduct, and equipment use. Same-day local rides use a shorter ride-day waiver. Both are completed before you ride. If you are booking for a group, each person signs their own documents.
Can children or minors participate in MBC rides?
Day rides are open to participants aged 10 and above. A parent or legal guardian must be present for the full duration of any ride involving a minor. A signed Minor Consent Form is required before any minor joins an activity — this is completed before the ride begins. For multi-day and Amazon expeditions, participation by minors depends on the route, physical demands, and expedition conditions. This is addressed during the Discovery Call, which is required before any minor is enrolled in a multi-day or Amazon program. MBC does not accept unaccompanied minors on any activity.
Do I need travel or medical insurance?
We strongly recommend it, and for multi-day, remote, and Amazon expeditions we may require it. Your policy should cover mountain biking, remote-area rescue, emergency evacuation, trip cancellation, and Colombia travel specifically. MBC does not provide participant insurance. Confirm your exclusions before booking: many standard travel policies exclude mountain biking or remote wilderness activities.
What happens if weather changes the ride?
Weather in Colombia’s mountain and jungle regions can change fast. If conditions make a route unsafe — heavy rain, flooded trails, landslides, extreme heat — your guide will make a call. The route may be shortened, rerouted, or postponed. On multi-day adventures, weather can alter plans and routes across multiple days, not just a single leg. In the Amazon, rain is not an exception — it is a rainforest. Rain, mud, and humidity are part of the environment and part of the challenge. We ride through it. These are not cancellation conditions; they are expedition conditions. You will not be left without a plan, but flexibility is part of how this works.
Can routes or itineraries change?
Yes. Published itineraries describe intended experiences, not fixed schedules. Distance, terrain, accommodation, daily order, and specific stops may change for weather, trail conditions, logistics, community decisions, or safety. Expedition travel in Colombia is real wilderness. Flexibility is part of how it works, not a flaw in the system.
Can MBC cancel or reroute for safety, security, or public order?
Yes. Colombia is a dynamic country. Demonstrations, road blockades, security advisories, river restrictions, or local conditions can require us to change, delay, reroute, evacuate, or terminate an activity. These decisions are made in real time based on local information and guide judgment. They are safety calls, not failures. MBC will not run an expedition into a situation it judges to be unsafe.
Can a guide remove a rider from an activity?
Yes. MBC guides have final authority on safety, pace, conduct, and continuation of any activity. A rider can be removed for unsafe riding, insufficient fitness, medical concerns, impairment, repeated refusal to follow instructions, disrespectful conduct toward guides or communities, or any behavior that puts the group at risk. Removal does not entitle the rider to a refund.
What happens if I am late or unfit to ride?
If you arrive late and the group has departed, you may not be able to join that day’s ride. If a guide judges that you are not physically or medically fit to ride — due to illness, injury, fatigue, or undisclosed conditions — they will make a call on how to handle it. That does not necessarily mean you are removed from the trip. It may mean an unplanned rest day, advancing ahead in the support vehicle, or adjusting your role for that leg. The guide’s decision is final, and neither lateness nor a missed riding day creates a refund entitlement. If you are unsure whether you are fit to ride, contact us before showing up.
Are wildlife sightings guaranteed?
No. Wildlife sightings depend on season, weather, time of day, and conditions we do not control. We ride through real ecosystems, not managed parks. Some routes consistently produce wildlife encounters. Others may not on a given day. The absence of a specific animal is not grounds for a complaint or refund.
Are Indigenous community visits guaranteed?
No. Community visits are by invitation, and access can change based on community decisions, health protocols, cultural timing, security conditions, or local leadership. Indigenous communities are sovereign peoples, not attractions. If a visit does not happen, it is because the community determined it should not. That decision is respected, not worked around. When a planned visit falls through, we are generally able to arrange a visit with another community — the expedition continues with purpose. When a planned visit falls through, we are generally able to arrange a visit with another community — the expedition continues with purpose.
Can I take photos or videos?
In most settings, yes. On the trail, at viewpoints, and in public areas, photography is welcome. Inside Indigenous communities and certain natural areas, rules vary — each community has its own protocols, and some locations have additional restrictions on photography and filming. As a general principle: do not photograph or film people, children, homes, ceremonies, sacred spaces, or medicine practices without specific permission. Your guide will brief you before entering any restricted area so you know exactly what applies where. Drone restrictions apply separately — see below.
Does MBC use photos or videos of participants?
By participating in an MBC activity, you grant MBC permission to photograph and film you during rides and expeditions, and to use that content for marketing, education, social media, and expedition storytelling. If you have a specific concern about how your image is used, raise it in writing before the activity.
What happens if I damage a bike or helmet?
You are responsible for damage caused by crashes, misuse, or negligence beyond normal wear. If you damage rental equipment, MBC may charge for repair or replacement. Inspect your equipment before you ride and report any pre-existing issues immediately. Taking the bike out means you accepted its condition at the time of use.
Are refunds guaranteed if plans change?
No. Amazon expeditions are non-refundable once confirmed. All other rides: full deposit refund if cancelled more than 60 days before departure, no refund within 60 days. If MBC cancels for reasons within its control before departure, a refund, credit, or alternative will be offered. If conditions change mid-expedition due to weather, security, or safety, no refund is due for portions not completed. See our full
Cancellation and Refund Policy.
What is included in local insurance or accident coverage?
MBC carries operational coverage for its activities as required by Colombian tourism law. This is not participant travel insurance: it does not cover your personal medical evacuation, hospitalization, trip cancellation, or belongings. You are responsible for your own travel and medical insurance. Participants on multi-day and remote expeditions should carry coverage that specifically includes mountain biking and remote Colombia travel.
Are e-bikes allowed?
On some rides, yes. E-bikes are not permitted on Amazon, remote technical, or aircraft and boat-supported expeditions due to battery logistics, weight, charging limitations, and terrain. If you plan to ride an e-bike, contact us before booking: we will confirm whether it is appropriate for the specific route.
Are drones allowed?
Yes, in most settings. Drones are welcome on trails, at viewpoints, and in open natural areas. Two firm restrictions apply: drones are not permitted inside or above Indigenous territories under any circumstances — this is a sovereignty issue, not just a policy — and community visits follow community rules, which may prohibit filming of any kind. Your guide will let you know before you enter a restricted area.
What medical conditions must I disclose?
All conditions relevant to physical activity, remote travel, or emergency response. This includes heart conditions, respiratory conditions, diabetes, epilepsy, severe allergies, current medications, recent surgeries, orthopedic limitations, mental health conditions that affect expedition safety, and pregnancy. You will complete a medical declaration before every paid expedition. Failure to disclose accurately may result in removal without refund.
What happens in a remote medical evacuation?
If you are injured or ill in a remote area, your guide will initiate emergency protocols. Evacuation may involve vehicle, boat, walking, or aircraft depending on location and availability. Helicopter evacuation is not always accessible in the regions we operate. You are responsible for all evacuation and medical costs not covered by your insurance. This is why coverage that specifically includes remote-area rescue and evacuation is strongly recommended before you travel.
What does a humanitarian expedition actually mean?
The Amazon expedition is not a bike tour with a charity component added on. The humanitarian mission is the reason the expedition exists. Bikes are the means of access: they are how we get into Indigenous territory that has no other practical entry route. The work on the ground involves delivering supplies, supporting food security, building water infrastructure, and facilitating cultural exchange with Indigenous ambassadors in communities that are weeks from conventional access. You are not observing the mission. You are part of the logistics that make it possible.
Why can Amazon expedition routes change?
Amazon routes change because the Amazon changes. River levels rise and fall. Communities make decisions about access. Security conditions shift. Rain floods trails. Boats need rerouting. The terrain is real and does not operate on a schedule. A route change is not a failure of planning: it is an honest response to conditions that no itinerary can fully predict. The mission adapts. The work continues.
