Colombia's Extreme Sports and Where to Try Them

Colombia, with its incredible mountains, rivers, caves, oceans and lakes, is an amazing place to try a range of extreme sports. From the so-called capital of Colombian extreme sports San Gil to more obscure destinations, it’s one of the best countries on the continent for adrenaline junkies. White-water rafting, caving, kite-surfing, bungee jumping, paragliding and much more – here are Colombia’s best extreme sports and where you can try them out for yourself.
Rafting
With three ranges of the Andes and thousands of rivers, Colombia is one of the best places to practice white-water rafting. The most famous spot is San Gil in Santander Department – known as Colombia’s Extreme Sports Capital – where trips along the Suarez River are extremely popular. More adventurous rafters can take a multi-day rafting trip along the Samaná River in Antioquia with Expedition Colombia, where dramatic rapids up to level five roll through an isolated jungle canyon.

Paragliding
Paragliding is another of Colombia’s most popular extreme sports and can be practiced in many different parts of the country. Many travelers opt to paraglide over Medellín, where short flights are a popular tourist activity. The real paragliding hub of the country, however, is once again around San Gil – shorter flights of around 15 minutes are an affordable option close to the town, but the real treat is a spectacular 40-minute flight over Colombia’s largest canyon, the majestic Chicamocha Canyon. Paragliding over this magnificent spectacle could well end up being your most memorable Colombian experience.

Kite-surfing
One of the trickiest extreme sports to master, Kite-surfing is becoming more popular in Colombia, as the country is home to two of the best ocean and freshwater kite-surfing spots in the world. In Cabo de la Vela, on Colombia’s desert Caribbean coast, wind conditions are perfect year round, meaning that kite-surfing is possible almost 365 days per year. There are a number of different kite-surfing schools and hostels in Cabo. Further south, near Cali, Calima Lake is known as one of the best freshwater kite-surfing spots on earth, with excellent winds year-round and a number of experienced instructors operating in the area.

Scuba diving
With both Pacific and Caribbean coastlines – the only country in South America to have both – scuba diving in Colombia is extremely popular. The most popular spot is Taganga, on the Caribbean Coast, where introductory courses are cheap and plentiful. The very best diving in the Caribbean, however, is around the islands of San Andres and Providencia, where UNESCO-protected reefs protect populations of sharks, turtles and dolphins. The real Holy Grail of Colombian diving is in the Pacific region: Gorgona and Malpelo islands are hard to reach, but offer some truly spectacular diving, with whale sharks, humpback whales and Hammerhead sharks commonly encountered.

Rock climbing
As a country of huge mountains and canyons, there are some wonderful spots to enjoy rock climbing in Colombia, but there are two places that really stand out. The first is the small town of Suesca, just to the north of Bogotá. Here there are some massive cliffs that are perfect for climbers of all levels, and several companies that lead rock climbing activities. The other amazing place is in the aforementioned Chicamocha Canyon, where a beautiful hostel named Refugio La Roca – near the delightful town of Mesa de los Santos – offers over 200 bolted climbing routes in the La Mojarra climbing park.
Surfing
Another popular extreme sport among backpackers, in particular, Colombian surfing is especially good on the Pacific Coast, where waves are larger and more reliable than on the comparatively calm Caribbean. Surfing hotspots on the Pacific Coast include the small villages of Bahia Solano, El Valle and Nuqui, where many hostels and hotels offer surfboard rental and classes. The Humpback Turtle Hostel in El Valle, where they rent out boards by the hour, is perfect for beginners, while El Cantil Ecolodge offers more advanced courses around Playa Guachalito and Cabo Corrientes. On the Caribbean Coast, Costeño Beach surf-camp is the perfect spot for casual surfers and beginners.
http://instagram.com/p/BUalu9xF19K/?tagged=costenobeach
Spelunking
‘Spelunking’ – or caving as it is more commonly called – is another popular extreme sport throughout Colombia. Curiti, near San Gil – a pattern is definitely emerging! – is the home of the coolest caving experience: the Cueva de la Vaca, or Cow’s Cave. It has to be explored with a tour, as hard-hats, lamps and knowledge of the cave’s myriad tunnels are all required, and guests will certainly get wet, often finding themselves in neck-deep water. The reward though is a truly special caving experience, with giant stalactites and stalagmites at every turn and a silence you won’t find elsewhere in Colombia!
Bungee jumping
San Gil is once again the best spot for bungee jumping. A number of operators offer the stomach-clenching activity, but the best option is ‘Colombia Bungee Jumping,’ an excellent company who offer an amazing jump of over 70 meters from a crane suspended over the Fonce River just outside of San Gil. The beautiful surroundings and white-water river down below – which heavier jumpers can even dunk their head into at the base of the jump – make it the best spot in Colombia for bungee jumping.
http://instagram.com/p/BTO1bPYgxTD/?taken-by=seecolombia
Abseiling
With no shortage of waterfalls, Colombia is a great country to practice abseiling and rappelling. There are amazing spots to enjoy this extreme sport throughout the country, but several experiences stand out above the rest: the giant Fin del Mundo waterfall in the depths of the jungle in Putumayo Department, Juan Curí waterfall in the Chicamocha Canyon and Barandillas waterfall near the small town of Tobia, which is 75 meters high. However, most popular tourist towns offer abseiling activities, such are the number of spectacular waterfalls in the country.
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!


Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.


KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.