Sipping on his morning coffee one morning, Scotty thought, “How does this coffee get to my cup?”

Adventure is different for everyone. For Scotty Laughland, it’s about new experiences and discovering different cultures. Colombia had always been a place of interest, and one morning, while pulling a shot of espresso, he became curious about where the very coffee he was about to drink came from, the process of creating it, and the mountain bike scene there.

Scotty and his group flew into Bogotá and spent the next seven hours crossing the country to their starting point in Armenia. He was instantly amazed by the size of the mountains and the diversity of the landscape—passing through deserts, thick forests of pine, and vibrant green vegetation with towering ferns. Upon arrival, it was straight to building the bikes; the excitement to ride was palpable. While there was still some uncertainty about what the trails would be like, their team of local riders assured them they wouldn’t be disappointed.

Their tires touched down at an altitude of 3,200 meters and they finished at 1,500 meters on the valley floor in Calarcá. The terrain exceeded expectations, starting in the open, descending along ridge-lines, and dropping into gullies of pine needles that provided incredible grip, making it feel as though they were floating. They dove into deep jungle-like vegetation, encountering muddy dirt and flowing trails. Suddenly, the pace would change as the ground became wet and slippery, making it almost impossible to brake for turns while sliding and hoping to find traction to navigate the corners.

It wasn’t long before they visited their first coffee farm, located midway down a trail. This small holding was run by a husband and wife who picked and processed everything themselves, living for and from coffee. They even dried the beans on the roof of their house. Life here was different; the nearest water well was 500 meters away, and they lived 200 meters below the nearest road. They learned that Bernado used to ride his bike down to his farm but now hitchhiked and walked. It was clear the impact this lifestyle had on him; it was challenging, physically demanding, and not particularly rewarding. Despite the hardships, they were welcomed warmly, offered homemade lemonade and freshly brewed coffee from their own beans.

Salento was the next stop, a colourful, vibrant, and welcoming town. The group shuttled to a high point of 3,600 meters off-road, where the trails were well-built and shaped with jumps, drops, and berms interspersed with flowing singletrack. They rode through farmyards and deep canyons, eventually returning to their starting point. They also had the opportunity to explore the town, and playing Tejo at a local bar was a highlight. This traditional Colombian throwing game involved hitting a target with a 1.1 kg lump of steel, resulting in an explosive bang that echoed through the bar.

The next coffee farm was different. Although it was the end of the season, they went out to find the pickers on the hill. Situated at around 1,400 meters, the humidity was a surprising first impression. The plants were tightly packed, and Scotty could feel the sweat dripping off him. They learned about the careful attention and love that goes into picking each piece of fruit, which is just one part of the process—each fruit must be peeled, separated, and dried before being sold and shipped worldwide. The farmers worked hard, starting at 6 a.m. and spending the day in the plantations. The challenging terrain was steep and slippery, with relentless mosquitoes; every time they picked a berry, they seemed to awaken more. Under the hot sun, Scotty picked around 1 to 1.5 kilograms of berries in thirty minutes. Pickers were paid by weight rather than by the hour, and this haul wouldn’t even have brought home a dollar. He finished his short shift with a newfound appreciation, albeit covered in mosquito bites and sporting a swollen red face.

Manizales was dubbed the bike capital of Colombia, and it was easy to see why. Streets lined with bike shops and happy commuters created a vibrant atmosphere, and in the main central park, an array of bike trails featured jumps, berms, and natural features used in the 2018 EWS. They dropped into the forest, tackling big compressions, flowing around well-built berms, and hitting tabletops, which made for a fun, easily lapable trail that kept them wanting more runs. They then moved to a mountain overlooking the city, where the trails offered three purpose-built enduro/downhill runs with sizeable features that flowed exceptionally well.

Colombians drink coffee differently. Most high-quality beans are exported, leaving them with what are classified as “poorer” beans. To make it drinkable, they often add sugarcane, which grows abundantly in the wet and humid Colombian climate. Mules are used to transport the sugarcane, and their trampled tracks through steep hills create perfect winding ribbons of singletrack. Water erosion had washed away the top clay layer, leaving soft, sandy, and perfect dirt that whipped up as riders hit each turn.

Santa Bárbara was the penultimate stop of the trip, nestled in the Antioquia region of Colombia, known for producing some of the finest coffee beans in the world. The bike trails were equally impressive, featuring long stretches with a perfect mix of technical and flowing terrain winding through the jungle. They passed mango trees, where farmers were hand-picking fruit during harvest season—a sight Scotty had never seen before. The meticulous work that went into collecting each mango was impressive; all were gently placed into baskets for transportation by mules. The mountainside briefly opened up, and they rode one of the best series of natural switchbacks Scotty had ever encountered. The banked corners were perfectly spaced, offering just the right amount of grip to lean into, and the views showcased coffee plantations, dense jungle, and spine-like ridge-lines. They descended into the forest, arriving at the valley floor over an hour later.

The trip concluded in Medellín, where they experienced the cultural transformation of Comuna 13. The bright, vibrant colours mirrored the kindness and welcoming spirit of the Colombians they had met throughout their journey. The trails at this last stop were consistent with the rest of the trip, situated above the city and offering expansive views of Medellín. The ground was hard-baked, making for fast trails where riders could push their limits. One particular section was described as MTB perfection—riders could drop into a gully and bounce from turn to turn, flowing and building momentum. Scotty and his companions realised that they had only scratched the surface of Colombian mountain biking, leaving them eager for more adventures in this incredible country.