Finally on the road! First stop - Guatapé.

I have finally left Medellín. As much as I enjoyed that place, I couldn't wait to be on the road with nothing but the next road, the next gas station and the next destination on my mind. Here are a few things I learned on day one:

• Gas stations in Colombia —very often, motorbikes have a dedicated lane or even a whole section of the gas station just for them. Most pumps are manned, and you pay the person directly on the spot without the need to leave the bike or go inside the store. It's very convenient, especially for the motorbike riders.
• Toll booths - motorbike have dedicated lane because it's free for the motorbikes! How good is that - just rolling through all the toll points on the side, without ever stopping.

I wasn't really planning on going to Guatapé as it seemed too touristy for my liking. It is most likely on the menu of every travel agency and every hostel in Medellín as a recommended weekend getaway or even a day trip. I ended up going there because by the time I sorted myself out with the motorbike set-up, it was a perfect distance to cover on that first day. In the end, I'm glad I did. There is a reason why it's so popular. Beyond Piedra del Peñol (the massive granite rock) which, according to geologists, is approximately 65 million years old, Guatapé is a beautiful town with narrow cobbled streets, colorful houses and many nice restaurants.

Road: All paved
Distance: 80km