El Tambo - Overnight Stop

There is a sign for the restaurant about 2 km before

I got to that place thanks to Petra & Klaus, a german couple I have met in Guatemala, earlier this year. Their web-page which is actually more kind of a on-line guide book for Panamericana-Overlanders than just a regular traveller's blog. 

The restaurant El Tambo lies just before you get to the rather unattractive town of El Paso right on highway 45. It makes for a perfect stop if you are headed either North or South between Santa Marta at the caribean cost and Bogota in the Central Highlands, or visa versa. The people that run the restaurant are not only super friendly, they also cook outstanding food for an outstandingly economical price. 

Once you eat there, which for sure you won't regret, you are allowed to camp right next to the restaurant. There is a 24 hour armed guard service for the restaurant, actually restaurants, there is one up at the street another one down (ideal to park your car or truck just behind) and a bar. There is also a swimming pool and cold showers. You'll be happy for the cold, since it is still very hot and humid down there. I am sure you are also allowed to pitch a tent if you ask since the property is rather big. It includes a small zoo where local animals are studied since the restaurant belongs to a oil & gas company that also has their HQ for the environmental feasibility studies there. 

Right now there are no rooms but while I stopped there one cabaña (cabin) with private bath was under construction and more are planned. So you will need to bring your own bed with you. All that said, even if you pass by there mid-day and you do not want to stay overnight it is worthwhile to stopp for a meal.

Turn around, down, right after you passed the first building
with the sign El Tambo

Coordinates for El Tambo: N 9.74543 W 73.71566

Links: 

Click HERE to get to the list of overnight stops posted on the blue truck blog.

HERE you'll get to Petra & Klaus' list of all their overnight-stops in Colombia (in german) and a download option for the GPS coordinates as well.  

www.panamericanainfo.com for all kinds of information for overland travellers on the panamericana.