Country Guide
Cycling in Colombia
Cycling in Colombia: birthplace of Egan Bernal, Nairo Quintana, and Rigoberto Urán — where the Andes produce more WorldTour climbers than almost any country on earth and the Alto de Letras is the longest paved climb in the world.
At a Glance
- Terrain
- Road, Climbing, Gravel
- Difficulty
- Moderate — Expert
- Road Quality
- Mixed
- Traffic
- Moderate
- Getting Around
- Car Recommended
Colombia is the most talent-dense cycling nation on earth relative to its WorldTour output, and the roads that produced Egan Bernal (Tour de France 2019), Nairo Quintana (Giro d'Italia 2014, Vuelta a España 2016), Rigoberto Urán (Giro d'Italia 2013, Tour de France 2017 second place), Daniel Martínez (Tour de France 2024 stage winner), and Santiago...
Cycling Destinations in Colombia
Bogotá & Cundinamarca
Bogotá: the world's greatest cycling city — Ciclovía closes 120km of roads every Sunday, La Calera rises to 3,200m on the eastern ridge, and 2,640m altitude makes every ride a training camp.
5 signature climbs
Boyacá & the Central Andes
Boyacá: the heartland of Colombian cycling culture — Nairo Quintana's home roads, the Alto de Letras world record, colonial Villa de Leyva, and altiplano climbing to 3,700m.
5 signature climbs
Medellín & Antioquia
Medellín: the City of Eternal Spring at 1,495m — Colombia's cycling training ground for Rigoberto Urán's generation, where Alto de Palmas begins daily before breakfast and Alto de Minas reaches 3,650m through cloud forest.
5 signature climbs
Best Time to Cycle in Colombia
Temperature: 4°C (winter) to 28°C (summer)
Colombia's climate is governed by altitude and two dry seasons rather than a simple summer-winter calendar. The primary dry season (December through March) is the finest period across all three cycling zones: dry roads, clear skies, moderate temperat...
Pro Cycling Connection
Colombia produces more WorldTour cyclists per capita than almost any country on earth. Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers, Tour de France 2019 champion, Giro d'Italia 2021 champion) trained on the roads of...
Insider Tips
Altitude acclimatisation is the single most important preparation decision for a Colombia cycling visit. Arriving from sea level and attempting the Alto de Letras, La Calera, or an...
The tinto is non-negotiable. Colombian coffee culture on the road is built around the tinto — a small cup of black, sweetly strong coffee served at every tienda, roadside stall, an...
Bogotá's Ciclovía is the single greatest cycling urban experience on earth. Every Sunday from 07:00 to 14:00, 120km of Bogotá's primary avenues are closed to motor vehicles and ope...
The Alto de Letras is not a day ride — it is a multi-day expedition that requires specific logistical planning. The 80km climb from Honda (270m) to the summit at approximately 3,70...
Colombian food is genuinely excellent fuel for cycling and completely different from the Mexican-influenced cuisine that most international visitors associate with Latin American f...