Tour Type
Explorer
Riding Level
Leisure
Location
Colombia
Duration
7 days | 6 nights | 5 days riding
Length
415 km
Climb
9,950 m
Escape after Christmas for warmer climes - think Colombia. Lush green landscapes and world famous coffee plantations; characterful accommodation accompanied with the friendliest hospitality, inspirational culture and traditions, and delicious Colombian cuisine. Add to that superb roads, high altitudes and the best guides and you have the perfect winter escape.
Did we mention great cycling? Ever wonder why the Colombian cycle pros have an enviable reputation for climbing mountains? Well on this tour you will also have the opportunity to ride on the roads they train on, perhaps ride beside them. AND climb the iconic bucket list climbs – specifically Alto de Letras, the longest paved climb in the world through traditional communities and villages, and green landscapes to reach the highest point at 3,700 metres. That’s 82 kilometres and 3,750 metres of elevation gain!! Can you do it?
If this intrigues you, read on. A Colombian winter escape in January sounds ideal.
This tour is carried out in collaboration with Altos Cycling Colombia, guaranteeing quality and local knowledge, as well as the warm welcome of Colombians to their coffee lands.
Bienvenido a Colombia Welcome to Colombia! We will be waiting for you at 2 pm in the HOTEL MOVICH LAS LOMAS located in Rionegro, Antioquia. *A transfer can be arranged.
We will have a short welcome briefing and our mechanics will help you assemble your bike or adjust the rental bike for your comfort.
Later in the afternoon we will host our welcome dinner!
Today we have our first contact with the Colombian roads. We are going to do an extended version of what locals call the Vuelta a Oriente. This is a ride that many Colombian pros do everyday and with a little bit of luck we will cross some of them. A climb to 2,200 metres to Alto de Choco is our highest elevation.
This stage will lead us to Guatapé, one of the most beautiful landscapes of Colombia. In here you can rest and meet the colourful streets of the downtown.
Today we move down to the Magdalena valley. We will do a 4 hour car transfer from Guatape to La Dorada, here you can decide if you want to ride the last 40 kms into Honda. Take it easy and enjoy the scenery – you need your energy for tomorrow (seriously!)
You will have the afternoon to rest and enjoy the Colonial hotel we are going to sleep in. At night we will make a technical talk about how to tackle the Alto de Letras!
The queen stage is here; today Colombia will test your physical and mental strength. This, the longest paved climb in world to Alto de Letras (3,700 metres!!) will graduate you as a cyclist and will give you the triumph you came here to obtain. This climb will help explain the climbing and descending skills of Colombian cycling pros.
Afterwards we will rest in a natural hot springs hotel where you can celebrate your achievement and recover from the endless climb.
Although it`ll be difficult to get back on the bike, today we have a recovery ride through terrific landscapes – we have finally reached the coffee lands. After drinking an authentic Juan Valdez coffee and getting to know Manizales, we’ll be on our way. En route, Alto de la Paz is our climb of the day… not difficult.
We will have our first contact with the Colombian coffee plantations and at the end of the ride we will rest in a private pool house.
Now we dive into the coffee lands and we start the ride that will take us through beautiful colonial towns such as Belalcazar ending at Filandia. This a really hard and hot stage, you will have to give whatever you have left in the tank. We have a couple of climbs and Alto de Belalcayar is our nominated climb of the day – over 16 kilometres long with low gradient – endless. Luckily, the day before was ‘easy’.
At the end of the stage we will arrive to the only Latin American hotel designed for cyclists! Our last night together so we will host a memorable the farewell dinner!
Approximately 415 kilometres and over 9,900 metres of elevation later and you have reached the end of our Colombian Coffee Lands tour – challenging days, recovery days, coffee galore, stunning landscapes by bike. Perfecto!
After breakfast we’ll assist you with check out and transfer you to Pereira Airport for your flight home or your onward adventures.
We hope you loved Colombia and stay tuned for future central and South American cycle tours.
Ride safe and see you on the road again.
What’s Not included?
