Best Cycling Climbs and Strava Segments in Colombia
Colombia is crossed by three majestic mountain ranges, bordered by both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and home to an incredible variety of landscapes from the wide Cauca Valley to the deserts of La Guajira and La Tatacoa. Part of its territory is covered by the Amazon rainforest, creating a truly unique playground for cyclists.
Thanks to this diversity, Colombia has become one of the world’s top destinations for road cycling, offering challenging climbs, breathtaking scenery, and high altitude routes unlike anywhere else.
In this article, we will explore the most iconic mountain passes in Colombia, highlight key details from their official Strava segments, and share useful tips to help you make the most of each climb.
Alto de Letras – Road cycling climb
Alto de Letras is Colombia’s most iconic road cycling climb, an 80 km ascent starting from Honda or Mariquita in Tolima. Rising from tropical valleys to over 3,000 meters, the route rewards riders with breathtaking views before descending toward the city of Manizales.
Elevation Gain: 3865 m
Distance: 79,28 km
Check the Strava segment
Alto del Sifón – Road cycling climb
Alto del Sifón is among Colombia’s highest paved climbs, crossing the dramatic landscapes of Los Nevados National Park. Riders begin in lush coffee country, rise into misty cloud forests, and enter the stark beauty of the páramo highlands. The route links Tolima and Caldas and delivers a demanding, scenic test of endurance at altitude.
Elevation Gain: 4182 m
Distance: 88,37 km
Check the Strava segment
Alto de Palmas – Road cycling climb
Alto de Palmas is the favorite climb among cyclists in Medellín. No matter how many times you ride it, it always feels challenging. Every Sunday and public holiday, part of the road is closed to cars, leaving one uphill lane exclusively for cyclists and runners. Along the way, two scenic viewpoints offer wide panoramic views over the Aburrá Valley. Once at the top, you’ll find plenty of cafés and restaurants where locals gather to recover, refuel, and enjoy the mountain atmosphere that defines Medellín’s cycling culture.
Elevation Gain: 803 m
Distance: 11,41 km
Check the Strava segment
Alto de Minas – Road cycling climb
Alto de Minas is one of Colombia’s most historic and demanding climbs, featured countless times in national and international cycling races. Its long, steady gradients have tested the country’s top professionals in events like the Vuelta a Colombia and the Clásico RCN. The route from La Pintada to the summit near Santa Bárbara combines tropical heat, mountain switchbacks, and sweeping views that reveal why this climb remains a true icon of Colombian cycling.
Elevation Gain: 1805 m
Distance: 41,86 km
Check the Strava segment
Alto de la Unión – Road cycling climb
Alto de La Unión is the preferred training climb for cyclists in eastern Antioquia, a region known for its calm roads, altitude, and ideal year-round conditions. Many of Colombia’s professional riders live and train here, taking advantage of the area’s safety and varied terrain. The road to La Unión offers a steady ascent surrounded by green hills and cool mountain air, leading to a town recognized for its dairy tradition and welcoming rural charm. It’s one of the best places to experience the authentic rhythm of Colombian cycling.
Elevation Gain: 375 m
Distance: 8,14 km
Check the Strava segment
Santa Elena – Road cycling climb
The ascent starts from the city and rises steadily into the cool mountain air of the eastern hills. Near the top, riders reach the region where the famous flowers used in Medellín’s Feria de las Flores are grown and crafted into the traditional silletas. The route offers stunning views over the Aburrá Valley and a true taste of Antioquia’s cycling culture, combining scenic beauty, tradition, and the challenge of high-altitude riding just minutes from the city.
Elevation Gain: 914 m
Distance: 13,16 km
Check the Strava segment
Alto de la Línea – Road cycling climb
Alto de La Línea is one of Colombia’s legendary cycling climbs, rising from the heart of the Eje Cafetero into the high páramo of the Cordillera Central. Known for its history in races like the Vuelta a Colombia and for its demanding final kilometers from Calarcá, this ascent tests both strength and mind. Along the way, riders pass through lush coffee and plantain plantations before entering pine forests and open high-mountain landscapes where the national tree, the wax-palm, stands tall. For anyone seeking a true cycling challenge in Colombia, Alto de La Línea is a must-ride.
Elevation Gain: 1616 m
Distance: 20,83 km
Check the Strava segment
Alto de Patios – Road cycling climb
Alto de Patios is the most popular climb among cyclists in Bogotá. Every Sunday and public holiday, you can reach the starting point via the Ciclovía de Bogotá, which holds a Guinness World Record with 98.4 km of car-free roads across the city. Once on the climb, the route winds upward with panoramic views over the capital and finishes at a lively spot where local vendors offer fresh juices, arepas, and coffee. This ascent is a weekly ritual for Bogotá’s cycling community and one of the must-ride segments in Colombia for those looking to experience the country’s vibrant urban cycling culture.
Elevation Gain: 366 m
Distance: 5,88 km
Check the Strava segment
Alto de La Cuchilla – Road cycling climb
Alto de la Cuchilla is a serene yet demanding climb north of Bogotá that takes you from green valleys through pine forests into exposed páramo landscapes. Starting near Guasca, you’ll ride curving mountain roads above the Embalse de Tominé and finish at a windswept summit of more than 3 300 meters. This route is favored by cyclists seeking both scenic beauty and altitude training just a short drive from the city.
Elevation Gain: 686 m
Distance: 11,05 km
Check the Strava segment
Alto del Verjón – Road cycling climb
Páramo del Verjón is a stunning climb that takes you from Bogotá up through fir forests and into high-altitude páramo terrain where frailejones rise along the road. The route begins just outside the city and gradually transforms into an otherworldly landscape above 3 000 meters, offering dramatic views and powerful sense of achievement. The smooth newly-paved road and the relative proximity to the capital make Verjón an ideal ride for those chasing altitude, scenery and a true Colombian cycling challenge.
Elevation Gain: 517 m
Distance: 9,22 km
Check the Strava segment
Bogotá to Letras – Road cycling experience
Climb iconic roads, cross the páramo, breathe the aroma of coffee fields, relax in thermal springs, and finish surrounded by the largest expanse of wax palms in the world. This is where nature, challenge, and culture meet. Click here to see the details.
Medellín to Coffee Region Cycling Tour via Alto de Letras
Begin in Medellín and ride through Eastern Antioquia and Guatapé before reaching Honda. Conquer Alto de Letras through Los Nevados National Park, passing Alto del Sifón to finish in Colombia’s Coffee Region. A journey of climbs, contrasts and pure cycling spirit. Click here to see the details
Medellín cycling roads of Antioquia
Over four nights, you’ll discover why Medellín is the perfect base for road cyclists, with smooth roads, ideal weather, and climbs that combine challenge, scenery, and tradition. Each route reveals a different side of Antioquia, from lush green valleys to the colorful town of Guatapé and its panoramic mountain views. Any of Medellín’s iconic mountain passes can be included in this challenge; check out the details of the route we’ve previously designed.
I want a Custom Experience!
If you’d like us to design a personalized cycling experience with the Colombian mountain climbs of your choice, click here to schedule a meeting. We’ll be happy to help you create your perfect road cycling adventure in Colombia.
