Cycling around Medellín

Departures and arrivals from Medellín
This tour can be done with only one person
Difficulty: We can design the tour according to your level
5 days, 5 nights and 5 rides
Approximate elevation gain: 6,336 m, Approximate total distance: 519 km

Custom your trip

This tour can be customized according to your preferences, number of days, level of difficulty, or dates.

You can take this plan as a base plan and together we can design the best plan to meet your needs.

Chris T

2020-05-23

Medellin - Retiro ¡Fantástico! muy recomendable! muy amable y organizado empresa! Paisaje muy hermoso! ¡ Qué país tan asombroso!

Scott Witthoff

2020-05-19

Tour Of Coffee Region and Alto De Letras Exploring the coffee region, "luxury-glamping" in the jungle, tasting all the wonderful Colombian cuisine and climbing many famous climbs including Alto De Letras were the highlights of our experience in beautiful Colombia! Tomás and Marci were wonderful hosts. We landed in Medellin and were greeting by Tomás at the airport which made our transfer to the beautiful Casa Colombia Cycling super easy. Each day at Casa Colombia Cycling, we were treated to delicious home cooked meals. Our guest room was authentically Colombian and offered spectacular mountain views. On each ride, we would stop at roadside fruit stands and markets where Tomás would order us a few freshly squeezed juices and explain all the varieties of fruits grown in that Region of Colombia--his explanation of all things Colombia remained consistent throughout the entire trip. Marci drove sweep, providing support and followed us each day. She would pull the SAG vehicle over for us to fill our water bottles and feed us all kinds of delicious snacks (bocadillos were my all time favorite snack of Colombia). Tomás and Marci are true Colombian patriots and love to share their knowledge of the history and culture of Colombia. They shared so many truly amazing stories of the region and the country with us. We are thankful to have had our first (of hopefully many) Colombian experience with them. They run a first-class cycling tour company that provides a fully immersed experience in the Colombian culture. This trip was the best way to learn about another culture, explore a beautiful country, and ride big climbs! We cannot wait to go back. Love you two, Scotty and Linda

Shentos

2020-05-07

Adventure in Colombia I can’t recommend a trip with Colombia Cycling highly enough. If you like adventure, stunning scenery, open roads and spending time around genuine and wonderful warm people (and who doesn’t?) then sign up now! I have been lucky enough to travel much of the world and this was right up there as an experience. Tomas and Marcela are lovely, kind and fun people who know Colombia like the back of their hands. The cycling is immense (think 45km downhills through the tropical Andes and 80km uphills at Letras and everything in between). Do not be put off by the Narco’s reputation of Colombia. It is safe and a vibrant place full of music and laughter and happiness. I spent five days cycling there, culminating in Letras- hard yards, but one of the greatest days on a bike. The accommodation was top class at all stops and Marcela and Tomas really went above and beyond with their attention to detail and passion for showing their country in its best light. Just go! It’s brilliant

Mark B

2020-05-05

Fantastic Cycling Tour My time riding with Colombia Cycling was far and away the best cycling tour that I've been on. Marcela and Tomas provided excellent service throughout - from pre-trip communications, excellent logistics when I arrived and then an excellent itinerary of riding there. The quality of the climbs and the roads was fantastic, with multiple 10km+ climbs (and of course Letras at 80km, sweeping descents and a variety of climates. The trip was a great balance of cycling, but also experiencing the local culture and feeling more immersed than "just coming to cycle", understanding the history and geography of Colombia. I cannot recommend them enough and look forward to visiting again in the future.

Nathan T

2020-05-04

Explore Colombia From the moment I landed in Medellin, I was in very good hands. Tomas and Marcella had everything arranged - from the pickup at the airport to accommodations, food, transportation, and most importantly the incredible cycling. The accommodations were absolutely stunning and our hosts were warm, friendly, and very welcoming. Tomas spent the first day with us going over the route plan, setting up our bicycles and getting us familiar with our surroundings. Each day had its own surprise and each day I spent with the group was so remarkable I can hardly describe. What a fantastic way to explore Colombia, develop my cycling skills, make great friends, and experience the first-rate cycling culture Colombia has to offer. In my opinion, Tomas and Marcella represent Colombia's greatest ambassadors to the world of cycling and cycle tourism. I can say this with certainty as I enjoyed the first trip so much that I returned the next year to do it all again!

Edward M

2020-04-27

Awesome cycling in a fantastic country! Everything about our trip with Colombia Cycling was brilliantly organised by Tomas and Marcela. From the tour of Medellin to the suffering into Jerico both were there to provide unrelenting support both on the bike and with delicious energising snacks from the vehicle. Away from the great food, hotels and company they also ensured we had superb bikes to get us up and down the beautiful mountains. This was absolutely the best cycling trip we have ever made and it would be great to go back and do it again. Thanks for an awesome trip! Note: we visited in October 2017 but TA won't allow a backdate that far.

karlsbad79

2020-04-21

Our favorite vacation! My husband and I spent 5 days cycling with Colombia cycling in June 2018. We had the BEST vacation. The trip was tailored to us, given our limited schedule, and was expertly guided. Our goal was to climb letras. We accomplished that feat, and so much more! We stayed at the coolest local lodging, had wonderful meals, saw beautiful scenery, learned a ton about Colombia, were coached and encouraged up all the repechos, and were treated to little surprises and delights around every corner. The best was how welcoming Tomas and Marcella were and how much fun we had with them. It simply was an amazing experience. We hope to return for more cycling around Medellin soon!

Mark K

2020-04-20

Cycling in Heaven I have cycled twice with Colombia Cycling, in 2016 and 2017. I still remember my very first day riding around Rio Negro (just outside of Medellin) that Sunday, seeing so many of the locals out on their bikes and witnessing how courteous the local motorists were to cyclists, overwhelmed by the beauty of the country and the warmth of its people, and thrilled with how fun the roads were to cycle on. And that was my first day. And it only got better each and every day after. Cycling in Colombia is pure joy. It's also a lot of hard work. The climbs can be steep and unrelenting, the descents very technical. There is much suffering when riding there (as a roadie you embrace it), you earn every kilometre, but there is so much joy to be had as you take in beautiful vistas that make you forget how hard you are woking, as you ride through some of the most picturesque towns with their vibrant colours, past the coffee bean fields, and through the clouds to the summit of the day's ride. And the coffee is the best. My two fantastic trips to Colombia are due to the hard work of Tomas and Marcella, the husband and wife team who own Colombia Cycling. They take of everything, leaving you only to focus on riding. Tomas is an exceptional guide and will help you improve as a cyclist. And Marcella ensures everything runs smoothly. Both are very warm and kind and want to share their beautiful country with you. You'll be happy to have spent time with them. I'm looking forward to riding with them again this fall (fingers crossed we'll be allowed to travel once again by then).

Morten P

2020-04-17

Most AWESOME cycling adventure ever! My wife and I had the awesome experience of cycling in Colombia in the fall of 2017. We didn't know what to expect but were ready for a week of cycling and adventures. Colombia Cycling delivered the most splendid, incredible and superb service minded experience of Colombia on 2 wheels. Tomas and Marcela are just faboulous owners and cycling and tourism ambassadors for Colombia. I feel proud to got to know them and felt the friendliness of Colombia Cycling, of Colombia, and of conquering Letras plus many other hill climbs. The mix of experiencing Colombia, the cuisine, small town squares and endless rolling hills was truly amazing!!!

Roy L

2020-04-16

The best way to tackle Letras It all starts with the warm welcome from Tomas and Marcela... and from there it unfolds into a very personalized experience from very knowledgeable people. Knowledge of their country, their traditions, the food, the places and if course cycling! All the accommodations and meals are carefully curated. My adventure buddy and I decided to spend around 10 days in Colombia and included a trip to the famous Alto de Letras. We are known for going for the full adventure, so we didn’t drive to the start but decided to ride out of Medellin was the way to go! A stop for a riverside beer before finishing up in the small town of Honda. What a nice town and hotel! The next day, there was only one way to go: up, up to the top of Letras. The support that Marcela provides along the way was outstanding: having snacks and hydration along the way. In no time we were at the top, but that wasn’t enough! we wanted to go higher and talking about personalized service: Tomas took us up the road towards el Parque los Nevados... even higher than Letras! My buddy and I wanted to descend to Manizales, it looked like a fun descent and it was until it started pouring rain! But we had Colombia Cycling’s car following is safe to the bottom to end our Letras adventure with a Colombian plate appetizers, a beer and soaking our legs in the hot springs. What a memory that will live in our minds and our legs for years to come!

Colombia enjoys a perfect climate all year round, which allows you to ride through the Andes mountain range at any time, the perfect reason to escape the winter and not have to stop training.

Its geographical variety made up of valleys, mountains, rivers and coasts, offers an unforgettable experience. Among many routes and destinations, for this training camp we rode around Medellín, the second largest city in Colombia, located in a valley and characterized by its beautiful surroundings, smooth roads, picturesque towns and hundreds of cyclists riding the routes on weekends, where famous cyclists currently train in the peloton. internationals: Sergio Luis Henao (Qhubeka), Rigo Urán (EF), Fernando Gaviria (UAE), Simon Pellaud (Androni), Victor de La Parte (Total Energies), among others.

Tom Dumoulin, Chris Froome, Julian Alaphilippe, Bob Jungels, Richard Carapaz, and Annemiek van Vleuten, are some of the cyclists who have been in charge of promoting our country as an excellent destination to concentrate their training sessions.

We stayed 45 kilometers outside of the city to ride at 2,300 meters (8,202 feet) above sea level and improve day by day. As it is known to cyclists, training at more than 2,000 meters above sea level is important for blood oxygenation, increases resistance, improves muscular capacity, fatigue is more tolerated and recovery is much better.

Don’t miss out on this experience, the perfect plan to improve your level while you enjoy shooting in the land of the true bosses of Colombia.

HIGHLIGHTS

Riding around eastern Antioquia, we may run into cyclists from the international peloton such as Sergio Luis Henao (Team Qhubeka ASSOS), Rigoberto Urán (EF), Fernando Gaviria (UAE).
You will feel like you are in the Hollywood of cycling, riding among hundreds of cyclists during the weekend.
We will visit a custom steel frame workshop, you will see how in Colombia we make a work of art on each bicycle.
You will understand why Medellín was selected as the most innovative city, a social transformation and strength that are a source of pride.
We celebrate the tour with craft beer, a brewery inspired by a passionate cyclist who unites his two passions, beer and cycling.

City where it starts

Medellín

City where it ends

Medellín

What includes

Transfers to and from the airport.
Lodging in double accommodation.
Support vehicle when necessary (Motorbike, car, van)
Hydrating drinks, sports snacks, electrolytes, granolas, stops at each ride with a typical snack (juices, coffee, fruits, fritters)
Guides in your language: English, Italian, French, Portuguese.
Mechanic service: All bike servicing, including one standard tune-ups provided by certified camp staff.
Transportation (transfers by car in some routes)
Activities designed to enhance your knowledge of the local culture. Discover the economy and culture of the towns we pass by.
Personal accident insurance

Does not include

Additional services
Taxes
Alcoholic beverages
Any other service not described

Additional services

We help you coordinate your early arrival or departure (extra cost of $50 USD). Accommodation and food for additional nights are at an additional cost.
Colombia Cycling Complete Kit (Lycra and Special Edition Jersey) $150 USD
Sports Massage: $40 USD
Colombia Cycling bag (60 USD), giving you the space you need for all your essentials, cycling gadgets, bike helmet and clothes
Bikes for rent are available at a price of $55 USD/day.

Photos

This is how we live the tour

The experience and our hotels

Itinerary

Day 1Arrival

Upon arrival, we will pick you up at the José María Córdoba airport in Rionegro, which serves the city of Medellín.

We assemble the bikes and make a welcome dinner, where we enjoy our gastronomy. Colombian cuisine is very diverse and varies according to the different regions of Colombia. During dinner, in addition to anticipating the great adventure that awaits, we will present the details of your trip via a thorough tour presentation.

Day 2City of flowers

We ride towards the Alto de las Flores, well known because it was the origin of the Flower Fair in Medellín, and we will share with you our knowledge about the silletera culture. We will finish the ride in a beautiful hotel located in a nature reserve. There we will shower and enjoy a tasty dinner Medellín.

On this day, we show you why Medellín was selected as the most innovative city in the world in 2013. Drawing on the firsthand knoledge of an expert, you will learn about the history of Medellín, and how we went from being the most violent city in the world to one of the cities with the welcoming cities in the world for tourists. We will visit the most important communes or “favelas” in the city, an example of transformation and social development.

We end the day celebrating with a coffee or a beer in the oldest bar in the city.

Distance: 47km/29.2mi. +1,057 m/3,467 ft. Ascent: 7.4km/4.6mi.

Expert cyclists option: 63.1 km/39.2 mi. Elevation: +1,430 m/4,690 ft.

Day 3A village full of color

This day takes us to Guatapé, a town that borders one of the main power generation reservoirs in Colombia. During the ride, we pass through a town renowned for its work in ceramics where they combine ancestral Colombian techniques with new Italian techniques to produce hand-painted tableware. We then pass near the Piedra del Peñol, a huge rock that stands 7,005 feet (2,135 m) high. You can only access its top by climbing its 659 steps. We finish the ride, shower in a hotel in the main square and have lunch. The reservoir was built in the mid-1970s and is one of the highest dams in the world, located at more than 2,000 meters (6,561 ft) above sea level.

Distance: 88.1 km. Elevation gain: 1,229 meters.

Day 4An epic ride

Abejorral, Ben King, the professional cyclist for Cannondale Cycling and Garmin said: “Paris Roubaix + Strade Bianchi + Pais Vasco + Colorado = This Ride”
Ascents: El Tambo: 5 km at 5%, Río Piedra: 3.8 km at 7%,
Puente Madera: 4.9km of 5%, Mares: 9.2km of 3%, Puente Madera: 3.8k of 7%, Rio Piedras: 5.6km of 5%.

Distance: 126.3 km, Elevation Gain: 3,100 m.

Day 5Heritage village

We finish this tour with a route that takes us to the base of a moor and on its way we can see waterfalls and large mountains.
We visit a Colombian historical heritage town, recognized by a traditional Spanish square.
Ascents: La Unión: 7.3 km at 5%, Tasajo: 6 km at 6%, Guayaquil: 5.7 at 6%.

Distance: 179.4 km, Elevation Gain: 3,939 m.

Day 6Departure

Airport transfer. Homecoming.

Maps

Tour map ... coming soon

FAQ

How do you accommodate different levels of cyclists on the same trip?

We love having groups of mixed-ability cyclists. That being said, though, we want all riders to enjoy their experience; we understand the need for some cyclists to take a break now and again. We always cycle with a support car, so any cyclist may ride in the car in any moment.

How will cycling in high altitudes affect me?

If your body is not used to high altitudes, the first few days can be slightly more challenging than expected. The first rides of our tours are “easygoing” to get used. We offer also an option to arrive early! For many people, the body adjusts to the altitude within 24-48 hours.

How does training in a higher altitude improve my physical shape?

Training in high altitudes is one way many athletes improve their overall potential. Colombia is full of varying elevations, so you will sleep, ride, and live in altitudes much higher than most people are used to. Doing so will increase your red blood cell counts, which can improve your athleticism.

Should I train for my trip?

The bike is our favorite way to get to know a country and its culture. We recommend that you be in good shape to maximize your enjoyment. Also you will enjoy your experience the most if you choose a plan that best matches your cycling level. Please ask for our Cycling Level taste to calculate your level and to determine which plan is the best fit for you.

How many cyclists do you allow on your tours at one time?

Our average, our cycling groups have between 7 and 12 people, and the planned tours max out at 22 people (not including our staff). Our logistics team will evaluate these situations according to your needs and how we can best accommodate your group.

What kinds of accommodations are provided?

All of our lodging accommodations are double occupancy. We want you to experience the unique culture of each area we ride, so the specific types of accommodations vary by region. All accommodations will be comfortable, welcoming, and conveniently located.

I’ve heard about Colombia’s reputation as a violent and corrupt country. Is Colombia safe?

Yes, Colombia is safe. All the regions that we will visit to shoot are “recommended areas” to travel to and have been marked as safe areas. (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/colombia). At Colombia Cycling we are in constant contact with the authorities and we are updated on any eventuality that may arise in these areas.

If you want to talk to a cyclist who has already ridden with us to find out about their experience, tell us and we will put you in touch with someone who can be close to you.

PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT

WE LOVE OUR COUNTRY AND RIDING A BIKE

There are already hundreds of Colombian ambassadors around the world, with whom you can have a coffee or share their experience in our country in a call. They will tell you how improved their level with the advice of Tomás who ran local races. Colombia is a country full of culture, rich gastronomy, and traditions, and our wonderful people will surprise you every day with their warmth. Live an authentic experience in the best Colombia Cycling style.

Conócenos

Why book with us?

¿Do you have doubts or questions?