Alto de Letras: Colombia’s Legendary Climb You Need to Ride
50 miles, how hard can that be? A version of this is always on everybody’s mind when thinking about Alto de Letras. That’s for the initiated, maybe are just catching up on this gargantuan climb.
Is it the longest in the world? We aren’t sure, but we are sure that not many are part of the must climbs in the world, caracterized by racing pedergree and the challenge they represent.
We are going to break down this climb and the secrets to make it.
The world’s longest Climb
Some argue that Alto de Letras isn’t the longest climb in the world. They may be right. But there’s no denying that climbing it is no small feat.
We’ve broken the ascent into sections to help you understand what’s ahead. Each one might look manageable on its own. Put them together, and you have one monumental challenge.
To be fair, is very much the hero’s journey.
Call to adventure
There’s always that early morning feeling that it’s a big day, a little bit of nervousrness. Leaving Mariquita, the air is hot and humid, and the first slopes are a test. The first 3–4 miles throw steep ramps at you that can make you wonder what you’ve signed up for.
Don’t despair. You can do this. Take your time and find your rhythm.
Learning the Way
After the shock of the opening miles, the climb settles into a more manageable rhythm. You have time to appreciate the landscape: coffee plantations and pockets of natural forest give way to open views across the valley and the mountains of the Central Cordillera.
As you climb higher, the views become even more spectacular. The mountain begins to reward the effort.
The Ordeal: the ultimate test.
This is the defining moment of Alto de Letras. After more than 37 miles of climbing, you face another 9 miles that can feel like the longest of the day.
The air is thin. Clouds often roll across the road, and the high-altitude vegetation takes on an almost otherworldly feel.
Then comes the heartbreaking false summit. You’re close.
How you can make it to the top of Alto de Letras
Now familiar with the climb, let’s explore the key three main thing you need to do to have a successful climbing strategy. This will depende on your goal,, either survive the climb or attempt a particular time
Pacing
The opening slopes can be deceptive. The gradient isn’t always steep enough to make you slow down, and it’s tempting to push hard while your legs feel fresh. We’ve seen riders pay for that decision later in the climb.
Alto de Letras is an eight-hour challenge for some riders, and the effort accumulates. As you gain altitude, the air gets thinner, and the hardest section is still waiting for you.
Start conservatively, find your rhythm, and save something for the final miles.
The goal isn’t to win the first hour. It’s to give yourself the best chance of reaching the summit strong enough to enjoy it.
Refueling and logistics
How long do you think it’ll take you to climb Alto de Letras? We’ve seen it time and again: riders plan for five hours on the road, only to find themselves still climbing after seven and a half. Plan conservatively and carry around 20% more fuel than you expect to need. And don’t count on finding everything you need along the way, especially in the hardest section.
Clothing matters, too. It’s hot and humid at the bottom, but temperatures can drop dramatically near the top. And once you reach the summit, you still have a long descent ahead. Make sure you have layers to stay warm when the temperature drops.
This is where having a support team makes a real difference. With us, you can plan your fueling and layering around the demands of the day and have supplies available when you need them, without carrying everything yourself or relying on roadside shops.
Positive attitude
Your mind can play tricks on you on Alto de Letras. There will probably be moments when the summit feels like it’s drifting further away. When the fog sets in near the top, it’s very easy to feel down. You just need to keep moving forward.
This is where having a support team makes a difference. Just as you don’t have to figure out your pacing and fueling alone, you don’t have to face the mental challenge on your own either. Our team knows the climb and where riders tend to struggle. We’ll be there to encourage you, tell you what’s coming next, and help you keep moving toward the summit.
Getting to the Alto de Letras. A little hiccup
The challenge of Alto de Letras doesn’t start at the bottom of the climb. It starts 200 km (120 miles) away in Bogotá.
Getting there isn’t as simple as setting off early, tackling the climb, and driving back. The journey takes around five hours one way and 7 to drive back, across winding Colombian mountain roads with heavy traffic. It’s not really that simple. Also you have to find the support while on the climb to make it worth it.
The solution: Maximize the adventure
That’s why we make Alto de Letras part of a bigger journey. It’s one of six stages on our flagship Bogotá to Medellín tour, a week of challenging rides through the Colombian Andes.
Instead of organizing everything around a single climb, you get a fully supported adventure across Colombia, with Letras as one of its defining moments.
Calendar for 2026 and 2027
When can you do it?
If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably picturing yourself on these roads. These are the tours that show you exactly what Colombia’s cycling culture is all about.
January 30th
Bogotá to Medellín
Alto de Letras and Two major cities.Bogotá to Medellín might just be the best week of riding. Across six action-packed stages, including the legendary 50-mile climb up Alto de Letras, we climb and descend our way across the soaring slopes of the Andes. Sweeping views of towering mountains and deep valleys, exhilarating descents and long, rewarding climbs make this the kind of week of riding you never knew you needed.
December 4th
Bogotá to Medellín to Cartagena: La Heroica
Conquer Alto de Letras on a big Colombian adventure.Ride all the way from Bogotá to Cartagena or partially to Medellin to experience Alto de Letras and the Andes at Large. Explore Colombia its culture and its mountains.
Riders who felt safe
Calendar
Find Your Next Ride In Colombia.
START DATE | TOUR | LEVEL | TYPE | DAYS | SPOTS LEFT | |
10 – Oct – 26 | Intermediate | Road | 7 Days | 4 | ||
24 – Oct – 26 | Advanced | Road | 10 Days | 8 | ||
4 – Dec – 26 | Advanced | Road | 8 Days | 10 | ||
30 – Jan – 27 | Advanced | Road | 8 Days | 9 | ||
17 – Jan – 27 | Intermediate | Gravel | 7 days | 8 | ||
6 – Mar – 27 | Advanced | Gravel | 7 Days | 6 |
Need different dates?
Private & Custom Cycling Experiences.
Many riders travel with friends, cycling clubs or partners and prefer dates that fit their own schedule. If that’s your case, we’ll help design a private Colombian cycling experience around the time you have available.
Stories
Testimonial
Cycling in Colombia in 2026: The storm is outside.
Every season begins with anticipation. And every season, sooner or later, brings its own challenges. Cycling in Colombia in 2026 feels completely different. By January, we were ready. Routes prepared, teams back on the road, and riders arriving in Bogotá excited for the journey ahead toward Cartagena.
safety
Our tour goals: Safe, Tired Happy
Our tour goals: Safe, Tired, Happy. What are our tour goals? When were about to start our first tour, back in 2012, we where asked a simple question that has been a guiding principle: what do you want your customers to feel by the end of the tour to achieve with this tour.
Weather
Perfect The weather for cycling in Colombia
Colombia’s breathtaking mountainous regions host the perfect cycling weather: warm year-round, with the scenery is stunning, the cycling opportunities are endless. While Colombia’s equatorial climate, which menas temperature isn’t ruled by the time of the year but rather by the altitude, can be unpredi…
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This Colombia bike gravel tour is an immersive cycling odyssey, designed to bring together the thrill of gravel roads with the beauty of Colombian landscapes and culture.
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bogotá – cartagena
La Heróica
Begin high in Bogotá, ascend to the top of the Andes at the summit of Alto de Letras, and follow the wild paths of the Cauca and Magdalena rivers as they storm toward the Caribbean Sea.
MORE INFORMATION
– BIKE TOURS
Answering your mom’s questions
Is it safe?
Absolutely, others have done it, we aren’t dare devils, and we want to come home to family. Our protocols and local expertise prioritize your safety. Remember our mantra!
Weather?
Year-round perfect cycling weather, temperatures are altitude depending but mostly mid 20°C , lower 8°, higher 35°C. Rain, you never know these are the Andes!
Traffic & Locals?
Colombia: Stunning landscape, challenging mountains and thrilling descents, but more importantly warm people and strong cycling culture that respect the cyclist.
Food?
A delicious mix of hearty local flavors and high-end cuisine. Fresh, clean, and incredible variety! On a special diet? Vegan? Celiac? Let us know and our magical staff will take care of that for you!
Bike box?
It will be safely waiting for you in Filandia.