Around Alto de Letras

Cycling Spots around Alto de Letras

Bogotá

The mythical Alto de Letras, located in Tolima, is 180 km from Bogotá. Descend the Eastern Andean Cordillera, traverse the Magdalena river, and pass historic towns like Guaduas, Honda, and Mariquita. Conquer the world's longest paved mountain pass and discover the Central Andean Cordillera’s diverse landscapes.

There are 2 main mountain passes to the summit of Alto de Letras.

1. From Mariquita: 81 km / 4,000 m of elevation. This is the traditional route. Starting from Mariquita, passing Fresno, Padua, along Route 50.

2. From Libano: 82 km / 4,100 m. This route is new(ish) but getting a lot of traction in the local cycling scene. This mountain pass was just recently ‘paved’ in 2022 and now has become the new hotspot for all types of cyclists.

The key landmark of this route is the iconic Nevado del Ruiz, an ‘active’ volcano that sits majestically in the backdrop. This route passes through Murillo, El Sifon, many natural volcanic hot springs and forests of ‘Frailejones’ (a succulent-like plant that only grows in high altitudes.)

This route can be tailored to all distances or levels, starting from different places. Eg: Starting from Armero – Letras is 116 km / 4,700 m of climbing!

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