letras, the climb that forges great cyclists
Letras has become famous for being one of the longest and most demanding climbs in the world. This is coupled with the success of Colombian cyclists in many international competitions for whom Letras has been one of the challenges to beat in the shortest time possible.
Now is your chance to take the challenge and reach the summit with the support, guidance and logistics such a feat requires.
This climb is on the must do lists of pedal fans around the world. 80.1Kms long and over 3800 mts of vertical gain are a test to everyone who tries it. But to get there we will first get a warm-up ride on the way to the staring point which will let us get used to the roads and also allow us to discover a couple of landmark colonial towns (Guaduas and Honda) which played an important role in the economy of the region and in the independence of Colombia from Spain.
The next day with the tips and tricks that our team will give you, we will tackle Letras for an expected 4 to 8 hours on the saddle depending on your level. The weather will change from the hot Magdalena valley to the cold of the Letras highlands (paramo).
The last day we will go back to Bogotá fitting a ride to el to stretch the legs after the demanding effort the day before.
We can arrange for either a 4 day tour or our recommended 6 day tour in which we will get two previous days of riding along the Bogotá plateau which will get you in better shape for the big challenge and allow you to visit a few other landmarks worth the ride.
We had to give this climb a try and I’m glad we did it with Bike Colombia
key facts
Type of experience:
Road tour
Physical Level:
6/9 (See levels)
Technical Level:
N/A
Group Size:
Minimum 4 Max 15
Accomodation:
Superior
UPCOMING DATES
Trip Duration:
6 or 4 days
Next Dates:
September 25th to 30th (FULL)
November 2th to december 2nd
Price:
See below.
(Smaller groups or custom dates?: Contact us)
Itinerary
DAY 1: Welcome in Bogotá and set-up
We will pick you up in the airport (with your bike if you’re bringing yours) and take you to the hotel. You’ll have the day free to explore the city depending on your arrival time and we can recommend some plans. In the meantime we will fit the pedals onto the rental bikes or assemble your bike if you chose to bring it. We will meet again late in the afternoon to test the bikes and be ready for the riding ahead. In the evening we will have a briefing dinner in one of the delicious restaurant options that Bogota has to offer.
day 2 (optional): get strong in a famous plateau ride
Pick up in the hotel early in the morning. We will ride in one of the most famous routes for cycling enthusiasts around Bogotá going from the nearby town of La Calera to Guatavita and ending in Zipaquirá. Visit the towns in the way and enjoying views of the Tomine reservoir.
Ride distance: 54 miles (86 Km)
Optional: Visit to the nearby attraction of the Salt Mine Cathedral of Zipaquira in the afternoon.
Stay in Zipaquirá. Hotel Cacique Real.
Day 3 (optional): ride the eastern andes and head to warmer lands
We will continue our journey through the Sabana de Bogotá plateau with a ride from Zipaquirá to La Vega. We will pass through some interesting towns such as Tabio and Subachoque and el Rosal in the edge of the plateau and then head on down to warmer temperatures until we reach the town of La Vega. We’ll have lunch and then transfer to our hotel in the town of Guaduas. In the afternoon we’ll visit a sugar cane juice factory.
Ride distance: 52 miles (83 Km)
Optional: Visit the Sugar Cane factory or relax by the pool.
Stay in Guaduas. Hotel Casa Blanca.
Day 4: The warm up
Pick up early in the morning and transfer to the Historical Town of Guaduas. Visit the Town center of Guaduas for a brief guided ride on this town’s historic importance in the independence of Colombia and then a climb and a descent stopping in the town of Honda to discover the importance of this riverside town in Colonial times. We’ll enjoy a beatiful and scenic descent into the Magdalena river valley. The ride ends in Mariquita, a town in the foothills of the Central mountain range and the start of the main course of the trip: The Letras Climb.
Ride distance: 53 Km
Visit the markets and enjoying the local fruits.
Stay in Mariquita.
Day 5: Climb Letras
Early morning start to the Letras climb with full hydration and snack supports. Aprox time 5-8 hours depending on level. Return to Mariquita to rest.
Ride Distance: 82Km (uphill)
Stay in Mariquita.
Day 6: A ride to stretch the legs and farewell
Ride at a relaxed pace from Mariquita to Viani to stretch the legs and free some of the lactic acid from the previous day’s climb. Shower in Viani and then transfer to Bogotá.
Ride Distance: 60 Km
Transfer to the hotel in Bogotá (or the airport) and end of the tour. Additional nights can be reserved through us with a transfer to the airport on your depart.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Logistics and preparation of a unique and exclusive experience.
- English speaking guides who are avid or pro cyclists and can really enrich your journey
- Breakfasts, Lunches and dinners
- Hydration and snacks during the routes
- Accomodation in boutique hotels with excellent comfort and amenitties based on double occupancy.
- Accident Insurance.
- Emergency Assistance, logistics
- Support Vehicle
- Transfers to and from airport or hotel
WHAT’s not INCLUDEd:
- Personal Items purchased during the trip.
- Alcoholic Drinks or extra meals you want to buy on the way.
- Other Activities
- Tips for your Guides
- Road Bike (you can bring your own or rent one from us)
registration
Don’t think twice, contact us or book now! The worst regret is not to live life to the fullest, and you will not regret this adventure.
4 day letras tour
The shortest recommended way to tackle this monster climb with our full support6 day letras tour
Take a chance to ride in altitude around Bogotá, visit the beautiful plateau towns and get stronger for the letras challengeMore information? other payment methods?
We reply very quickly via Facebook!
Or Use the Pre-registration option where we will inform you of the means of payment and we will call you directly.
Frequently asked Questions and logistics
en blanco
worry free policies
We want you to have the best experience with us, that’s why we have these policies:
Small Groups for a memorable experience: Our participant limit is 12 people. We Will Have 1 Guide for every 6-8 people at most.
Book with a deposit that you won’t loose if you can’t go : Book with a small deposit and we will contact you for the rest of the payment that way you can organize your agenda and flights and pay the remaining before the deadline. If for any reason you can’t go before the deadline, we’ll save the deposit for you to use it in any of our trips.
Minimum Number of participants: We need at least 4 people to carry out our scheduled tours. If we don’t get the numbers we will still do the trip with a small 10% increase in the price.
get there and back
Departure and Arrival: The Place of departure is from Bogotá. We offer you transportation in the fee to and from your hotel or airport. After completing the climb we can arrange a private transfer to Manizales.
TIPS FOR THE TRIP
Physical and technical level: One of the key points to achieve the challenge and have a great time is to be honest with your physical level. It Is a challenge that someone with intermediate level of road riding can achieve. Finishing is the goal and if your body or mind do not allow you to continue remember that we have an accompanying vehicle but you are not going to give up so easyly, or are you?
additional info
Climate and Altitude: The ride will be between a height of 400 to 3700 meters. It will be in the range from hot to cold weather.
Stay: You will be staying in comfortable hotels with a pool.
Food: breakfasts and lunches are included in the trip. At Night we leave the freedom of each one to choose their menu in local restaurants. Hydration and snacks Are included during pedaling.
Insurance: For your Safety We include an accident insurance on the trip covering the trip. In any case it is mandatory to have your own medical insurance.
Tips: Our guides are open to tips if you think you have received an excellent service and want to support them.
Security: The area where the tour will take place has no problems of public order, anyway we have coordination with the local police and we have vehicle support.
what to bring?
Bicycle: You can bring your own bike or we can rent one for you. We’ll have mechanical assistance.
Baggage: We will carry the luggage for the tour days in the support vehicle. We Suggest that they be: 3 bicycle outfits, 3 dry casual outfits and a waterproof jacket. A pair of tennis or spare sandals. Basic cleaning Material. In Addition to this everyone must wear their cycling elements: Helmet, Gloves, Tools, Glasses.
