Imagine a riding experience that goes well beyond a simple journey, something life-enriching that has an emotional impact. Colombia, the next thrilling destination on ROUVY, beckons you to join this leg of your cycling journey in the Great World Adventure, where we invite you to embark on an extraordinary trip through unique and magnificent landscapes.
We will guide you through route segments that offer memorable experiences, allowing you to immerse yourself in unique Colombian landscapes across diverse landscapes, from flat terrain to rolling hills and mountainous regions.
Above: Map of Colombia showing where your epic rides will take place
Cycling in Colombia is a national passion deeply rooted in its culture and history. Colombia is renowned for producing world-class climbers due to its mountainous terrain. Bogotá, at 2,640 m above sea level, serves as an ideal training ground, enhancing endurance for international World Tours.
Nairo Quintana and Egan Bernal have become icons in professional cycling. Their careers reflect not just their talent but also the rich cycling culture of their homeland, which has shaped their formidable climbing abilities and competitive spirit.
Nairo Quintana is celebrated for his significant wins, such as the 2014 Giro d'Italia and the 2016 Vuelta a España, as well as his impressive podium finishes in the Tour de France. Quintana's strategic approach and resilience have made him a beloved figure in Colombian sports.
Egan Bernal, rising to fame as the first Latin American to win the Tour de France in 2019 at just 22, showcased his natural climbing skill and tactical intelligence. His remarkable comeback after a severe accident in 2022 further highlights his determination and the fighting spirit emblematic of Colombian cyclists.
Let’s explore a few destinations you'll be visiting. Imagine traversing the surreal Tatacoa Desert, known for its unusual plant life or ascending Nevado del Ruiz, where the landscape transforms from lush coffee plantations in the lower valleys to high-altitude páramo ecosystems, surrounded by alien-like flora.
Picture yourself cycling through Guatapé, famous for the iconic El Peñol Rock and the vibrant zócalos—colourful, hand-painted designs on the facades of buildings that depict local culture and history.
Stage 1 - Exploring the Tatacoa Desert: An extraordinary cycling journey through Colombia's otherworldly landscapes
For an extraordinary cycling experience, we will first travel to the Tatacoa Desert in Huila, located in the south-central region of Colombia within the Andean mountains. As you head east for 15 km on a gently uphill route along gravel roads and through a striking semi-arid landscape, you will be surrounded by stunning red and grey rock formations. The terrain has rocky canyons, eroded cliffs, and vast dry plains with sparse vegetation, creating a stark and otherworldly landscape.
Above: The Tatacoa Desert in Huila in Stage 1
Above: Ride through the Tatacoa Desert in Huila on ROUVY
Stage 2 - Ascent to Alto El Verjón: A memorable cycling experience east of Bogotá
Embark on the next stage of your tour as you journey just east of Bogotá, near Monserrate, one of Bogota’s most iconic destinations, which covers 16 km with an elevation gain of 690 metres. There are also some sections where you can recover a bit. This ascent features a series of hairpin turns leading you to Alto El Verjón, a spectacular mountain rising to 3,300 metres. The area is home to diverse ecosystems, such as cloud forests and unique páramo vegetation, which enhance its rich biodiversity. Alto El Verjón is both a natural and cultural treasure, offering stunning views of Bogotá and the surrounding valleys. Expect an unforgettable ride through fantastic scenery, highlighting the beauty of Colombia's natural heritage.
Above: View over Monserrate, a spiritual and cultural beacon for Bogotá
Above: The climb leading you to Alto El Verjó in Bogotá on ROUVY
Stage 3 - Cycling the Nevado del Ruiz: A journey through the Coffee Triangle
The climb to Nevado del Ruiz in Colombia's Caldas department is a magnificent 16 km cycling route that features diverse ecosystems and an elevation gain of 918 metres. Starting gently and becoming steeper, this climb takes you through the vast green coffee plantations of Manizales, which is part of the famous Coffee Triangle, an area famous for growing and producing the majority of Colombian coffee.
Above: Manizales coffee plantations on the way to Nevado del Ruiz in Stage 3
Above: The frailejones endemic flora near the summit of Nevado del Ruiz in Stage 3
As you approach the active stratovolcano near a national park, you’ll reach high-altitude páramo, a unique ecosystem found in the northern Andes of Colombia, typically situated between 3,200 and 4,800 metres and where unique and endemic flora like ‘frailejones’ thrives. These distinctive, alien-like plants, characterised by their rosette shape and thick, hairy leaves, play a crucial role in retaining water and preventing soil erosion, contributing to the stunning beauty and biodiversity of Colombia's mountainous landscapes.
Above: Cycling the Nevado de Ruiz surrounded by endemic ‘frailejones’ flora on ROUVY.
Stage 4 - Discover San Vicente: A Gem surrounded by nature
Next, tackle San Vicente on an 18 km stretch of winding and undulating road on the Rionegro–San Vicente Ferrer route, with an elevation gain of 367 metres and a couple of short climbs. Situated near the town of San Vicente Ferrer in the Antioquia region, the surrounding landscape has views of rolling green hills, forests, and farmland, typical of the Antioquian highlands, with rural scenery and expansive views of the valleys and distant mountains along the route.
Above: A stretch of winding and undulating road on the San Vicente Ferrer on ROUVY
Stage 5 - El Peñol-Guatapé: The iconic rock and colourful towns
On your next leg, you’ll explore El Peñol-Guatapé, which includes the iconic El Peñol Rock (La Piedra del Peñol) and the nearby town of Guatapé in the Antioquia department of Colombia. El Peñol is a stunning granite monolith, also known as Guatapé Rock, famous for its 708-step stairway to the top. As you explore the route, you'll also encounter the Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir, a series of interconnected lakes formed by a hydroelectric dam.
Above: The El Peñol Rock in Guatapé towering above the lakes
Above: Look out for the colourful zócalos on the building facades
The town of Guatapé is celebrated for its vibrant buildings adorned with zócalos—lively, hand-painted designs that depict local culture, nature, and everyday life, showcasing the region's artistic heritage. Keep an eye out for these creative artworks as you ride through the town on this undulating course of almost 18 km and with 345 m of ascent.
Above: View of the towering and iconic El Peñol Rock in Guatapé on ROUVY
Stage 6 - A final ascent: Santa Elena to Medellín's summit
Your final leg of this epic adventure will lead you up a climb from La Palma to the summit at Santa Elena near Medellín, located in the Antioquia region of Colombia. It is a popular 14 km cycling route with nearly 500 metres of elevation gain on a climb that takes you through vibrant flower farms with beautiful views of the Aburrá Valley and the city below. The route holds special significance during the annual Festival of the Flowers, when the area comes alive with vibrant flora and festivities.
Colombia is more than just a travel destination; it’s an extraordinary adventure in a place that’s not your typical cycling travel destination and far from the well-worn routes you're used to. So gear up, hop on your trainer, and embrace the challenge as we explore Colombia's hidden gems on ROUVY. This adventure is no ordinary ride—it's the journey of a lifetime, blending the thrill of cycling with the joy of discovering a land rich in history, culture and natural beauty. Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy something truly epic, unlike anything you've encountered on ROUVY in the Great World Adventure! Let the adventure begin!
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With a background spanning 30 years in the creative and writing industries, Lauren brings her love of storytelling and cycling together in her work for ROUVY. A lifelong athlete with almost 40 years of racing experience, she spent a couple of years riding with a semi-professional road racing team and went on to achieve podiums at National Championships and UCI World Masters events. She also completed the gruelling 2005 Cape Epic and earned triathlon medals back in the early ’90s. Lauren has trained on ROUVY year-round since 2016 and writes passionately to inspire others to ride and explore.
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