Route Overview

SOS - Slowers Olders Smarters

Cyclist tourist

551 mi.

42,170 ft.

The route proposed here is the easiest to cross the country from the capital city of Bogota to the Ecuadorean border at Ipiales. Almost completely easy itinerary, but with two interesting variations: the Tatacoa desert and the Trampolin de la Muerte.

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Route Details

What to say about Colombia and why cross it by bicycle?

To sum it all up in three words, I could quote one of the greatest mountaineers in history, George Mallory, and his legendary phrase: Because it’s there. 
Many cyclists are captivated by it; others, like us, go because they want to cross the Americas. Almost everyone fears its reputation as a dangerous country, but in Colombia we learned a saying that perfectly sums up how to be a tourist: No des papaya (Be discreet, don’t draw attention).

We arrived in Bogotá and left through Ipiales, following mainly Route 45, with only two detours: the @poi[Tatacoa Desert](159316300) and the Trampolín de la Muerte.

**General Tips**
* **Food**: Restaurant prices (non-tourist ones) are low, making it unnecessary to cook for yourself.
* **Accommodation**: As of early 2025, a double room with a queen bed and a private bathroom in a clean guesthouse costs between 30,000 and 90,000 Pesos. It is possible to wild camp, but given the crime rate in the country, we do not recommend it.
* **Police**: We never had any issues, but we always asked the police for advice before stopping in a town, and in some places they advised against it.
* **Safety**: No des papaya… never show off your belongings. Keep a low profile. Don’t arrive in a city at night. Don’t go out at night.
* **Bicycles**: The road is fully paved, and standard touring tires are sufficient.
* **Water**: No problem finding it — we always filtered it.
* **Traffic**: In South America, cyclists are not respected — be extremely careful. If you ride the Trampolín de la Muerte, always keep to the mountainside, even if it means riding against traffic; your life depends on it.
* **Season**: Very hot and humid — we were there in early April and it rained on us every day, so be prepared.
* **Clothing**: It’s hot — very hot — and humid.
* **Communications**: Remember that speaking a little Spanish is always best. Few people speak English. Duolinguo is a good free application to study it.

**Route**

NOTE Below are our steps, each point is described as follows: City of arrival length_approximate_stage x positive elevation gain (BOGOTA 60 km x 1200 meters); some notes.

* @slice[**Fusagasugá**](d,0,57710.9) 60 x 350 - The best solution is to leave Bogotá on a Sunday, when the roads are closed to cars and turned into bike paths. Lots of cyclists and police are around. Beware crossing Soacha, very dangerous.
* @slice[**El Espinal**](58302.8,140144.5) 80 x 350 - Nice 20 km descent, then easy and flat.
* @slice[**Natagaima**](d,139554.4,207751.6) 70 x 300 – Flat.
* @slice[**Villavieja**](d,208344.7,262314.4) 55 x 500 - Dirty road. If you want to enter the Tatacoa Desert earlier, turn off at Puerto Nuevo. From Villavieja you can visit the most beautiful parts of the Tatacoa.
* @slice[**Rivera**](d,262314.4,323991.2) 60 x 750 – Police advise against staying in Campoalegre; we were told to head up to @point[Rivera](d,328907.86) (by police and locals). It’s a steady 5 km climb, but you come back the same way the next day. Don’t take a shortcut through the countryside.
* @slice[**Gigante**](d,323991.2,404048.6) 75 x 1.000 – Climbs, but nothing difficult.
* @slice[**Altamira**](d,397524.6,455646.5) 60 x 900 - Quiet place, with a charming village center. Easy stage.
* @slice[**Brusselas**](d,455646.5,519105) 65 x 1.050 - The “logical” destination would be Pitalito, but it’s not recommended for safety reasons. Stop in Timaná for the @poi[Gaitana statue](159316304).
* @slice[**San Juan de Villalobos**](d,519697.1,569512.9) 50 x 950 - Long climb of about 17 km, not too challenging, then a big descent. The village doesn’t offer much.
* @slice[**Mocoa**](d,591456,637120.8) 65 x 850 – Not a difficult stage.
* @slice[**Trampolin de la Muerte Day 1**](d,635935.2,672111.1) 35 x 1.750 - Early start, all uphill. Dirty road after 15 km, good road condition. 5-10 easy fords, one deep (sandals recommended). Average gradient 5–7%, rising to 10%.
* @slice[**Trampolin de la Muerte Day 2**](d,671517.9,713623.4) 50 x 1.200 - Slightly easier than Day 1. Steady climb, with a few fords again today.
* @slice[**Santiago**](d,713623.4,720147.5) 15 x 150 - Short flat stage leading to the first climb. Can be considered a rest day.
* @slice[**El Encano**](d,734380.9,762254.1) 30 x 1.250 - Climb from the first kilometer: 17 km, steady, hard. Average 7–9%, peaks up to 13%. Beautiful descent near @point[Laguna de la Cocha](d,769675.02).
* @slice[**Pasto**](d,762254.1,783605.5) 25 x 450 – Easy ascent, pleasant descent, "No des papaya" town.
* @slice[**Pedregal**](d,781824.2,825690.1) 40 x 700 - Quiet 15 km climb, average 5-7 %, peaks at 8-9 %. At the pass there’s good refreshment, then all downhill to destination. Good shoulder.
* @slice[**Ipiales**](d,826301.9,870004.1) 45 x 1.350 - Long climb, 6-7 % average, often 8-9 %. One ramp at 13%. “Must visit” is the Santuario de Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Las Lajas. From Ipiales, it’s just 3 km to the Ecuador border.

COLOMBIA - From Bogotà to Ipiales

Route Overview

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