Where is Alto de Letras?
Colombia, south-america
78.9 km
3,692 m
moderate
Year-round
Alto de Letras, nestled in the heart of Colombia, is a beast of a mountain pass soaring to 3,692m (12,112ft). If you're a cyclist looking for an epic challenge, this climb is calling your name!
Find it straddling the Tolima and Caldas departments in the Andes. "Letras," as the locals call it, is Ruta Nacional 50, linking Manizales to San Sebastián de Mariquita.
The entire road is paved, which is good news, because you'll need all the traction you can get! The scenery is out-of-this-world unique. As you grind your way up, watch the landscape, climate, crops, and even the animals morph around you. It's a constantly changing, dramatic, and surprising ride. Heads up: this road can get busy, so an early start is a pro move.
From San Sebastián de Mariquita, you're looking at a staggering 78.9 km (49.02 miles) ascent, racking up a whopping 3,220 meters of elevation gain. The average gradient is around 4%, but don't let that fool you. This is considered the longest road climb in the world. Expect pitches hitting 11% or 12% in places that'll test your legs and lungs.
Alto de Letras is a rite of passage for Colombian cyclists, both amateur and pro, and a legendary stage in the Vuelta a Colombia. Starting in the subtropical heat of San Sebastián de Mariquita at 468 meters and ending in an arctic climate at 3,692 meters, it's truly a once-in-a-lifetime cycling experience.
Road Details
- Country
- Colombia
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 78.9 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,692 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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