Colombia - The Central Cordillera

I’d been looking forward to Colombia for a long time, and it still managed to surpass my expectations. Of the month and a half I spent in the country, the highlight was undoubtedly the ride from Medellín to Salento, through the Central Cordillera.

After several months in some of the busier parts of Central America, I was keen to find somewhere quieter. Rather than follow the established Ruta del Café, I spent time researching alternatives and talking with local cyclists in Medellín, eventually stitching together a 665 km route through the mountains.

With over 20,000 metres of climbing, much of it on steep dirt roads, it was a tough journey, especially in the Colombian heat and humidity. But it also included some of the best riding of my trip. You can watch the film above for the full story.

As good as the riding from Medellín to Manizales was, the stretch onwards to Salento was the real highlight. Despite the hard climbing, the riding was often downright idyllic: pedalling from town to town along Colombia’s quiet and incredibly beautiful back roads. I’d put this section up there with the best bikepacking I’ve done anywhere, and when I find the time, I’d really like to write it up as a standalone route for publication.

In the meantime, you can download the GPX for the full Medellín–Salento route below, along with a gallery of photographs from the ride.