Cali's Ciclovía: the Sunday route that locals use to train, not to stroll

Cali's ciclovía: where the city trains for real

On Sundays at 6:30 in the morning, when there is still mist over the Pance river and the streets of the south are empty, Calle 5 already has pelotons. They are not tourists on rented bikes: they are caleños with power meters, triathletes with aerodynamic helmets, skaters with new bearings and runners who have been timing themselves on the same stretch for years. The ciclovía of Cali is not a Sunday stroll for the photo; for thousands of people it is the largest and most democratic training space in the city.

The caleño ciclovía network is one of the most extensive in the country: it connects the sporting south (Ciudad Jardín, Estadio, Versalles) with the historic center and with the west, and its layout mixes long flat straights with real slopes like the climb to Alto Menga or the short climbs of Avenida Circunvalar. The hydration and parking prices you will see here are reference ranges from October 2026 and may vary; for updated details, the safe map by neighborhood (Locals vs. Foreigners), live holiday schedules and direct booking via WhatsApp, use the interactive cards for each place on malokal.com.

What follows is not a list of postcards. It is a training guide: which stretches serve what purpose, where to hydrate, how to behave in the lanes and what to do when you finish and need to eat something real.

Context: why Cali's ciclovía is something else

Cali has a relationship with outdoor sport that cannot be explained by climate alone. The city is mostly flat, is crossed by a very long road axis (Calle 5) and has a culture of early physical activity that is visible in the parks before the sun comes up. The Sunday ciclovía takes advantage of that geography: corridors are opened on main roads and closed to motorized traffic during Sunday morning, and it also usually operates on special schedules on holidays.

The result is a network that works like an open-air gym. Some use it to ride 60 kilometers, some do 400-meter intervals, some inline skate and some walk the dog. That coexistence is the charm and also the risk: speeds of 8 km/h and 40 km/h share the same lane.

One detail that changes every season: exact schedules and enabled stretches are adjusted for works, events and the calendar. Always check the official ciclovía map and live holiday schedules before heading out, especially if you are going to cross the city from end to end. On Malokal the cards for each spot are updated with that information.

What to do: routes by level, not by postcard

The right question is not "how long is the ciclovía?" but "which stretch works for what I want to train?". Here is my take as a hiker who also pedals: the layout can be divided by type of effort.

Beginner level: the flat southern axis

The stretch between Ciudad Jardín, the Estadio area and Calle 5 heading north is the friendliest: long straights, few conflictive intersections and almost no slopes. It is where you see families, leisure bikes and people just starting to run. If you are starting from zero, this is your terrain: it lets you keep a steady pace without suffering traffic and without technical demands.

My recommendation for beginners is to do an out-and-back on the same axis, without the ambition of crossing the city. Twenty or thirty minutes one way, the same back, and done. The temptation to "keep going to the center" is the number one cause of people ending up walking their bike back.

Intermediate level: the corridor toward the center and the west

Once you have a base, the game is connecting the south with the historic center and then heading west. That is where crossings appear, traffic lights with pedestrian flow and some stretches where the pavement is not perfect. It is a variable-pace workout rather than a sustained-speed one: good for working on cadence changes and for running with attention.

For running, this corridor is ideal for medium-distance runs. For skating, it demands more care: there are joints and irregular surfaces that force you to look up.

Advanced level: real slopes

Here is what sets the ciclovía of Cali apart from a simple stroll: the city has hills. The climb to Alto Menga and the sloped sections of Avenida Circunvalar are the hard training terrain, the one used by triathletes and road cyclists for repetitions. It is not a stretch for chatting: it is for suffering methodically.

If you are going to do slope intervals, warm up well on the flat before climbing and descend with control. And watch out: in these sectors the ciclovía shares space with traffic and vehicle access points, so attention is part of the training.

The route's landmarks

These are the nodes everyone uses to orient themselves. They are not "attractions": they are places where you hydrate, meet your crew or check your time.

Avenida Circunvalar

Circunvalar is the setting for those who train seriously. Its profile includes sloped stretches that allow strength work and repetitions, and its location in the west makes it the natural connector between the Versalles area, the Estadio sector and the hills. On Sunday, the atmosphere is peloton-like: groups in team jerseys, stopwatches and conversations about watts.

It is a corridor where you should ride predictably: straight line, no sudden lane changes. If you are walking or with children, better choose the flat southern axis. For those going up, the usual advice: pace yourself, because the slope does not forgive a cold start.

Parque Versalles

Versalles works as a meeting and logistics point. It is a residential area with shops around, so it is easy to find where to buy water, fruit or a coffee before or after training. Many running and cycling groups meet here to head out toward Circunvalar or toward the south.

The park itself is a good place for cooling down and stretching: shade, space and people doing the same. If you come by car, the area has parking options, but on ciclovía Sundays it fills up early; the bike and public transport are the sensible option.

Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero

The Estadio is the sporting heart of southern Cali and an obligatory node of the ciclovía. Around the complex there is ample space, a constant flow of athletes and a food and drink offering that activates early on Sundays. It is the place where many finish their training and stay for breakfast.

For running, the perimeter of the sector allows adding kilometers on flat ground. For skating, it is a meeting point for groups heading north. And if you go with children, it is a good place to start and finish without crossing half the city.

Colegio Santa Librada

Santa Librada is a historic institution of the city and its surroundings are one of the classic passages of the route when connecting the south with the center. The area has pedestrian movement and shops, so speed goes down and attention goes up: it is a point where you cross paths with people, not where you do intervals.

For those coming from the south pedaling toward the center, Santa Librada marks the change of pace: the comfortable straight ends and the urban stretch begins. Use it to lower your heart rate and rehydrate.

Alto Menga

Alto Menga is the reference for those seeking elevation. It is the sector where people go to do uphill repetitions, whether by bike or running, and where the strongest paces of the morning are seen. It is not a place for strolling: it is a place to train with a plan.

If it is your first time climbing, go with someone who knows the stretch and do not launch into it without warming up. The descent also demands a clear head: control your speed, especially if there are pedestrians or skaters sharing the space.

Safety along the route: what is non-negotiable

The ciclovía is crowded on the main stretches, but not on all of them. There are sectors where the flow disperses and the morning feels lonely, and that is where you should keep your eyes open. This is not alarmism: it is street common sense.

• Theft: phone and bicycle thefts do happen, especially at the busiest crossings and on stretches where the flow drops late in the morning. Carry your phone in your front pocket or in a fanny pack, not in your hand. Do not stop in lonely areas to check your phone or adjust your bike.
• Accidents: the mix of speeds is the most real risk. Hold your line, announce when you are going to pass and do not brake suddenly in the middle of the lane. At crossings, respect traffic lights and signs as if you were just another vehicle.
• Identification: always carry your ID and something that says who to call in case of emergency. If you go out alone, let someone know where you are going and what time you plan to return.
• Lonely areas: if you are going to train early or on stretches with little movement, better in a group. And if something does not feel right, change your route without a second thought.

Traffic rules and the instructions of the ciclovía organizers are not decorative: respecting them is what keeps the system working. Riding where you are not supposed to, ignoring closures or entering closed lanes can lead to sanctions, in addition to exposing yourself and others. When a stretch is signposted or an organizer asks you something, listen: they see the full picture that you cannot see from the handlebars.

Accessibility: the ciclovía is for everyone too

The ciclovía is an open and free space, and that makes it naturally more accessible than many sports venues. But accessibility is not just being able to enter: it is being able to move safely and comfortably.

• Reduced mobility: the flat southern axis (Ciudad Jardín, Estadio, Calle 5) is the friendliest for wheelchairs and technical aids, due to its almost non-existent slopes and long straights. Stretches with elevation, such as the climb to Alto Menga or the short climbs of Circunvalar, are not recommended for these users.
• Surfaces: on the corridor toward the center there are stretches where the pavement is not perfect. If you use a wheelchair or canes, check the condition of the ground before committing to a long route.
• Crossings and flow: the busiest points, such as the area around the Estadio or Santa Librada, demand more attention and patience. Go with a companion if it is your first time and choose the least congested hours.
• Support: if you need assistance, ciclovía groups tend to be supportive. Ask for help without embarrassment: caleño sports culture, in general, responds.

Where to eat or drink after training

The ciclovía ends and hunger is real. The local rule is simple: the earlier you went out, the earlier you eat. These are the types of stops that work around the route, without inventions.

• Estadio and Versalles area: neighborhood bakeries and cafés that open early, co