La Ciclovía de Cali: the Sunday when the whole city gets on a bicycle
It's 7 in the morning on any given Sunday in Cali and the Autopista Suroriental already smells of arepa with egg. Entire families push old bicycles, skateboards and even baby strollers along a lane that on weekdays belongs to the buses and today belongs to the people. That's the Ciclovía de Cali: a Sunday and holiday program that closes sections of main roads so that anyone —without paying a peso— can walk, jog or ride from the popular east to the foot of the mountains, in Comuna 1 and Avenida Circunvalar.
If you're visiting or have lived in the city for years and have never used it, this guide serves as a map: here you'll find the actual sections, reference prices for fruit and breakfast along the way (a natural juice is around $5,000–$8,000 COP, a portion of fruit between $3,000 and $6,000 COP, reference prices as of October 2026), and how to get around without any scares. On malokal.com you can check the safe map by neighborhood (Locales vs. Extranjeros) and live holiday schedules, and book directly via WhatsApp when the plan includes eating or sleeping nearby.
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One clarification up front, because I've been asked a thousand times: the Ciclovía is not a single route or a closed circuit. It's a network of enabled corridors that are activated on Sundays and holidays in the morning. The exact hours and current sections change according to the programming of the Secretaría del Deporte y la Recreación, so always check before heading out with your bike on your shoulder. What is stable is the logic: the east connects with the center and the west, and the west connects with the mountains.
A bit of context: why Cali is the cycling capital of Colombia
Cali has a relationship with the bicycle that can't be explained by the weather alone. Here the bike is transportation for work, it's sport and it's identity. The city has hosted international track and road competitions, and from that culture came generations of cyclists who today go out to train along the Circunvalar before dawn. The Sunday Ciclovía is the popular version of that same custom: the same road that on a Tuesday is a bus corridor, on a Sunday becomes a recreational track.
The program has been running for decades and is sustained by a mix of municipal operation, traffic managers and people's self-management: the fruit vendors, those who lend tools, those who play music on a speaker. Don't expect first-world infrastructure with perfect signage on every corner; expect a city organizing itself by sheer effort so that Sunday belongs to everyone. That's exactly why it's worth going out with your eyes open: there are sections where signage is scarce and the recreational lane is shared —not always respectfully— with motorcycles and vehicles taking shortcuts.
What to do on the Ciclovía de Cali
The classic route: from the east to the mountains
The most popular route starts in the east, in the Paso del Comercio and Autopista Suroriental area, and heads toward the center to then connect with the west and Avenida Circunvalar. It's a route that changes character as you go: it starts flat and popular, with fruit sales and music at full volume, and ends on a slope, with cooler air and the city stretching out below.
You don't need to do the whole thing. Most people do sections: they leave their neighborhood, ride for half an hour, and turn back. If it's your first time, choose a 5 to 10 kilometer section and do it round trip. The slope toward the Circunvalar is real and feels steeper than it looks on a map; figure that the climb will take you twice as long as the descent.
The climb to the mountains along Avenida Circunvalar
The Circunvalar is the reward. When you reach the west and start climbing, the city opens up: the hillside on one side, the Cauca valley on the other. It's the section chosen by those who train seriously, but also by families who walk up at a slow pace. If you're on a bike and not in shape, don't obsess about reaching the top: climbing a couple of kilometers already gives you the best views and the best air.
Watch out for the weather. In the morning the mountains can be clear and by mid-morning cloud over or a downpour can fall. Bring a light jacket or a compact raincoat. And descend with your brakes on: the descent along the Circunvalar has curves and vehicle traffic that doesn't always respect the recreational lane. If you come with small children, better to avoid this section: the mix of slope, curves and cars is not for training wheels.
Parks and stops to combine
The Ciclovía can stretch into a full-day plan. In the west, near the Circunvalar corridor, there are parks and green areas where people sit down to have breakfast after riding. In the center, the Avenida 6ª axis and the surroundings of the historic center let you get off the bike and walk for a while. If you come with children, the flat sections of the east and south are friendlier than the climb.
A hiker's tip: treat the Ciclovía like an approach hike. Carry water, don't overload yourself, and plan your return point before heading out. The city is big and coming back against the wind at 11 in the morning, with the Cali sun beating down, is a bad experience you can save yourself by leaving earlier or turning back before the heat sets in.
Where to eat and drink along the way
The fruit and juice stands on Autopista Suroriental
The eastern section is a fruit paradise. Along the corridor you'll find stands with mango, papaya, pineapple, watermelon and, of course, chontaduro with salt and honey. The prices are street-level and affordable: a portion of fruit is around $3,000–$6,000 COP and a natural juice $5,000–$8,000 COP, always as a reference for the current period. Carry cash in small bills; many stands don't have a card reader and at 8 in the morning nobody wants to waste ten minutes looking for change.
Chontaduro deserves its own paragraph. It's the flagship fruit of the Colombian Pacific and in Cali you can find it on every corner. Try it with salt if it's your first time; with honey and condensed milk if you're already in the club. It's not sweet like a mango: it's dense, buttery, with a flavor that some fall in love with immediately and others need two tries to appreciate.
Breakfast in the west after the ride
The local custom is to ride early and have breakfast late. In the west, near the Circunvalar corridor and the residential neighborhoods, there are bakeries, cafés and breakfast restaurants that open early. A caldo de costilla, some huevos pericos with arepa or a tamal with chocolate are the natural close to the day. Prices vary quite a bit depending on the place: a simple breakfast can be in the range of $12,000–$25,000 COP, and a more complete one at a restaurant goes up from there. Check hours and prices directly, because on Sundays many places adjust their operation.
If you prefer something quick, neighborhood bakeries are the best bet: brewed coffee, hot bread and an orange juice. No reservation, no line, no complication.
How to get there and transportation
The Ciclovía is free and doesn't require registration. The easiest way to get there is on your own bicycle from your neighborhood to the nearest corridor. If you're coming from another part of the city, the mass transit system lets you travel with a bike at specific hours and conditions; check the system's current rules before boarding, because the conditions for bringing bicycles on change depending on the station and the time.
For those arriving from outside or staying in the center or west, the practical thing is to take a taxi or a ride-hailing app to the start of the section you want to do and begin from there. If you rent a bike, check the brakes, tires and lights before heading out; on the Ciclovía there are improvised repair stands and people who lend tools, but don't count on that for a serious breakdown.
The return is the most underestimated part. By mid-morning the corridors fill up and public transport gets crowded. If you can, head back before 10:30 or stay until closing and return when the crowds thin out. And if you're going to leave your bike somewhere, use a lock: on lonely sections and early in the morning, bike theft is a real risk, so don't lose sight of it or leave it "for a moment" without securing it.
Local tips for first-timers
- Leave early. Between 6 and 8 in the morning the corridor is cool and clear. After 10 the Cali sun doesn't let up, and air quality also suffers with the traffic that starts moving on the surrounding roads.
- Bring water and cash. Two liters of water if you're going to do a long section, and small bills for fruit and juices.
- Dress in layers. The morning in the mountains can be cool and midday in the valley, stifling. A light jacket and sunscreen solve the day.
- Respect the lane and pedestrians. The Ciclovía is shared: there are children, older adults and dogs. Gentle bell, moderate speed, patience.
- Check your bike before heading out. Brakes, inflated tires, lubricated chain. A breakdown on the Circunvalar climb is a bad plan.
- Don't leave valuables in sight. Backpack closed, phone put away in crowded sections.
- Check the current schedule. The enabled sections and hours can vary due to holidays, construction or events. Verify before heading out, especially if you're coming from far away.
- Hydrate and eat something every hour. The fruit along the way isn't just a treat: it's fuel.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Ciclovía de Cali free?
Yes. It's a free recreational program open to the general public. There's no registration or entrance fee. You only pay for what you consume at the fruit, juice or breakfast stands, and for bike rental if you don't bring your own.
What days and hours does it operate?
It operates on Sundays and holidays, in the morning. The exact hours and enabled sections change according to the municipal schedule, so it's worth verifying the current information before heading out, especially on holidays and during event season.
Can I do the Ciclovía if I don't have a bicycle?
Of course. The Ciclovía is also for walking and jogging. Many people use it for long walks or to go for a run. If you want to ride, there are bicycle rental services at various points in the city; check availability and conditions directly with each operator.
Is it safe to go with children?
The flat sections of the east and south are the friendliest for families with children. The climb to the Circunvalar is more demanding and has vehicle traffic, so it's not the best option for the little ones. Go early, stay in the recreational lane and bring water and sunscreen.
