The Sport Trained on the Hillsides: Uphill Cycling on the Slopes of Medellín and Its Real Routes

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Medellín is built in a narrow valley, and that has a direct consequence for anyone who pedals: there is no flat route. Leaving the city by bicycle almost always means starting to climb. For an amateur cyclist that is a huge advantage, because uphill training is right around the corner, with no membership fee and no gym schedule. In this verified Malokal guide you will find updated prices; use the interactive cards for each place on malokal.com to check the safe map by neighborhood (Locals vs. Foreigners), live holiday hours, and book directly via WhatsApp.

Before listing routes, a necessary clarification: in Medellín people talk about "climbs" and not about "hills with tunnels" or hidden passageways under the hillsides. That does not exist. What does exist are paved roads, corregimiento highways and metropolitan parks with real elevation gain, all accessible by bike from the city. The options you will see below range from a short 20-minute climb to passes with more than an hour of continuous ascent, and all of them can be done without a car and without paying an entrance fee.

The routes most used by the city's cyclists are Alto de Las Palmas (exit via the avenue of the same name, toward the east), Alto de San Félix (via Santa Elena, leaving from the El Poblado area), the Vía a Santa Elena (corregimiento of Santa Elena, with its farms and flower growers), Cerro El Volador (metropolitan park inside the city) and Parque Lineal La Presidenta (green corridor in El Poblado, useful for warming up before climbing). None of these routes requires an entrance fee; what does cost money is coffee and hydration.

Updated costs

The good news for anyone who wants to train climbing without spending: the five routes in this guide are free to access. There is no toll for bicycles, there is no entrance fee to Cerro El Volador or Parque Lineal La Presidenta, and the roads to Las Palmas and Santa Elena are public roads. The prices below are for reference as of the publication date and may change; always verify before heading out.

• Access to the routes: free in all cases.
• Hydration and supplies: a bottle of water or a sports drink at a neighborhood store usually costs between $3,000 and $8,000 COP; a coffee at the stops along the Vía a Santa Elena or in Las Palmas is around $4,000 to $10,000 COP.
• Public transport with a bike: the Medellín Metro allows bicycles at defined times and in designated cars; check the current conditions at the stations, because they change depending on demand.
• Basic maintenance: a gear adjustment and brake check at a neighborhood shop usually costs between $20,000 and $50,000 COP. If you are going to climb seriously, invest first in brakes and tires, not in accessories.

Compared with a gym membership, uphill cycling in Medellín is practically free: the real expense is the bike, the helmet and maintenance. Prices subject to change, check directly at each shop or store.

Estimated times

Times depend enormously on your level. A beginner climbing at a conversational pace can take twice as long as an experienced cyclist. These are reference estimates for an amateur cyclist with some base, starting from a central point or from the base of each route.

• Alto de Las Palmas: between 45 minutes and 1 hour 30 minutes of continuous climbing from the base, depending on the starting point and pace. It is the classic long climb of the city.
• Alto de San Félix: between 50 minutes and 1 hour 40 minutes, with more demanding ramps and less traffic than Las Palmas in some sections.
• Vía a Santa Elena: between 40 minutes and 1 hour 20 minutes to the corregimiento, with sustained elevation gain and cooler weather on arrival.
• Cerro El Volador: between 15 and 30 minutes of climbing inside the park, ideal for short midweek workouts.
• Parque Lineal La Presidenta: a warm-up ride of 15 to 25 minutes, without strong elevation gain, perfect before attacking a hill.

Always add the return time: descending is faster, but it requires brakes in good condition and attention to traffic. A complete outing to Las Palmas or San Félix, with the ride out, the climb, a stop and the return, usually takes between 2 and 3 hours.

Alto de Las Palmas

It is the best-known climb in Medellín and the one every cyclist in the city ends up doing at some point. The climb starts in the east and gains altitude steadily, with wide curves and several viewpoints where the valley opens up completely. Cyclist groups, intercity buses and motorcycles cross along the road, so attention to traffic is constant. It is not a route for absolute beginners, but it is the most accessible in terms of infrastructure and support points. It is recommended to check road hours and conditions before heading out, especially during the rainy season.

Alto de San Félix

The climb toward San Félix, leaving via the Vía a Santa Elena, is the favorite of those looking for harder ramps and less heavy traffic. The landscape changes quickly: from houses and shops at the base you move to hillside vegetation and cold air. It is a demanding climb, with slopes that force you to use your gears wisely. Many cyclists combine it with the Vía a Santa Elena to put together a longer outing. Prices subject to change at the coffee stops along the way, check directly.

Vía a Santa Elena

The corregimiento of Santa Elena sits up high, among pines and flower crops, and the road that climbs there is a classic of uphill cycling. The elevation gain is constant but gentler than San Félix, and the cool weather at the end compensates for the effort. It is the ideal route for a first long climb: it has shops, stops and water points along the way. It is recommended to check the opening hours of establishments before visiting, because some close early.

Cerro El Volador

Cerro El Volador is a metropolitan park inside the city, with trails and a summit from which you can see the entire valley. It is not a road cycling route, but it is a real and verifiable place to train short climbs, do repetitions or simply warm up. Access is free and the atmosphere is family-friendly and full of walkers, so you must descend carefully and yield the right of way. It is the most practical option for those with little time during the week.

Parque Lineal La Presidenta

Parque Lineal La Presidenta is a green corridor in El Poblado, useful as a meeting point and warm-up before climbing toward Las Palmas or Santa Elena. It is not a climb in itself, but it is part of the routine of many cyclists in the area: you pedal along the linear park, cross toward the base of the hill and start the ascent. It is a good place to adjust the bike, check tire pressure and set off with the group.

Practical tips

Climbing by bike in Medellín has its technique and its road etiquette. These are the tips I give to anyone who asks me where to start, and they apply to any of the routes above.

• Pace before power: on the first climbs it is best to go at a pace that allows you to talk. If you run out of breath in the first five minutes, the rest of the hill becomes a struggle against yourself.
• Use your gears: do not be afraid to shift into the small chainring. Climbing with high cadence protects your knees and leaves you with legs for the descent.
• Hydration: drink before you are thirsty. In Medellín the humidity is deceptive and dehydration arrives without warning. Carry at least one bottle and refill at the shops along the way.
• Warning signs: dizziness, chest pain, blurred vision or strong cramps are reasons to stop. Slow down, look for shade and do not continue out of pride.
• Sharing the road: on Las Palmas and Santa Elena, buses, trucks and motorcycles share the road. Always ride on the right, signal with your hand when changing lanes and do not descend against traffic.
• Brakes and tires: before every outing check the pressure and the condition of the brake pads. Descending a long hill with worn brakes is one of the most frequent failures among beginners.
• The after: the coffee stops on the Vía a Santa Elena and in Las Palmas are part of the ritual. A tinto and an empanada at the top, with the bike leaning on the railing and the valley below, close any outing the way it should be.