Cycling day trip from La Calera to Cota

This route takes you from La Calera, a scenic town perched in the Andes just outside Bogotá, to Cota, nestled on the expansive Sabana de Bogotá plain. You’ll cover about 43 km, with plenty of ups and downs—nearly 950 meters of ascent and over 1,000 meters of descent—so get ready for a solid workout and some awesome mountain views!

You’ll start in La Calera, famous for its cool climate, traditional arepas, and breathtaking vistas over Bogotá. The ride mixes things up: about 40% is dedicated cycleways, and you’ll roll across some quiet country roads as well as patches of unpaved sections. Make sure you’re comfortable with mixed surfaces—most is unlisted, but there’s a noticeable stretch of asphalt.

After cresting at around 3,180 meters above sea level, you’ll enjoy a long descent into Cota, a charming small town known for its dairy farms and flower fields. There’s less traffic here, so it’s a nice spot to wind down, grab a snack, and soak in the quieter vibe outside the city.