Alto de Letras is one of Colombia's most well-known routes for amateur and professional cyclists alike. It is said to be the longest hill on earth and, at 80 km in distance, it climbs over 3,700 meters (12,139 feet) in vertical gain, averaging 4% grade throughout its entirety. Although this route is popular among cyclists, there have been few attempts to tackle it running. It starts in San Sebastián de Mariquita, Tolima, a hot and humid town sitting at 495 meters (1,624 feet) above sea level and finishes at the Alto de Letras, which sits at 3.692 meters (12,112 feet) above sea level. This road serves as a bypass over the Andean Mountains, and it is recommended to start early to avoid heavy traffic. The climb is long and at the top, the oxygen is thin, but don't forget to enjoy the views on the way up! It is truly beautiful.
While this is traditionally a cycling route, we track FKTs for runners only.
