The week starts with an airport pickup and a welcome briefing on the first day. The guides go through the logistics and the routes, and it's a chance to meet the rest of the group. Riding starts on day two. From then on the pattern is a morning on the bike on quiet rural roads, with planned coffee and snack stops. A support car stays behind the group the whole time with cold water, food and spare parts. Colombian roads in this region are generally in good condition, and past riders say drivers give cyclists room.

The terrain is the main difference between this and a cycling week in Europe. Riders call it 'Colombian flats', which means endless short kickers, or repechos, between long mountain climbs and fast descents. You pass through coffee plantations, flower farms, cloud forest and colonial villages. The weather at this altitude is mild, which is why Medellín is called the city of eternal spring. Expect cool mornings and plenty of green.

The team is the other reason people book. The guides are local and serious riders themselves. Past guests name Daniel, Diego, Juan, Manuel and Jessica, who know the climbs, the history of Colombian cycling and the right café for a mid-ride stop. There are usually two mechanics, one on a bike and one in the car. Marcela and Tomás handle everything off the bike, including hotels, restaurants, laundry and massage bookings, and they stay reachable the whole week.

Afternoons are for the place itself. You eat proper Antioquian food at local restaurants, drink coffee where it's grown, and walk around towns like El Retiro. With luck there's a local festival on during your stay. The company works with small local hotels, cafés and farms rather than chains, so you see a lot of how people in the region actually live.

The guides speak English, French, Portuguese, Italian and Spanish. You can bring your own bike, and they'll collect it at the airport with you, or rent one of theirs, which past riders describe as excellent. If the Signature route isn't quite right, the same team runs a 5-night road tour around Medellín, a 5-night gravel tour on old farm and mule tracks, single-day rides and custom trips.

What's included

- 6 nights in hand-picked local hotels - 6 guided rides - Airport pickup and drop-off for you and your bike - Welcome briefing - Meals during the tour - Snacks, water and refreshments on every ride - Local cycling guide riding with the group - Support vehicle following the group - Mechanical support (riding and vehicle-based mechanics) - Daily small welcome gifts

What's not included

- International flights - Travel insurance - Bike rental (unless booked as part of your package) - Alcoholic drinks - Massages - Souvenirs and personal expenses - Tips for guides and drivers