Level of complexity: ◉◉◉◎◎ 

The route contemplates a distance of 25.9 kilometers. It is ideal for those who are just starting out in the world of cycling or simply want to have an alternative tourist experience. For the latter, we recommend the Nativos de Naturaleza Agency, who offer to do this route with accompaniment and guide during the entire route. It starts from the emblematic train station in the city of Zipaquirá, a cultural legacy in the railway architecture of the country. From there we go to the Central Square of Zipaquirá or also known as Plaza de los Comuneros for being the scene of the communal capitulations in 1781. Adorned by colonial and republican houses, this place surprises in every corner. On the north side is the Diocesan Cathedral that began its construction in 1805, replacing the doctrine church built by the corregidor Pedro de Tovar y Buendía. Next to it is the Government House, French Republican property and, at the southern end, the Municipal Palace, a French neoclassical building with Gothic influence, built between 1927 and 1929. From the Central Plaza we drive, along Carrera VIII, to the mural in homage to Egan Bernal. Dozens of tourists visit this place every day to take a selfie with the image of the champion dressed in yellow. In his right hand he holds a red carnation as a reminder of the times when his mother worked among flower crops, while beside him fly a pair of yellow butterflies Macondo style.

After this we will leave the urban center of Zipaquirá. We will take Carrera 15 to the traffic circle that leads us to the Virgen de Guasá and then we will start the ascent to the Alto de San Jorge. Immersed in a lush forest, the narrow but quiet road welcomes us with a slope of 8.1% for about 300 meters. Then a kilometer of undulating terrain that will allow us to regain strength for the ramps of 10 and 11% of constant slope that we will find between kilometers 1.5 and 2.8. And finally, the last stretch has an average gradient of 6.5% before reaching the top of this 3rd category pass. Once we are there, we will find stores, bakeries and grills. There is something for everyone. Recharged the battery, we will continue the ride on an unpaved road that leads us to the sector known as 'Casa de lata', where we will turn off to find the road to 'Los Pinos' and find a hydration point and check air and brakes of the bicycles. This completes 16.6 kilometers of riding. We continue along the same road to descend approximately 2 kilometers and arrive back to the initial pass. Then, we will take the road that leads to the 'Turpial' sector and that takes us, in a slight but technical descent, through the old road to San Jorge, crossing part of what was the great hacienda that gave its name to this village. Erect trees, houses with adobe walls and an infinite carpet of green patchwork that extends through the mountains, frame this road that finally takes us back to Zipaquirá. We suggest that this route of 'Zipa' and Egan culminates, of course, in the Salt Cathedral, a religious sanctuary built in the heart of a subway salt mine, unique in the world and historical, cultural and religious heritage of the country. Inside is an artistic collection, especially of salt and marble sculptures, among which stand out the Creation of Man, the Great Cross of 16 meters and the main altar. Well, recently the Cathedral launched the 'Bici-experiencia underground', a bicycle tour of approximately one hour, in which the bike-users will be able to descend 180 meters underground. The same tour will take you, at the end, to the Cathedral's viewpoint. Then you will understand what the power of this earth is all about.

Don't forget to stop by 'Artensal', two blocks from the Plaza de la Independencia, where you can watch the work of artisan Romi Martínez, who turns salt blocks into pieces of art and the perfect souvenir. If you prefer, you can carve your own work. Also visit the Unidad Deportiva del Barrio San Carlos, where you will find 'El Campeón', the iron sculpture by Valle del Cauca artist Jhon Fitzgerald. The multidimensional work first shows the profile of Egan climbing a mountain and then, in its third and fourth dimensions, you can see the Eiffel Tower and the Lion, symbols of the Tour de France; the miners and their patron saint, the Virgin of Guasá, symbolizing the strength of the city of salt; and the figures of Nairo Quintana, Rigoberto Urán, Esteban Chaves and Efraín "El Zipa" Forero.