Running in Pijao

Carrera 5 to the Páramo

One of the most underrated long run options in the Colombian coffee region. Start at Pijao's town plaza and follow Carrera 5 out of town — pavement gives way to dirt road quickly, and from there it's a straight climb toward the páramo. You can turn around whenever you like; 11 km is a solid effort, but the road continues well beyond 30 km if you have the legs for it. Just know that this route only goes one direction: up. Dress accordingly — it gets genuinely cold as you gain altitude, and the weather can change fast near the páramo. At around 5 km a large park in honor of María is under construction — no services yet, but worth watching as a future resupply point. The Pijao Trail race is held on this route, which tells you everything about the local reputation of this road.