Cerro Kennedy is a climb of 38.9 kilometers (hors catégorie). Cerro Kennedy tops out at 2,826 m above sea level. It is located in Perímetro Urbano Santa Marta, Magdalena, Colombia. The average gradient is 8.8% with a maximum of 19.8%. The climb has 3428 meters of elevation gain.
Difficulty breakdown: At 38.9 km with an average gradient of a brutal 9%, this climb is extremely demanding. The difficulty comes from its length combined with many kilometres at very steep gradients (ten sections at 10% or more), ending with a nasty finish at 15% over the final 900 metres. The sustained, significant elevation gain (3428 m) makes it a textbook hors catégorie climb.
How to manage the effort:
1. Pace yourself early: The first 10 km (gradients of 1% to 7%) are relatively "easy". Use this section to settle into a steady rhythm and save your legs for the steeper parts.
2. Anticipate the hard sections: Keep an eye on the steepest kilometres (11-13, 24-28, 34-35, and the final stretch 37-38.9) and ease off your pace slightly before tackling them to avoid blowing up.
3. Manage your gearing on the final: The gradient ramps up to 15% in the last kilometre. Keep some power in reserve and select a gear you can grind up comfortably so you can get over this decisive section without stopping.
For riders who've done the climb, the ascent to Finca Santa Elena and Cerro Kennedy is way more than just a grind up a hill. It's a total immersion in the jaw-dropping landscapes of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, an experience often described as one of the best of their lives. The reward, after the effort, is ending up above the clouds for sunrises and sunsets that take your breath away, in a peace that feels a world away from everything.
The experience at Finca Santa Elena itself is often praised for its warm welcome and authentic vibe. Reviews rave about exceptional hospitality, delicious local food and the complete sense of calm there, making it a restorative and memorable stop. However, some riders report a more mixed experience, mentioning a not very welcoming reception that they felt was focused solely on payment, especially when they just wanted to ride through the property to continue on toward Cerro Kennedy.
This ride is clearly aimed at fans of nature and hard work. Accounts describe hiking trails, spotting endemic birds and finding water sources. The difficulty of the climb isn't explicitly spelled out, but the repeated mentions of walking, sweating and the advice to do your homework on guided tours suggest a demanding route that calls for some prep.
One sticking point comes up in the reviews: access to the trail for Cerro Kennedy. Some riders say the finca owner didn't allow passage across his land to reach the rest of the route, a decision seen as frustrating and bad for local tourism, although his property rights are recognized.
Despite these points to watch out for, the overall impression is extremely positive. For many riders, it's cycling paradise, a place so beautiful and calming that you never want to leave. The experience, between earned reward and natural immersion, leaves a lasting mark on those who take it on.
38.9 km • 3428 m D+
VAM: average climbing speed, based on elevation gain
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