Alto de Buenavista

Overview

Alto de Buenavista is a long, patient climb rather than a wall. Over its full 19 km it lifts you 820 m in net elevation, from a valley floor at 445 m to a summit at 1265 m. The average gradient sits at a moderate 4.31%, which places it firmly in category 2 territory — hard enough to demand respect and pacing, but never so brutal that it forces you out of the saddle for long stretches.

What the average hides is the shape. Total ascent measures 876 m, slightly more than the net gain of 820 m, which tells you the road is not one uninterrupted upward line. There are 56 m of give-back tucked into those 19 km — short false flats or dips where the climbing eases before resuming. The peak pitch reaches 9.39%, more than double the average, so the difficulty is unevenly distributed rather than smeared flat across the distance.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Think of Buenavista in terms of contrast. A 4.31% average across 19 km means large portions of the road are gentle — the kind of grade you can carry momentum on and settle into a rhythm. But the 9.39% maximum means at least one section bites hard, likely a ramp where the road kicks up sharply before relenting again.

Because total ascent exceeds net gain by 56 m, expect the profile to undulate. Those recovery segments are gifts: places to shift up, spin the legs out, and recover before the next pitch. The gap between the 4.31% average and the 9.39% max is the whole story of this climb — long moderate hauls punctuated by steeper efforts. Ride the easy kilometres efficiently and you will have the reserves to absorb the steep ones.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and aim to hold a steady, sustainable power on the moderate 4.31% stretches rather than surging. Let your effort rise on the pitches toward 9.39%, but keep it controlled — going deep early on a 19 km climb is how riders blow up with kilometres still to climb.

If you are unsure of your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go, then set a target you can hold for the full ascent. The 56 m of downhill and false-flat relief scattered through the climb are ideal spots to recover heart rate and reset your cadence.

Gearing

For an ascent that averages 4.31% but spikes to 9.39%, you want a bailout gear for the steep ramps without over-gearing the gentle majority. A 34×32 setup handles most of Buenavista comfortably and keeps your cadence high across the long moderate sections. If you tend to climb at lower cadence, run heavier equipment, or simply want insurance for the 9.39% pitch late in a 19 km effort, step up to a 34×34. The extra range costs nothing on the easy grades and pays off when your legs are tired near the 1265 m summit.

Summary

Alto de Buenavista rewards riders who pace intelligently: a long, mostly moderate category 2 climb with a genuine sting in its steepest ramps. Meter your effort, use the relief sections, and gear for the spikes.

Length: 19 km
Average gradient: 4.31%
Max gradient: 9.39%
Start: 445 m
Summit: 1265 m
Net gain: 820 m
Total ascent: 876 m
Category: 2