Alto de Camilaca

Overview

Alto de Camilaca is a hors catégorie (HC) climb, the hardest classification there is, and its numbers explain why. Over 34.2 km the road gains 2376 m of net elevation, launching from a base at 1470 m and topping out at 3846 m. The average gradient of 6.95% would be demanding on a five-kilometre climb; sustained across more than thirty kilometres, it becomes an entirely different kind of test. Total ascent tallies 2357 m, confirming that the route climbs almost relentlessly with only trivial relief. This is a high-altitude endurance effort where the thinning air near the summit compounds every percentage point of gradient.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline figure is the 6.95% average, but averages hide the story on a climb this long. The maximum pitch reaches 13.76%, nearly double the mean, so expect stretches that spike well into the double digits. The gap between the 2376 m net gain and the 2357 m total ascent is small, which tells you the climb rarely gives anything back — there are few descents or false flats to recover on. Instead, the road grinds upward, alternating steady mid-single-digit ramps with steeper walls approaching that 13.76% ceiling. The final third, unfolding above 3000 m on the way to the 3846 m summit, is where altitude turns a manageable gradient into a genuine struggle.

Pacing Notes

On a 34.2 km climb, discipline beats bravado. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold something in reserve for the steep pitches near 13.76% and for the altitude in the closing kilometres. Riding the first half slightly under threshold pays dividends later, because at 3846 m your sustainable power drops noticeably below sea-level figures. If you're unsure of your current threshold, use the FTP estimator to set a realistic target before you commit. Break the 2376 m of climbing into segments and treat each steep ramp as a brief surge above your steady pace, then settle back down.

Gearing

With an average of 6.95% stretched over 34.2 km and spikes to 13.76%, gear low and gear generously. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will carry strong climbers through most of the gradient, but on a climb this long — and this high — a 34×34 gives you the extra spinning cadence that protects your legs over 2357 m of ascent. If your setup allows an even larger sprocket, don't hesitate. Preserving a comfortable cadence on the way to 3846 m matters far more than pride.

Summary

Alto de Camilaca is a full HC endurance climb: long, high, and unforgiving. From 1470 m to 3846 m it never truly relents, demanding patient pacing, low gearing, and respect for the altitude.

Length: 34.2 km
Average gradient: 6.95%
Max gradient: 13.76%
Start: 1470 m
Summit: 3846 m
Net gain: 2376 m
Total ascent: 2357 m
Category: HC