Bustling urban centers like Mexico City, Bogotá and Buenos Aires are known more for their traffic than for their bicycles. But increasingly, cyclists are finding more friendly conditions to explore cities, thanks in part to a concept often called ciclovía — sometimes translated as “open streets” — which blocks some roadways to cars and trucks on set days on a regular basis, allowing cyclists to enjoy greater safety and more space to enjoy their ride. And thanks to the growth of bicycle rental programs and bike tours in many Latin American cities, it’s easier than ever for international travelers to join in the fun, both on dedicated cycling days as well as on bike tours that often take in unique aspects of the city.
Here are five Latin American cities where cycling offers a fun and healthy way to tour.
Cycling in Bogota
The city of Bogota, Colombia is widely credited with first introducing the ciclovía concept on a wide scale. Every Sunday and on some holidays, the city shuts down several main thoroughfares for a car-free, bicycle-friendly environment. A government-issued map of the ciclovía shows the streets and routes that are open for cyclists. You can rent from companies including Bogota Bike Tours, which also offers a variety of guided excursions around town on other days as well.
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Cycling in Mexico City
Every Sunday, the impressive boulevard called Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico‘s capital closes to motorized traffic, providing lots of room for cyclists, rollerbladers, skaters and joggers. You can rent from one of the kiosks right on the street in Mexico City, or for a more in-depth outing, contact companies like Mexico Bike Tours, which even offers a Frida Bike Tour that focuses on Frida Kahlo-inspired sites in the neighborhood called Coyoacan. Some apartment rentals available on AirBnB provide free use of bicycles as well.
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Cycling in Rio de Janeiro
Rio has a public bicycle system called SAMBA, which has some 60 stations and 600 bicycles in some of the most tourism-friendly Brazil beach neighborhoods. Bike Rio offers information, although it’s in Portuguese. For guided outings, consider contacting Rio by Bike, which offers a three- and four-hour cycling tours of Rio de Janeiro, and Bike in Rio, which offers tours in Copacabana, Flamengo, Ipanema and even in favelas.
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Cycling in Buenos Aires
Dedicated bicycle lanes debuted in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2009, and is expected to cover some 155 km by the end of this year. EcoBici provides public bike rental stations, and you can also join excursions with Biking Buenos Aires, which offers sightseeing tours including themed architecture and graffiti tours; the company also rents out bicycles individually. BA Bikes offers rentals and standard bike tours of Buenos Aires, as well as specialty tours like their “Bike & Eat Tour,” which includes food tastings.
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Cycling in Santiago de Chile
The capital of Chile offers numerous ways to take to two wheels. La Bicicleta Verde offers bike rentals as well as bicycle tours of Santiago that include a “Local Life and Markets” morning tour and a “Parks and Politics” afternoon tour. The company also offers full-day “Bike and Wine” tours that allow cyclists to sample some of the varietals that have helped make Chile famous.