There’s no assistance. There are no shortcuts. Just you, your bike, and the Andes.
The Transecuador isn’t about speed, it’s about willpower.
Pushing when you can’t pedal, keeping going when everything tells you to stop.
The Transecuador Bikepacking Race crosses the backbone of the Andes in a route that is both brutal and beautiful. More than 600 kilometers of gravel roads, colonial cobblestones, hidden trails, and high-altitude roads wind through moors, lagoons, and volcanoes.
The cumulative ascent exceeds 16,000 meters. The terrain is demanding, the weather unpredictable, and the altitude a constant challenge. There are no support vehicles or aid stations here: each runner carries only what they need to survive and advance.
Every pedal stroke is a challenge. Every descent, a momentary relief. Every kilometer, a test of character. The route is unforgiving , but it rewards with breathtaking landscapes and the certainty of living one of the most intense experiences on the planet.
The Transecuador isn’t just a race. It’s a journey to the depths of self-sufficiency, where the only thing that matters is your willpower and the determination not to give up.
Based on this event's terrain, difficulty and riding style.
Riders taking on TransEcuador will cover 600 km and climb roughly 16000 m over the course of the route.
TransEcuador's terrain calls for a Hardtail MTB, ideally running 2.2-2.4" Tubeless tires. On the drivetrain side, a 30-32T (1x) chainring matched to a 10-52T cassette gives enough range for the climbing involved.
TransEcuador carries an overall difficulty rating of Advanced. The terrain itself is seriously technical, unforgiving terrain throughout, the climbing is steadily rolling, with a healthy amount of climbing, and conditions tend to run extremely hot, so heat management is a serious factor.
Mark your calendar for October 31, 2026 — TransEcuador's spring timing means when weather can still be unpredictable, so a flexible kit is worth packing.
TransEcuador runs primarily on off-road, and we'd recommend 2.2-2.4" Tubeless tires to handle it comfortably.