A la Coast

A la Coast is a gravel cycling event organized by Bikepacking Ecuador starting in Quito, the high-altitude Ecuadorian capital, and heading toward the Pacific coast over approximately 460 kilometers. The route takes riders from Quito's subtropical highland climate at nearly 2,850 meters down through Ecuador's dramatic western Andean slopes, descending through cloud forest and agricultural valleys before reaching the lower, warmer terrain near the coast. This descent in elevation brings with it an equally dramatic shift in climate and landscape, from the cool mountain air of the capital to the humid coastal lowlands, all within a single multi-day ride.

The event is run by the same Bikepacking Ecuador community responsible for TransEcuador, Gravel Fest, and various Brevet rides, reflecting the organization's broader mission of building endurance cycling culture across the country's strikingly varied geography. Ecuador's combination of volcanic highlands, cloud forest, and coastal plains within relatively short distances makes A la Coast a compact but intense introduction to the range of terrain the country has to offer, appealing to riders who want a serious multi-day challenge without the scale of the longer TransEcuador route.