Pedaling to Heliconia: an adventure through the history of Guaca salt
August 27, 2026
The mountains of Medellín tell stories that go beyond gold and coffee. Passion and pedaling take us to discover Heliconia, Antioquia, where salt and living legends tell part of the paisa culture.
Heliconia and the History of Guaca Salt
Amid the mountains of Antioquia lies Heliconia, a municipality once known as Murgia or Guaca, whose history is deeply tied to salt production. For years, the Guaca Salt Mines were one of the main socioeconomic drivers of Heliconia and its surrounding areas. Salt extracted from these mountains came to be considered the white gold of its time due to its importance to the economy and community life.
The Salt Route by bike
Cycling the Salt Route means venturing into the secrets held by the mountains of Antioquia and enjoying the freedom that these roads offer on two wheels. This experience connects Medellín with Heliconia, one of the towns near Medellín that maintains a special connection to the history of salt.
Along rural roads and natural landscapes, you'll learn about the ancestral process of Guaca Salt and discover how the community came together to restore the old salt mines. Its ruins and structures preserve the memory of an activity that was fundamental to the municipality's development and that today is part of an authentic agro-industrial experience.
More than a bike route, it's a different way to experience tourism in Antioquia: pedaling with purpose, connecting with local culture, and discovering the natural and historical richness of Heliconia.
The Chuscal Pass: cyclists, muleteers, and mountain
From the main park of the San Antonio de Prado township, in Medellín, a road unfolds shaped by the history of muleteering. It's also known as a mountain pass that receives more than 500 cyclists daily, who gather at this spot located 2,342 meters above sea level.
This is the legendary Alto del Chuscal, a starting point toward the municipalities of Heliconia and Armenia Mantequilla, but also a meeting and hydration spot for cyclists tackling a 9 km climb from the main park of San Antonio de Prado or a 14 km climb from the main park of Heliconia, Antioquia.
However, this place isn't defined solely by the tires and pedals of a bicycle, but also by the mules and mares loaded with coffee that farmer muleteers have used to travel these lands and drive their local economy. From there, our pedals carry us downhill through furrows and green landscapes, where the mountains reflect the greatness of their creator.