Calpe — Finestrat & Guadalest
About this Route
← Costa Blanca Cycling GuideFive categorised climbs across 153 kilometres and 3,152 metres of elevation. Alt de Finestrat opens beneath the Puig Campana massif, followed by Port de Tudons, El Collao, Port de Benifallim, and CV-710 to Confrides. Tadej Pogačar set the Strava KOM on CV-710 in December 2025 — 18:01 at 30.2 km/h. A route that rewards patience and consistent nutrition management.
We rode this in March 2026, and it is one of the longest rides we've done from Calpe. Five categorised climbs across 153 km demand respect — we started at dawn, with pockets full of gels and bars, determined to hold a steady pace all day.
The route heads south out of Calpe through Altea before turning inland toward Finestrat. We stopped at Bar El Cantonet in the village to fuel up before Tudons — espresso and bocadillo, refilled the bottles. With ten kilometres of climbing ahead of us before the turn-off, the timing was right. The Finestrat climb itself is 3.9 km at 5.1% average, opening beneath the Puig Campana massif. The view back toward the coast gets better with every kilometre you climb.
After Finestrat comes Port de Tudons, but we don't ride the whole climb. About 5-6 km before the summit, we turn off the Tudons road and take a small mountain pass over the ridge. The road is narrow, the tarmac good, and there are almost no cars here. It cuts through a gap in the rock before dropping down to the valley toward Torremanzanas. This is what makes the route distinct — the landscape is vast, and you've rarely felt so alone on the bike as here.
El Collao is 8.3 km at 5.1% average, but the average hides what actually happens. The climb alternates between near-flat sections and short ramps up to 15% — you never quite settle into a rhythm before it changes character again. The summit is signed Port de El Collao at 890 metres; Torremanzanas itself sits three kilometres further on at 780, and that is where we stopped, at Restaurant La Font. A quiet Spanish mountain village — barely a soul about, coffee in the sun, and a good place to breathe before Benifallim. Port de Benifallim comes right after, 3.8 km at 5.5%. Shorter than Torremanzanas, but you feel it because you've got 75 km in the legs. Drop into a low gear and hold the rhythm — don't push.
After Benifallim there are a few kilometres of rolling terrain before the climb to Confrides begins. 9 km at 4.5% average up to the village of Confrides itself. This is the climb where Tadej Pogačar set the Strava record in December 2025 — 18:01 at 30.2 km/h average. We were quite a bit slower 😅. On paper it's not bad, but you've got 95 km in the legs when you start it, and you feel it. La Venta de Pep de Toni in Confrides is a mandatory stop — take your time for a proper break here, refill the bottles, don't rush on. After this it's 40 km downhill and home to Calpe.
The final 40 kilometres follow the Guadalest valley down to the coast — mostly downhill, with a few small climbs along the way. We rolled home in the afternoon light. A long day, but not a brutal day. It's the route that costs, not any single climb.
Kilometre by Kilometre
South from Calpe through Altea and inland toward Finestrat. Alt de Finestrat — 3.9km at 5.1%, Category 3 — rises beneath the dramatic Puig Campana massif. A Category 3 opener that transitions the route from the coast into the mountains.
The route climbs the lower Tudons — 9.9km at 4.4% — but leaves it at km 48, around 690 m, turning onto the CV-778 signed Relleu 11. Nine kilometres of descent drop you to 450 m near Relleu before El Collao begins: 8.3km at 5.1%, with a signed 11% ramp for 500 m, to a summit at 890 m.
Torremanzanas at 780 m, then Port de Benifallim (3.79km at 5.5%, Cat 3) to the signed summit at 1,015 m — the highest point on the route. Inland terrain west of Alcoi, then the long run toward Confrides.
CV-710 to Confrides: 9.06km at 4.5%, Category 2. Tadej Pogačar set the KOM here in December 2025 — 18:01. From the top, 40 kilometres of descent and rolling coastal roads return to Calpe.
Gallery
On the Road
Route map & elevation profile
Key Climbs
The climbs we single out in Costa BlancaPort de Tudons (lower section)
Cat 3CV-710 to Confrides
Cat 2Highlights
- •Five distinct climbs in a single day — Finestrat, Port de Tudons, El Collao, Benifallim, and Confrides — each with its own character and gradient.
- •The descent from El Collao into the Guadalest valley: wide open roads, zero traffic, and the reservoir appearing below you as you drop.
- •Puig Campana towering above Finestrat on the opening climb — the jagged summit is a constant landmark for the first 30 km.
- •La Venta de Pep de Toni just past the top of Confrides: a rural bar where the locals go, not the cycling tourists.
- •Tadej Pogačar's Strava record on the CV-710 to Confrides — 18:01, December 2025, at 30.2 km/h. The benchmark is there if you want it.
Must know
- ⚠Fill your bottles to the brim in Finestrat at km 31 — the next proper stop is Torremanzanas at km 70, about 38 kilometres and two climbs later.
- ⚠The CV-70 between Benidorm and Finestrat carries fast traffic in the morning. Get through it early and you're done with busy roads for the day.
- ⚠The Tudons turn-off needs attention — the route leaves the Tudons road at km 48, some 5–6 km below the summit, for a narrow pass over the ridge. It is easy to miss on a long climb. Keep the GPX active right here.
- ⚠El Collao is the midpoint climb and always catches people out. It begins at km 57, with Finestrat and the lower Tudons already in the legs.
- ⚠La Venta de Pep de Toni at the top of Confrides keeps irregular hours. Pack enough food so you won't bonk if you have to push straight through back to Calpe.
- ⚠This route is exposed to afternoon heat on the descent from Confrides to Callosa. Start by 7:30 in summer — you want to be off the final climb before midday.
Café & Water
- km 31Bar El Cantonet
Last stop before the first categorised climb, at km 31 just before Alt de Finestrat. Classic village bar run by locals — espresso, bocadillo, refill the bottles. Closed Mondays.
- km 70Restaurant La Font, cocas
Mid-route stop at km 70, three kilometres past the El Collao summit. A traditional mountain village at 780 metres — coffee, food, and a good place to breathe between El Collao and Benifallim. Closed Tuesdays.
- km 110La Venta de Pep de Toni
Final stop before the long descent home, at km 110 just after the Confrides climb. After this it's 40 km of rolling descent to Calpe — take your time here, refill the bottles, don't rush on. Closed Wednesdays.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this route suitable for a first visit to Costa Blanca?
- This is a serious big day out — 153 km and 3,152 m of elevation across five climbs. If you're used to multi-climb mountain days, you'll handle it fine. If Costa Blanca is new to you, consider starting with Calpe — Port de Tudons & Confrides first to get a feel for the roads and gradients.
- How long does the route take?
- Plan for 7–9 hours in the saddle for a solid rider. Add an hour for stops — the climbs are long enough that you'll want to eat and drink properly at Torremanzanas and Confrides. We spent around 9 hours total on a moderate-pace day.
- What's the hardest climb on the route?
- Port de Tudons is the longest at just under 10 km, and El Collao hits you hardest: it starts at km 57, with Finestrat and the lower Tudons already in the legs. Pogačar set the Strava record on the CV-710 to Confrides in December 2025 — 18:01 at 30.2 km/h — if you want a sense of the upper ceiling.
- Are there good cafés along the route?
- Three solid stops: Bar El Cantonet in Finestrat (km 31, the last stop before the climbing starts), Restaurant La Font in Torremanzanas (km 70, excellent cocas), and La Venta de Pep de Toni at the top of Confrides. The last one keeps irregular hours — worth checking ahead.
- What bike and gearing do I need?
- A road bike with a compact chainset (50/34) is recommended. The gradients hold ramps of 11% and more on El Collao, but five climbs on tired legs in the afternoon heat will test a 39-tooth inner ring. Most riders here run a 34t front paired with an 11-32 or 11-34 cassette.
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