Calpe — Guadalest & Vall d'Ebo
About this Route
← Costa Blanca Cycling GuideA front-loaded epic through the Costa Blanca mountains, designed for maximum enjoyment. From Calpe, the route climbs deep into the interior — through the Guadalest valley to Puerto de Confrides, across the rolling inland plateau, and up the iconic Vall d'Ebo from the easy western side. The reward: one of the finest descents in Spain, plunging through hairpin bends above the orange groves toward Pego, with the Mediterranean glittering in the distance. 137 kilometres, 2,681 metres of climbing.
We rode this on 23 March 2026, and it turned out to be one of the finest days on the bike I have had in Spain.
The climb to Guadalest is everything the description promises — a long, gentle gradient with sweeping bends that carry you steadily upward through almond groves and terraced hillsides. As you gain height, the village of Guadalest appears above you, perched impossibly on its limestone crag. We stopped at one of the cafés in the village for coffee and a baguette — there are several to choose from, and after 30 kilometres of climbing, all of them look good.
Puerto de Confrides is not savage, but it is long. The pass sits at 967 metres, and the climb to it is unbroken from the valley floor. The descent on the far side is the reward: sweeping bends on perfect tarmac, the mountains opening up around you. Beyond the summit, the route threads through some of the most remote terrain on the Costa Blanca. A note on water: it can be a long way between stops up here. We filled bottles in Benimassot — I recommend doing it here so you do not risk running dry.
The inland plateau through Benasau, Gorga and Balones is extraordinary cycling. Narrow roads, fresh tarmac, almost no traffic. Port de Tollos comes around the midpoint — 3.96 km at 6% looks harmless on paper, but with 70 km in the legs you feel it. We had a headwind that day — it made the flat plateau section harder than expected.
We stopped at Restaurante Foc i Brasa in Vall d'Ebo before the final climb — a good call. The 3.35 km at 4.9% is manageable, but it is the descent that demands fresh legs. Hairpin after hairpin unwinding above a vast plain of orange groves, the Mediterranean on the horizon. This descent is the high point of the entire route.
The return through the Jalón valley is a gentle roll home. Velosol in Xaló at km 118 is worth a stop on the way back — we skipped it that day, but it is a well-known favourite among cyclists in the area.
Kilometre by Kilometre
Rolling roads head inland from Calpe, passing below Altea la Vella rather than down on the coast. The road rises gently through Callosa d'en Sarria — a pleasant warm-up with the mountains growing larger ahead. Good roads, light traffic.
The climb begins in earnest at km 24 and runs for 20.4 km at 3.5% average, Category 1. Gianni Vermeersch holds the KOM at 39:02. Guadalest arrives at km 30, perched on its limestone crag above the reservoir and a good place to stop for coffee — but you are already climbing when you reach it. The gradient never lets you fully rest and never breaks you; find a rhythm and hold it to the top at 967 m.
Down off the summit toward Benasau at km 62, then across the plateau through Gorga at km 67 and Balones — some of the finest and quietest roads in the entire Costa Blanca interior — before the short, sharp rise to Port de Tollos at km 71.
Open plateau country with long views and almost no traffic. Foc i Brasa in Vall d'Ebo at km 87 is the last stop before the final climb: 3.35 km at 4.9% to the pass at 540 m. Category 3 on paper, but the legs are tired and the views are distracting.
The highlight of the entire route — 8.3 km dropping 454 metres at 5.5% average, hairpin after hairpin unwinding above orange groves with the Mediterranean on the horizon. This is what the day has been building toward.
After Pego, flat roads carry you through the Jalón valley and into Xaló at km 118 — stop at Velosol for the best coffee of the day — before the final coastal kilometres back to Calpe.
Gallery
On the Road
Route map & elevation profile
Key Climbs
The climbs we single out in Costa BlancaPuerto de Confrides
Cat 1Highlights
- •Puerto de Confrides — 20 km at 3.5% average, steepening to around 4.8% over the final four kilometres, with one short ramp near 8% below the summit. The longest climb in the Costa Blanca portfolio and one of the most scenic.
- •The Guadalest reservoir from above: the turquoise water against the dry mountain landscape is one of those views that forces you to stop mid-climb.
- •Port de Tollos — short, sharp, and tucked into a limestone gorge. A complete contrast to the long grind of Confrides before it.
- •Velosol Cycling Bar in Xaló at km 118: a proper cycling café on the run home, built for road cyclists. The kind of place you ride back to.
- •The descent from Vall d'Ebo to Pego: a fast, technical drop through tight bends with almost no traffic. One of the best descents on the Costa Blanca.
Must know
- ⚠Puerto de Confrides starts at km 24, well before Guadalest — the village sits on the climb at km 30, not at its foot. Don't burn your matches on the reservoir climb getting there, and keep something back: you crest the pass at km 44 with 92 km still to ride.
- ⚠The final 4 km of Confrides steepen considerably. Save something for them. Most riders who blow up on this route do it here.
- ⚠Foc i Brasa in Vall d'Ebo at km 87 is the last stop before the final climb; Velosol in Xaló comes later, at km 118. Between them there is little — carry what you need after Confrides and Tollos.
- ⚠Port de Tollos is short but hits 10%+ on the upper ramps. It comes at km 71, with Confrides already in the legs, it's sharper than the numbers suggest.
- ⚠The descent from Port de Tollos to Vall d'Ebo is fast and the road surface deteriorates in places. Back off on the blind corners.
- ⚠This is a quieter route than the Finestrat or Tudons loops — less cycling traffic, fewer support vehicles. Carry extra spares and an extra tube.
- ⚠The season runs October to May, and the plateau between Confrides and Vall d'Ebo can be cold and windy even on mild days. Pack a gilet.
Café & Water
- km 87Restaurante Foc i Brasa
Last stop before the Vall d'Ebo climb, at km 87 just before the climb starts. Simple village restaurant in the valley itself — espresso, bocadillo, refill the bottles. After this it's 30 km to the next reliable stop at Velosol in Xaló.
- km 118Velosol Cycling Bar
Classic stop on the return leg, km 118 with around 19 km left to Calpe. Run by local cyclists, a proper cycling café with good coffee and food. In season you meet most of the riders who cycle in the area there.
Frequently asked questions
- How does this route compare to the other Costa Blanca epics?
- It's the most sustained of the three — fewer climbs, but Puerto de Confrides at 20 km means you're grinding for a long time in the middle of the day. The Finestrat loop has more variety; this one demands more patience.
- Is Puerto de Confrides difficult?
- It's long rather than steep — 20 km at 3.5% average. The first 16 km are manageable if you pace them correctly. The last four kilometres average around 4.8% — steeper than what came before, with one short ramp near 8% — and they catch a lot of riders off guard. Treat it like a long Alpine climb: eat early, ride your own tempo.
- Where are the food and water stops?
- Guadalest at km 30 has several cafés, and it sits on the Confrides climb rather than before it. Foc i Brasa in Vall d'Ebo at km 87 is the last stop before the final climb. Velosol in Xaló at km 118 is the one on the run home.
- What's the road quality like?
- Excellent on the main roads. The climb to Confrides is smooth throughout. Port de Tollos and the descent to Vall d'Ebo have some rougher patches — nothing that needs a gravel bike, but you'll feel it if you're running 25mm tyres at high pressure.
- When is the best time of year for this route?
- March to May or October to November. The Confrides climb faces south and bakes in summer — starting before 7 am is not optional in July and August. Spring and autumn give you the best light and the most comfortable temperatures for a 7-hour day.
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