Calpe — Vall d'Ebo & Castell de Castells

We rode this in late March 2026 with two friends — and it turned out to be one of the best days of the trip.

The route heads northwest from Calpe through the Jalón valley wine country — Llíber, Xaló, Alcalalí — before turning north toward Pego. We stopped at Velosol in Xaló on the way out: two good coffees and a sandwich before the serious riding began. The right call — Vall d'Ebo was still an hour away, but it pays to arrive at a big climb with something in the tank.

Port de la Vall d'Ebo from Pego is, simply put, my favourite climb on the Costa Blanca alongside Tudons. It has everything. Switchbacks that wind up through pine forest. Views back down the valley toward Pego and the Mediterranean beyond. Flat sections mid-climb where you can lift the tempo and breathe. The gradient is honest — tough enough to demand respect, varied enough to stay interesting all the way to the summit. If you ride one climb in the area, make it this one.

Alto de Castell de Castells follows — a shorter, less dramatic affair. We did not stop in the village that day. But what comes after more than compensates: the descent from Castell de Castells toward Tàrbena, and then the long drop beyond, is one of the finest pieces of road in the region. Fast, technical, the valley opening up below you as you go. WOW is the right word.

Rolling roads and fast descents complete the return to Calpe. A long day, but one of those rides where you feel good about every kilometre.