Palma — Sa Batalla, Sa Calobra & Puig Major Epic
About this Route
← Mallorca Cycling GuideThe ultimate challenge for riders based in or near Palma — conquering Mallorca's highest peaks in a single day from sea level at the harbour. Coll de Sóller, Puig Major, Sa Calobra and Sa Batalla: four of the island's most celebrated climbs, all in one epic loop.
From Paseo Marítimo the route heads out across the flat plain before Coll de Sóller arrives — five kilometres of switchbacks with light traffic. Down into the Sóller valley for lunch before the biggest climb of the day: Puig Major, Mallorca's highest accessible point by bike, finishing inside the Monnàber tunnel at 872 metres.
Then comes Sa Calobra — descended first on the famous corkscrew road to Torrent de Pareis at sea level, then climbed back out. 10 kilometres at 6.8% average, 26 hairpins. Everything you descend, you climb. The Sa Calobra road was built in 1933, designed by the Italian-Spanish engineer Antonio Parietti — the same man who designed the road out to Cap de Formentor.
The Repsol station at the top of Sa Batalla marks the final summit. From there a long descent through pine forest and flat roads carry you back to Palma. A day that earns its difficulty rating.
What a day. Six of us, 150 kilometres, four of the island's greatest climbs — all in one loop from Palma.
The flat roads out of Palma give you time to warm up before Coll de Sóller arrives. Five kilometres of switchbacks, light traffic, a steady gradient you can settle into. We came down the other side into the Sóller valley and stopped in Port de Sóller for lunch. A beautiful small harbour, good restaurants, sea views. A proper stop before the biggest climb of the day.
Puig Major is a different kind of climb. Exposed, warm, little shade on the upper slopes. The effort accumulates steadily. But the reward at the top is one of those sensations you remember — riding into the cool darkness of the Monnàber tunnel after the heat of the climb.
Sa Calobra is the number one climb on Mallorca — an engineering masterpiece. Descend first, carefully: tourist buses appear around blind corners and the Nus de sa Corbata loop where the road passes under itself is worth every second. Restaurants at the harbour before the climb back up. Long and demanding — hold something in reserve for the upper hairpins.
From the Sa Calobra summit the route continues to the Repsol station at the top of Sa Batalla. The descent through pine forest is fast and flowing. After that it is flat roads all the way back to Palma. Once Sa Batalla is behind you, the serious climbing is done — just roll home and think about afterbike.
Kilometre by Kilometre
Flat roads northeast out of Palma through Santa Maria del Camí. Good warm-up kilometres before the mountains arrive.
Coll de Sóller begins at km 17.5 — 5 kilometres of switchbacks at a steady gradient with light traffic. Summit at km 23, then a fast descent into the Sóller valley. Port de Sóller at km 35 is the natural lunch stop — harbour restaurants with sea views before the biggest climb of the day.
Puig Major begins at km 37.8 — exposed, warm and relentless. Summit at km 51.7 inside the Monnàber tunnel at 872 metres. Riding into the cool darkness of the tunnel after the heat of the upper slopes is one of the great moments of Mallorcan cycling.
From the Puig Major tunnel the road descends toward the Sa Calobra junction. The descent begins at km 62.8 — including the famous Nus de sa Corbata 270-degree loop. Ride carefully: tourist buses share the road. Bottom of Sa Calobra at km 72.8 — restaurants and a kiosk at the harbour. The climb back up is 10 km at 6.8% average. Summit at km 83.5. Hold something in reserve for the upper hairpins.
From the Sa Calobra summit the route continues to the Repsol station at km 94.3 — the top of Sa Batalla. Stop here before the fast, flowing descent through pine forest to Caimari at km 103. After this point the serious climbing is done.
From Caimari the route rolls south through Inca and the flat agricultural plain back to Paseo Marítimo in Palma. Roll home and think about afterbike.
Gallery
Route map & elevation profile
Key Climbs
Coll dels Reis
Cat 3Sa Calobra
Cat 1Highlights
- •Puig Major: Mallorca's highest point accessible by bike — 13.74 km / 6.0%, ending inside the Monnàber tunnel at 872 metres. The cool darkness after the heat of the final kilometres is one of the great moments of Mallorcan cycling
- •Sa Calobra down and back up — 26 hairpin bends, the Nus de sa Corbata where the road passes under itself, and the long climb back that demands you kept something in reserve
- •The view from Coll de Sóller over the Sóller valley with its orange and lemon groves far below — one of the most beautiful descents on the island
- •Port de Sóller harbour: lunch stop with sea views between Coll de Sóller and Puig Major — the natural breathing window in the middle of the day
- •Three of Mallorca's greatest climbing roads in one day from Palma — a loop that gives you the entire Tramuntana
Must know
- ⚠Check the weather forecast. Temperatures at Gorg Blau and Cúber can be significantly colder than in Palma — pack a wind vest.
- ⚠The Sa Calobra descent shares the road with tourist buses. Corners without sight lines — take it steadier than you think you need to.
- ⚠Stop in Port de Sóller before Puig Major, but don't overeat — a heavy lunch makes the HC climb harder. Refuel the energy stores, not the stomach.
- ⚠The tunnels near Puig Major are long and dark. Bring lights.
Café & Water
- km 35Reynés Cycling Café
Cycling café at the harbour — stop to refuel before Puig Major.
- km 73Restaurant Sa Calobra
Fill bottles and eat before the ascent.
- km 94Restaurant Coll de sa Bataia
Coffee and food before the long descent home.
Frequently asked questions
- What makes this route an Epic?
- Three big climbs back to back — Coll de Sóller (9.5 km / 5.5%), Puig Major HC (13.74 km / 6.0%) and Sa Calobra (9.44 km / 7.0%) — all from Palma in a single day, with Sa Batalla as the descent home. 2,637 metres of climbing over 150 km. Each climb is hard on its own. One after another they are something else.
- What is Puig Major?
- Mallorca's highest point accessible by bike — 13.74 km with 826 metres of climbing at a 6.0% average gradient. Category HC. The climb ends inside the Monnàber tunnel at 872 metres. Exposed and warm on the upper slopes with little shade. A climb you don't forget.
- What is the KOM on Sa Calobra?
- Tom Pidcock's 22:46 from December 2022 (9.44 km / 7.0% / 659 m / 26 hairpin bends). Bradley Wiggins won the Vuelta a Mallorca here in 2012. The road was built in 1933 by engineer Antonio Parietti.
- Can I start from Port de Pollença instead of Palma?
- Yes — port-de-pollenca-sa-batalla-sa-calobra (105 km / 2,108 m) covers Sa Calobra and Sa Batalla from a Pollença base. Drops Puig Major and Coll de Sóller. Shorter and less demanding, but with the same core.
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Route Details
Elite level. Extreme elevation, altitude and distance. Serious preparation required.