The ´Benissa – Altea – Callosa – Altea la Vella – Benissa – Gata – Xaló – Benissa´tour, a nice trip during Cycling Spain!

Cycling Spain;This route of more than 60 miles departs from Benissa and goes in a loop. This ride has an elevation of about 1.2 miles. Due to its length, this is a round for the experienced cyclist, when you disperse the energy input it does not have to be so heavy. The bike is loaded into the car and from Refugio Marnes, we drive down the mountain and we park in Benissa. This is done in order to avoid that the steep climb to Refugio Marnes is the killing end of today´s ride.

Cycling Spain; From Benissa we take the N-332 towards Calpe. Make sure you keep well right on this road; Calpe is passed and there is more descending towards Altea. Before entering the village a right turn is taken, just before the Rio de Algar (river). Passing through Cami l’Algar and Avenida Alcalde Juan Alvado the CV-760 is taken towards La Nucia (see attached map). From Altea the road ascends and at the CV-760 we find a Carril de Bici (bike path) beside the road. Despite the fact that there is an enormous amount of cycling in this region, the number of bike paths is minimal.

Cycling Spain; This road is quiet and the last part before arriving to La Nucia, is a fairly steep climb (a nice Strava segment). Through Polop the road continues towards Callosa d’en Sàrria, before the village is reached there is a descent first and afterwards a nice leg burning climb to arrive in the town. From Callosa d’en Sàrria the CV-755 is taken towards Altea la Vella and finally the N-332 will be reached again. This descent to the coast is about 6.2 miles long. The N-332 is now taken northbound then after Calpe the climb towards Benissa has to be driven and is quite difficult. The ‘King of the Mountain’ of this climb in Strava is owned by Antonio Molina, a local professional cyclist from Jávea of the cycling team Caja Rural. Here you can find all the details of this segment and see how close you can get to his time!

Arriving in Benissa one can choose to end the ride (About 46 miles have been ridden). As shown on the map here another 18 miles can be added. Follow  the N-332 towards Gata de Gorgos via Teulada. In Gata de Gorgos the main road is followed until a sign ‘Xaló’ nearly at the end of the village, showing the direction we are heading, turning left. This road, the CV-748, towards Llíber and Xaló is a beautiful one.

Enjoy cycling Spain on this great tour!