Cycling Climbs in Andalucia

Climb Town Altitude (m) Length (km) Gradient (%) Difficulty Rating
Pico Veleta Haza Llanas 3392 40.7 6.4 2341 *****
Pico Veleta Monachil 3392 46.6 5.7 2012 *****
Pico Veleta Guejar Sierra 3392 44.6 5.8 1954 *****
Pico Veleta Pinos Genil 3392 41.5 6.3 1576 ***
Calar Alto Tíjola 2155 33.3 5.1 1,540 *****
Calar Alto Las Menas 2155 25.8 5.5 1,245 *****
Calar Alto Serón 2155 29.2 5.0 1,049 ****
Calar Alto Gergal 2155 22.5 6.3 1245 ****
Calar Alto Aulago 2155 30.5 4.7 836 *****
Tetica de Bacares Velefique 2078 17.8 6.8 1,324 *****
Tetica de Bacares Tíjola 2078 32.9 4.8 1070 *****
Puerto de La Ragua Cherín 2041 25.1 6 970 ****
Puerto de La Ragua La Calahorra 2041 14.7 6.1 610 ****
Sierra de Lújar Los Tablones 1873 20.8 7.5 1291 ***
Sierra de Lújar Castell de Ferro 1873 31.9 5.9 1342 ***
Puerto de Velefique Velefique 1820 14.4 6.6 1,168 *****
Alto de Haza Llanas Guejar Sierra 1675 7.2 9.7 1054 ***
La Zubia La Zubia 1195 5 9 674 ***
Collado de Quentar Pinos Genil 1134 11 3.3 134 ***
Alfaguara Chaparral 1438 16.7 4.6 451 ***
Cañar Orgiva 1048 11.2 6.48 541 ***
Capileira Pampaneira 1832 9.9 6.7 505 ***
Collado de Canseco Torvizcón 1358 19.2 4.1 640 ****
Cueva de los Murcielagos Zuheros 985 8.7 6.0 721 ****
Haza del Lino Polopos 1299 18.4 7.0 989 ****
Haza del Lino Rubite 1302 22.2 5.8 861 ****
La Cabra Montes Jete 1002 17.1 5.2 510 ***
Las Palomas El Bosque 1189 19.6 4.7 734 ****
Las Palomas Grazalema 1189 14.0 5.9 535 ****
Las Palomas Zahara 1189 13.8 6.0 558 *****
Pedro Ruiz Ubrique 903 14.5 4.0 334 ***
Peña Escrita Torrecuevas 1190 14.1 8.2 1209 ***
Pico Colativi Turrilas 1387 19.1 4.9 594 ***
El Caballón River Varas 726 17.5 2.9 250 ****
El Caballón River Cuzna 726 6.4 7.1 391 ****
Puerto de Escullar Abla 2036 27 4.5 597 ****
Puerto de Escullar Caniles 2036 30.5 3.9 492 ****
Puerto Lobo Fargue 1230 9.4 5.5 365 **
Puerto Lobo Viznar 1386 11.8 4.3 259 **
Sierra de Lijar La Muela 1049 10.3 6.5 828 **
Sierra Cabrera La Carrasca 831 12.4 6.1 764 ***
Sierra Cabrera Turre 831 12.2 6.3 1090 ****
La Pandera Valdepeñas de Jaen 1830 12.7 7.3 1125 *****
La Pandera Los Villares 1830 23.0 5.2 1129 *****
San Cristóbal Almonaster la Real 888 8.3 5.9 625 ***
San Cristóbal Gil Márquez 888 17.8 3.5 597 ***
Puerto de Pontones Hornos el Viejo 1605 24.7 3.6 710 ****
Puerto de Pontones Río Zumeta 1605 11.8 3.3 172 ****
Cerro Becerrero El Rubio 841 12.7 4.8 550 ***
Cerro Becerrero Gilena 841 13.9 3.6 610 ***
Cerro Becerrero La Salada 841 8.7 5.8 528 ***
Cerro del Moro Benalmádena 952 14.2 6.6 1045 ****
Agua de los Perros Tranco 1222 11.2 6.1 511 ***
Collado de la Traviesa Mogón 1386 27.8 3.4 864 ***
Collado de la Traviesa Aguascebas River 1386 8.6 4.6 246 ***
Puerto del Espino Algatocin (Genal River) 883 10.3 6.3 490 ***
Puerto del Espino Benarraba 844 8.3 8 740 ***
Puerto del Espino Gaucín 844 13.9 5.4 560 ***
Puerto del Espino Caña del Real Tesoro 827 9.0 5.2 220 ***
Puerto del Espino San Pablo de Buceite 844 20.5 3.9 380 ***
Cortegana Gil Márquez 696 13.4 3.2 315 **
El Yelmo Cortijos Nuevos 1955 14.3 7.0 901 ****
Gaucín Genal River 645 7.2 7.7 492 ***
Peñas Blancas Estepona 1003 16.0 6.2 702 ****
Peñas Blancas Jubrique 1003 23.0 3.3 340 ****
Peñon de Algamitas Algamitas 776 7.0 5.7 297 ***
Pico Almadén Mancha Real 2038 28.4 5.1 1078 *****
Polopos Castillo de Baños 1140 14.4 7.1 797 ****
Puerto de Alájar Linares de la Sierra 837 7.1 4.7 256 ****
Puerto de Alájar San Bartolomé Herimtage 837 10.1 4.9 411 ***
Puerto del Zamorano Algamitas 778 8.1 5.0 225 ***
Puerto del Zamorano Pruna 778 10.8 3.5 179 ***
Puerto del Zamorano Rio Guadamanil 778 13.6 3.3 241 ***
Puerto de la Joya Antequera 899 4.5 5.5 157 ***
Puerto de la Joya Casablanquilla 899 18.4 3.7 448 ***
Puerto de la Joya Villanueva de la Concepción 899 10.7 2.8 328 ***
Puerto de las Abejas El Burgo 822 6.7 4 128 ***
Puerto de las Abejas Alozaina 822 14.3 4.2 267 ****
Puerto del León Málaga (Olías) 940 20.4 4.5 472 ****
Puerto del León Benamargosa 934 26.2 3.0 451 ***
Puerto del León Málaga 940 16.3 5.5 562 ****
Puerto del Madroño Júzcar 1058 19.5 2.8 618 ***
Puerto del Madroño San Pedro de Alcántara 1058 21.2 4.7 500 *
Puerto del Viento Ronda 1075 7.3 4.1 125 ***
Puerto del Viento El Burgo 1061 13.5 3.6 245 ***
Torcal de Antequera Villanueva de la Concepción 1231 10.5 7.6 854 ****
Torcal de Antequera Antequera 1224 15.5 4.3 601 ****
Puerto Padrona El Real de la Jara 745 17.4 1.8 95 ***
Puerto Padrona Pintado Reservoir 745 15.8 2.5 140 ***
Trevelez Orgiva 1535 35.9 3.4 550 ***
El Alguacil Pinos Genil 1891 17.2 6.6 1274 ***
Parapanda Illora 1351 11.3 5.3 377 ***
Moclin Tiena 1038 7.5 5.5 280 ***
Moclin Puerto Lope 1038 4.8 3.6 100 ***
Moclin Tózar 1038 4.2 6.5 185 ***
Puerto Lope Pinos Puente 905 11.4 2.9 132 *
Alto de Montefrio Tocon 1149 9.3 4.8 260 ***
El Purche Huetor Vega (Monachil) 1495 12.2 6.2 809 ****
La Espuña Alhama de Murcia 1568 26.0 5.2 894 ****
La Espuña Totana 1568 26.3 5.0 945 ****





Mountains

Andalucia is home to the highest climbs on the Iberian Peninsula. These are found in the Sierra Nevada National Park, a vast area to the east of Granada which is home to many great climbs.

Other popular ranges include the Sierra de Grazalema in the west - situated close to the historic town of Ronda - and the Sierra de los Filabres, which is home to Calar Alto and Puerto de Velefique - two climbs used often in recent editions of the Vuelta.


Pico de Veleta

Pico de Veleta is the highest road climb in Europe






Scenery

As you would expect of a region as large as Andalucia, the scenery here is diverse. In the east you will find deserts and a largely rocky landscape, while the north and west are greener, with olive trees particularly common.



Roads

Most of the big climbs in Andalucia are in excellent condition. The smaller climbs are more hit and miss, largely depending on how recently they have been re-paved. You can find full details of the road surface in the profile section for each climb.

Away from the coast and the big cities there is very little traffic in Andalucia. However, there are some busy link roads that it is worth avoiding - find more details in the route descriptions.



Getting There

Andalucia is easily accessible by air. Malaga is the main airport for the region, but you can also get flights to Seville, Almeria and Granada from a variety of European destinations.



Weather

Andalucia's climate is excellent for cycling throughout most of the year. July and August are usually very hot though, so only come during this time if you are used to cycling in very high temperatures. Some of the highest climbs in Andalucia close at times in winter because of snow.


Puerto de Velefique

The hairpin bends of Puerto de Velefique can be ridden even in winter






Cycling Holidays

Our Seville to Granada and Historic Andalucia cycling holiday is a great chance to combine cycling with visiting some of the most interesting towns and cities in the area. They can also be adapted to include some of the best climbs, including Pico de Veleta.

Our Cabo de Gata holiday is in the east of the region and is an excellent choice for a winter break. Both holidays can be customised to include more of the climbs in the region.

See the links below for more information and details about our cycling tours in the region.




Alhambra Palace - Granada
Spanish FlagSpain

Guided Cycling Holiday
Length: 8 Days
Level: Difficulty Easy to Medium
Price: €1,880 EUR
*Bike Hire Included

Andalucia Sunflower Fields
Spanish FlagSpain

Self-Guided Cycling Holiday
Length: 8 Days
Level: Difficulty Medium to Challenging
Price: from €1,590 EUR
*Bike Hire Included

Playa de Monsul - Cabo de Gata
Spanish FlagSpain

Self-Guided Cycling Holiday
Length: 6 Days
Level: Difficulty Easy to Medium
Price: from €1190 EUR
*Bike Hire Included