Calpe in January is the cyclist’s January. The light is low and the mornings are cold enough for a jacket, but by ten the sun is on the road and the climbs warm you up the rest of the way. Six days, six rides, all from a single villa above the bay.
The Costa Blanca holds the European peloton in winter for a reason — quiet roads, a thousand kilometers of coastline, and the iconic climbs of the Marina Alta and the Sierra de Aitana within a morning’s ride from the door. The week is built around the named climbs (Coll de Rates, Vall d’Ebo, the Puerto de Tudons, Sierra de Bernia) with one lighter coastal day in the middle to let your legs come back to you.
Rides leave from the door. The pace is steady. The group is eight. There is a support vehicle on the long days and a coffee stop or two on every ride. Evenings are dinner together, then bed.
Bring a winter base layer, a rain jacket, and a pair of leg warmers. We will ride between four and six hours most days, with one easier day and one longer one near the end of the week.
The route
- Day 1Arrivals · Calpe
Pickup from Alicante airport. Settle in at the villa above the bay. Welcome dinner on the terrace.
- Day 2Coll de Rates
The classic. Out through Parcent, up the long gentle Coll de Rates, descend to Tárbena, return through Castell de Castells and Pego. The Calpe warm-up ride with real climbing on the back end.
- Day 3Vall d'Ebo & the gorges
Up through the Vall d'Ebo gorge to Planes, then a long ridge across to Quatretondeta and Confrides before the descent home. The day the legs remember.
- Day 4Cumbre del Sol & the coast
An easier day, but only by Calpe standards. Out along the coast through Moraira, up the Cumbre del Sol, into Jávea for coffee, return over Cap de Sant Antoni. The lightest climbing of the week.
- Day 5Aitana & the Puerto de Tudons
The biggest day. Inland through Confrides, up the Puerto de Tudons to the Aitana foothills, descend to Sella, and the long way home. The day that gets bookmarked.
- Day 6Sierra de Bernia
A final loop around the Bernia ridge with the Peñón in view for most of it. Lunch back at the villa. Afternoon to pack and rest.
- Day 7Departures
Transfers to Alicante. Coffee for the road.
What's included
- Six nights at a private villa above the bay
- All meals, with wine
- Daily guided rides with a small support vehicle
- Pre-trip route briefing and bike fit
- Airport transfers from Alicante
- Bike rental (we can arrange — €350 for the week)
- Travel insurance
- Flights
Eight riders. Six nights.
The trip is small on purpose. If it sounds right for you, send a note — Justin will write back with the route notes and any open dates.
Enquire about Calpe →