Five Amazing Cycling Routes From Xalo - Jalon Valley, Costa Blanca

Visit the hills and valleys inland of the Costa Blanca in winter and spring and it's not hard to notice how many cyclists are out and about on the roads. From uniformed, tanned and lean looking teams whizzing along ahead of branded team cars to anyone else who owns a bike of pretty much any shape and size, they're all out on the roads here and it's not hard to understand why. With the high mountains passes closed for the foreseeable future and much of the rest of Europe chilly and damp, this really is an ideal place to enjoy some very scenic and challenging cycles beneath a still warm sun. Here are some of our favourite rides as suggestions you might try.


Many of them are based on a guide we picked up at the Xalo tourist office which we used for ideas, since many of the rides in the guide were longer than we wanted to ride. Plus, once we had familiarised ourselves with the area by doing these rides, it was much easier to make up our own meandering routes as we went along.

Happy Riding!

1) Vall d’Ebo and Vall de Pop from Xalo – Through A Beautiful Hidden Valley
A 60-km loop which takes in a wonderfully quiet 'hidden' valley by following an unnamed road between La Vall d'Ebo and the Vall de Pop. With a stiff climb out of Pego and some other short, sharp shocks of quite severe gradients, this isn't an easy ride, but an incredibly rewarding one. It also passes by some 7000-year old cave paintings, if you feel like stopping to take a look.

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2) Puerto de Bernia (628m) from Bernissa (Xalo)
A shorter loop at around 40-km which goes straight out of Xalo. Depending on which way round you go, it also has some very steep sections (17%), but the views are stupendous. The Serra Bernia ridge make a magnificent backdrop to the countless almond groves.

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3) Coll de Rates (626m) and Puerto de Sa Creueta (780m)
The Coll de Rates is one of the most well known climbs in the area, and by adding on the extra ascent to the Puerto de Sa Creueta, it make a fantastic 55-km loop.

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4) A Flatter Loop Through Xalo, Pego, El Verger & Pedreguer
A 50-km loop on generally flatter roads, although still with a little climbing at the end. Not as scenic as some of the more hilly rides to the west of Xalo, but still with some pretty sections.

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5) A Rolling Loop Through Pego, Pedreguer & Gata de Gorgos
Another loop of around 60-km with a few short climbs in, but nothing too long or demanding. A gentle change from the hillier rides.

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