Cycling Climbs in Andalucia

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.