The province of Alicante is a must for all those who enjoy discovering active tourism routes. If you like outdoor sports, cycling routes in Alicante are the perfect way to discover the natural scenery of its coast and inland. There are a wide range of options: touring the natural parks of Font Roja or Serra Mariola; going along the coast’s impressive cliffs; or climbing to the summits of mountain passes such as Montgó or Hontanar.
Alicante offers you a very well designed cycling network, with routes for everyone as well as support services and facilities. If you are looking for a different way to go sightseeing, discover the bike routes around Alicante.
Mountain bike routes in Alicante
Here are a series of routes to suit all tastes. From family rides to routes for more experienced cyclists. In all of them, you’ll enjoy the landscapes of the province of Alicante. Here are the top routes in MBT.
Route along Font Roja
This route, which crosses the municipalities of Alcoy and Ibi, is designed for the whole family. It borders the southern part of the Font Roja and has no difficult sections. It is perfect for children. It starts from the Alcoy greenway and goes to the base of the Font Roja, taking in incredible places such as the castle of Cocentaina or the Ull del Moro.
The route crosses such charming spots as the recreational area of the Ermita de San Pascual or the Barranc dels molins. From the 15th century onwards, this area was home to several flour mills, as the ravine had a strong water flow. One of the mountain bike routes that combines sport and history.
Route through the Vall de Pop vineyards
Another route that is not overly difficult as it runs on flat terrain. Very close to the coast, in the Vall de Pop, there is a large landscape of vineyards surrounded by mountain ranges such as Bernia, Serrella or Cavall Verd. From here, you can visit picturesque villages such as Benissa, Llíber or Benigembla.
The route starts in Benissa and is approximately twenty kilometres in total. There are hardly any slopes, so it can be done with children. Crossing the large vineyards, you can enjoy the almond trees in blossom in spring.
Route Maigmó – Alicante
The level of difficulty increases with this route. It is a medium to high level route, perfect for trained cyclists. It has steep routes and a few tricky mountain descents. The route starts in Xirau, between Castalla and Alicante. Taking the CV-8151, you reach the road that goes up to the Maigmó and the Balcony of Alicante. When you reach the Alt de les Xemeneies, you can take in incredible views of the Carrasqueta and El Cid mountain ranges and the sea with the Cape of Santa Pola and the island of Tabarca. For lovers of difficult trails, the Alt del Guisop has very technical and closed sections with steep descents.
Benicadell summit route
This route requires good technical and physical preparation, as it is one of the hardest. You need to have technique to cope with very steep stony uphill and downhill trails. In some sections, you’ll have to carry the bike on your shoulder or walk it.
The route starts from Muro de Alcoy. Through the Barranc dels Fontanars ravine you climb up to Font Freda, where the views already set the tone for the route’s breathtaking nature. The Alt del Morro represents the hardest part of the route. Almost three hundred metres of elevation gain in one kilometre. However, the summit is definitely worth it.
Ontinyent Moorish trail route
This route links the towns of Ontinyent and Bocairent along paths used to reforest the mountains. This is a route for cyclists with technical skills, as it has quite difficult sections. Although it is a short route, it is very demanding in terms of elevation and altitude. The route starts in the town of Bocairent. From its Calvary Cross take the sendas ingenieras. In the Barranc dels Tarongers ravine it is a must to stop and refresh yourself in its wells (els pous clars). After the final climb, you can enjoy panoramic views of the region.
So far, a brief overview of some of the cycling routes in Alicante. Discover many more throughout the province and combine tourism with sport. A great way to visit very interesting places and wonderful landscapes.