Spain: Andalucía – Tarbenas

May, 2024

KmM = Kilometer Marker

Okay, so we didn’t stay in Tarbenas, but in Almería. Tarbenas is a better base for the two climbs I describe here, but Almería is a much better place to stay and spend time. But it’s also a longer drive to get to the base of the climbs.

Alto de Velefique – Tetica de Bacares

The Alto de Velefique is the most iconic climb in the Almería area, sometimes compared to Alpe d’Huez, and apparently known locally as Alpe d’Andaluze.

It’s about the same length as Alpe d’Huez and has roughly the same number of switchbacks (20 instead of 21). I thought it was easier than Alpe d’Huez and it’s certainly much quieter – in the whole ride I saw only one car on the road, plus several motorbikes.

But this ride doesn’t finish at the top of the Alto de Velefique. Instead it continues to the top of the obvious peak in the distance, covered with radio towers. This whole up-and-back ride is about 36 km with 1,200 meters of climbing.

You could start in Tabernas and have another 17 km of slightly uphill riding, but I chose to start at the base of the actual climb, parking at location 37.1870257, -2.4046705

From here, ride back down about 100 meters to the river then turn around and start the climb. You’ll immediately see a sign telling you about the climb: length = 14km, average gradient=6.5%, maximum gradient=15.8%.

This is one of those rare climbs that has kilometer markers telling you the average and maximum gradients for the next kilometer. Several of the kilometers had a maximum gradient over 13% but they never felt particularly bad.

Once you reach the obvious top of the climb, you see the Tetica de Bacares off in the distance, covered in radio towers. Follow the road to the left as it continues to climb(!) until you reach the small road on the right signed to the Mirador la Tetica.

Follow this lovely road as it switchbacks up to the top in just over 3 km. It steepens as it gets higher and my bike computer showed 18% at one point. Finally, just below the summit you arrive at a concrete ramp which you climb to the top, hitting a gradient of 20%. At the top of the ramp, a few steps lead you to the viewpoint and a pay telescope.

Now you have a wonderful descent, steeply down the Tetica de Bacares, then deliciously down the Alto de Velefique.

Calar Alto

This is a wonderful and big climb that starts at Gérgal and climbs to the Calar Alto observatories. The start is treeless but in about 5 km you begin to see pine trees, then the last few kilometers to the observatory are pretty much above tree line. I rode this on a Sunday and there were only a few cars, but many motorcycles. It’s obviously a popular ride because I saw 2 different groups of 8 riders coming down as I rode up, and about 10 solo riders, all but two coming down. I enjoyed this climb more than Velefique.

The out-and-back ride is about 46.5 km with 1,425 meters of climbing.

I parked just outside Gérgal, at location 37.1157452, -2.5347251

The ride starts at the roundabout just to the SE of where I parked, by the Montellano Asador Restaurante, at the base of the A-1178.

Ride up the A=1178 for 4.5 km then turn left, following the signs for A-1178. The road now steepens and you’ll find sections of 9-12%.

At km 6 you see the observatories you are aiming for, then at km 10 the road steeps again.

The first 12 km feel as though you are riding through the foothills. At km 12 you are faced with a wall that must be climbed to reach the top. The gradient becomes more consistently steep until at km 19 you top out and the angle eases.

At km 19.3 turn left onto the white road, following the sign for Calar Alto. Now the road rears up and you are faced with the hardest and steepest part of the climb. Fortunately it’s not too long and then everything eases and finally you reach the observatories. You can turn around here, or ride around the observatories as I did.

A fast descent takes you down the white road, then a nice descent takes you back to the start.