Why this ride
128 km from Alicante to Alicante, about 2 h 11 of riding. It goes by way of La Sarga- Abric I, La Sarga- Abric II, La Sarga- Abric III and Port de Penaguila- Abric II.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Alicante day out · Port de Penaguila- Abric II
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 128 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 2 h 11
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
Ordered leg totals agree within rounding. Stop distances are approximate sums of rounded legs. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Alicante
Alicante is a bright, easy city built on a rock. The Castillo de Santa Bárbara sits on top of Mount Benacantil and watches the harbour from about 170 metres up, and on a clear day the view runs all the way along the coast. The promenade below, the Explanada de España, is paved with a wave pattern in red, cream and black marble, with palms on both sides, and it is the natural place to start an evening: the whole town seems to be on that walk.
Read the complete Alicante write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Alicante is where the day begins. Next is La Sarga- Abric I.
2. La Sarga- Abric I
Alcoy, or Alcoi in Valencian, is a city of bridges, built where three rivers meet in deep ravines, in the mountains of northern Alicante. It was one of the cradles of Spain's industrial revolution, with textile and paper mills powered by its rivers, and its streets have fine modernist buildings from that era. It is also famous for its Moors and Christians festival in April, one of the most spectacular in Spain, with parades, music and mock battles in honour of Saint George. The rock shelters of La Sarga lie in the hills about eight kilometres from the city, toward Ibi.
Read the complete La Sarga- Abric I write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
La Sarga- Abric I comes up about 47 km into the recorded legs. Next is La Sarga- Abric II.
3. La Sarga- Abric II
La Sarga is a deep, rocky ravine that cuts into the hills north of Alcoi, and it is one of the most important rock art sites in eastern Spain. The paintings here include both the lively red figures of the Levantine tradition and the simpler schematic signs of later peoples, and some show deer, goats and human figures with striking detail. The site belongs to the Mediterranean Basin rock art that UNESCO listed in 1998, and it is carefully managed, so check access conditions before travelling. Abric II, one of the shelters, is part of the cluster.
Read the complete La Sarga- Abric II write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
At least about 48 km into the recorded legs you reach La Sarga- Abric II. Next is La Sarga- Abric III.
4. La Sarga- Abric III
Alcoy sits among mountains on every side, and every road out of it is a good one. To the north-west lies the Sierra de Mariola, a natural park of aromatic herbs, whose thyme, rosemary and mountain tea are used in the local liqueur. To the south is Aitana, and to the east the long ridge of the Serra de Penàguila. The Barranc de la Sarga, where the painted shelters lie, cuts through the hills a few kilometres from the town, and its rock art has been studied since the early twentieth century.
Read the complete La Sarga- Abric III write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
La Sarga- Abric III, about halfway. Next is Port de Penaguila- Abric II.
5. Port de Penaguila- Abric II
The Port de Penàguila is a mountain pass in the interior of Alicante province, on the road between Alcoy and the Vall de Guadalest, where the hills of the Comtat rise toward the Serra d'Aitana, the highest range in the province. The village of Penàguila, below the pass, is a small, ancient place huddled beneath a castle on a rocky crest, and Benilloba, Cocentaina and Alcoy are all close. The second shelter of the Port de Penàguila is one of several painted sites in the area.
Read the complete Port de Penaguila- Abric II write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Port de Penaguila- Abric II sits at 55 km, about halfway. Next is back through La Sarga- Abric III.
6. back through La Sarga- Abric III
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete La Sarga- Abric III write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through La Sarga- Abric III comes up about 84 km into the recorded legs. Next is back through La Sarga- Abric II.
7. back through La Sarga- Abric II
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete La Sarga- Abric II write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 85 km into the recorded legs you reach back through La Sarga- Abric II. Next is back through La Sarga- Abric I.
8. back through La Sarga- Abric I
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete La Sarga- Abric I write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through La Sarga- Abric I, late in the day. Next is Alicante.
9. Alicante
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Alicante write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
The route ends here after 128 km.
Leg by leg
Alicante to La Sarga- Abric I
Alicante → La Sarga- Abric I is 47 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
La Sarga- Abric III to Port de Penaguila- Abric II
La Sarga- Abric III → Port de Penaguila- Abric II is 18 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Port de Penaguila- Abric II to back through La Sarga- Abric III
Port de Penaguila- Abric II → back through La Sarga- Abric III is 17 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through La Sarga- Abric I to Alicante
back through La Sarga- Abric I → Alicante is 46 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.