Why this ride
A 457 km round trip from Vall de Gallinera - roughly 8 h 06 in the saddle. It goes by way of Penya del Vicari, Coves Santes de Dalt, Cueva de los Arcos and Cueva de las Arañas del Carabassi. The line favours views over speed.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Barranc de la magrana and Cueva de las Arañas del Carabassi
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 457 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 8 h 06
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
The recorded total and the leg detail need reconciliation. Inspect the leg notes before using this record for timing or navigation. 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. Barranc de la magrana
Behind the holiday coast of Dénia and Xàbia, the mountains of the Marina Alta fold into steep, narrow valleys that have more in common with the Moorish past than with the beach towns. Vall d'Ebo, Adsubia and Villalonga are small places among the ridges, and the Barranc de la Magrana is one of the ravines cut into the limestone. The Moors, who farmed these terraces for centuries, were forced to leave Spain in 1609, and the expulsion of the Moriscos began in these valleys, where some of them rose in revolt against the order, retreating to the heights before being defeated. The old irrigation channels and terraces they built are still in use.
Read the complete Barranc de la magrana write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Barranc de la magrana is where the day begins. Next is Penya del Vicari.
2. Penya del Vicari
On a map of the Costa Blanca, the Serra de Bernia looks like a wall dropped between two very different worlds. On one side, high-rise Benidorm and the busy coast; on the other, the quiet valleys of Jalón and Guadalest. The Penya del Vicari is one of the rocky outcrops in these hills above Altea and Calp, a place where the limestone is cut by caves and shelters, some of which carry traces of prehistoric painting. It is a small, quiet site in an area otherwise famous for sun loungers.
Read the complete Penya del Vicari write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Penya del Vicari comes up 47 km in. Next is Coves Santes de Dalt.
3. Coves Santes de Dalt
The Montgó is the great limestone hulk that rises between Dénia and Jávea on the Costa Blanca, a mountain that looks like a sleeping elephant from some angles and dominates every view along this stretch of coast. On its flanks, in shelters and small caves, are prehistoric paintings, and the Coves Santes de Dalt, the upper holy caves, are among the sites in the area recorded as part of the UNESCO Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin. The paintings here are mostly schematic, simpler and more abstract than the hunting scenes found inland, and the shelters are protected, so viewing usually needs a guided visit.
Read the complete Coves Santes de Dalt write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
94 km in you reach Coves Santes de Dalt. Next is Cueva de los Arcos.
4. Cueva de los Arcos
Behind the Costa Blanca, only a few kilometres from the busy beaches of El Campello and the high-rises of Benidorm, the land climbs steeply into limestone mountains that feel surprisingly wild. The Cabeçó d'Or, a jagged massif above the village of Busot, dominates the area, and its slopes are riddled with caves and shelters. The Cueva de los Arcos is one of the sites in this area included in the World Heritage inscription of the rock art of the Mediterranean Basin, with faint painted motifs on the rock. Nearby, the Cuevas del Canelobre, a huge cave with towering stalactites, is open for visits and is one of the most impressive show caves in the region.
Read the complete Cueva de los Arcos write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Cueva de los Arcos, about halfway. Next is Cueva de las Arañas del Carabassi.
5. Cueva de las Arañas del Carabassi
The Carabassí is one of the last stretches of wild-ish coast between Alicante and Santa Pola: a line of dunes held together by pine and marram grass, a long beach, and the sea glittering under the flight path of Alicante airport. In the low rocky ground behind it lies a small cave known for painted marks, the Cueva de las Arañas del Carabassí, close to the village of El Altet and a short hop from Santa Pola.
Read the complete Cueva de las Arañas del Carabassi write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Cueva de las Arañas del Carabassi sits at 189 km, about halfway. Next is back through Cueva de los Arcos.
6. Back to Barranc de la magrana
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Barranc de la magrana write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Cueva de los Arcos comes up 236 km in. Next is back through Coves Santes de Dalt.
7. back through Coves Santes de Dalt
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Coves Santes de Dalt write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
283 km in you reach back through Coves Santes de Dalt. Next is back through Penya del Vicari.
8. back through Penya del Vicari
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Penya del Vicari write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Penya del Vicari, late in the day. Next is Barranc de la magrana.
9. Barranc de la magrana
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Barranc de la magrana 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 377 km.
Leg by leg
Barranc de la magrana to Penya del Vicari
Barranc de la magrana → Penya del Vicari is 33 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Penya del Vicari to Coves Santes de Dalt
Penya del Vicari → Coves Santes de Dalt is 33 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Coves Santes de Dalt to Cueva de los Arcos
Coves Santes de Dalt → Cueva de los Arcos is 77 km of getting across. Ride it tidily and keep the enthusiasm for what comes after.
Cueva de los Arcos to Cueva de las Arañas del Carabassi
Cueva de los Arcos → Cueva de las Arañas del Carabassi is 38 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Cueva de las Arañas del Carabassi to Back to Barranc de la magrana
Cueva de las Arañas del Carabassi → Back to Barranc de la magrana is 93 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Coves Santes de Dalt to back through Penya del Vicari
back through Coves Santes de Dalt → back through Penya del Vicari is 33 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Penya del Vicari to Barranc de la magrana
back through Penya del Vicari → Barranc de la magrana is 33 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.