Why this ride
A 336 km round trip from El Altet - roughly 5 h 13 in the saddle. The stops in between: Cimbarrillo Prado Reches, La Sarga- Abric I, Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l and La Sarga- Abric II. It suits an unhurried touring pace.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Cueva de las Arañas del Carabassi and La Sarga- Abric II
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 336 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 5 h 13
- 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. 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 is where the day begins. Next is Cimbarrillo Prado Reches.
2. Cimbarrillo Prado Reches
The hills behind Alicante rise quickly. A few kilometres inland from the Costa Blanca, the flat coastal strip gives way to dry limestone ridges covered in scrub, pine, carob and almond, with deep ravines cut by streams that run only after heavy rain. These are the foothills of the Betic ranges, and in this part of the province the land climbs towards the sierras of Aitana and Mariola. El Campello, a former fishing town of about 26,000 people on the coast, is the closest sizeable place, and the nearby resort towns fill with visitors every summer, but the hinterland stays quieter and more rural.
Read the complete Cimbarrillo Prado Reches write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Cimbarrillo Prado Reches comes up 36 km in. Next is La Sarga- Abric I.
3. 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
72 km in you reach La Sarga- Abric I. Next is Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l.
4. Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l
Castelló de Rugat sits on the southern rim of the Vall d'Albaida, a broad valley in the south of Valencia province hemmed in by mountain ridges. On one side rises the long saw-toothed crest of the Benicadell, on the other the Serra de la Solana, and between them lies a patchwork of vineyards, olive groves and small towns with church towers. The Barranc de les Coves, the ravine of the caves, cuts into the slopes near Castelló de Rugat, Ràfol de Salem and Beniarrés, and its first shelter holds painted figures.
Read the complete Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l, about halfway. Next is La Sarga- Abric II.
5. 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
La Sarga- Abric II sits at 144 km, about halfway. Next is back through Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l.
6. back through Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l comes up 180 km in. Next is back through La Sarga- Abric I.
7. 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
216 km in you reach back through La Sarga- Abric I. Next is back through Cimbarrillo Prado Reches.
8. Back to Cueva de las Arañas del Carabassi
Return visit. Read the place description above.
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
back through Cimbarrillo Prado Reches, late in the day. Next is Cueva de las Arañas del Carabassi.
9. Cueva de las Arañas del Carabassi
Return visit. Read the place description above.
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
The route ends here after 288 km.
Leg by leg
Cueva de las Arañas del Carabassi to Cimbarrillo Prado Reches
Cueva de las Arañas del Carabassi → Cimbarrillo Prado Reches is 33 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Cimbarrillo Prado Reches to La Sarga- Abric I
Cimbarrillo Prado Reches → La Sarga- Abric I is 40 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
La Sarga- Abric I to Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l
La Sarga- Abric I → Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l is 33 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l to La Sarga- Abric II
Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l → La Sarga- Abric II is 33 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
La Sarga- Abric II to back through Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l
La Sarga- Abric II → back through Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l is 33 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l to back through La Sarga- Abric I
back through Barranc de les Coves- Abrigo l → back through La Sarga- Abric I is 33 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through La Sarga- Abric I to Back to Cueva de las Arañas del Carabassi
back through La Sarga- Abric I → Back to Cueva de las Arañas del Carabassi is 59 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.