Road cycling route from Altea
Cycling the Coll de Rates
The best-known climb on the Costa Blanca, and the one professional teams use as their winter benchmark. Here is how to ride it from Altea: a 74 km loop through the Jalón valley, up the Coll de Rates from Parcent and home through Tàrbena.
74.2 km
The full loop from Altea and back
1,428 m
Total climbing over the whole ride
6.5 km
The climb from Parcent, at a steady average of around 5%
630 m
The summit of the pass, above the Jalón valley
The route at a glance
- Distance 74.2 km
- Climbing 1,428 m
- Highest point 630 m
- Time 3½ – 4½ h
Out along the coast to Calp, up to Benissa and down into the Jalón valley through Xaló and Alcalalí to Parcent. From Parcent the Coll de Rates climbs in long, even hairpins to the top of the pass. After the summit the road rolls across to Tàrbena, then drops through Bolulla to Callosa d'en Sarrià and back down to the sea at Altea.
- Moderate
- Pro training climb
- Climbed from Parcent
- Summit restaurant
The climb
Why everyone rides the Coll de Rates
From Parcent the road climbs about 6.5 km to the pass at roughly 630 m, at a steady average of around 5%. It rarely gets steeper than about 8%. The surface is smooth, the hairpins are wide and the gradient barely changes, so you can settle into a rhythm and hold it to the top. That consistency is exactly why professional teams on winter camps use it for testing: the same effort gives the same time, week after week.
The views open up as you climb. Behind you the Jalón valley runs down to the sea, terraced with almonds, olives and vines, with the Serra de Bèrnia across the valley. At the top there is a restaurant with a terrace, a popular stop for coffee and cake before the descent.
Which way round
Up from Parcent, down through Tàrbena
You can climb the Coll de Rates from either side, but the Parcent side is the classic: the full climb, evenly graded and well surfaced. Going over the top towards Tàrbena gives you a rolling stretch across the high valley and then a long descent towards Callosa, rather than descending the same hairpins you came up.
The descent from Tàrbena through Bolulla is steep and twisting in places. Take it steadily, especially in the first week, before you know the corners.
Route notes
Kilometre by kilometre
Distances are taken from the GPX file and rounded. Use them to plan food and water stops, not as turn-by-turn directions.
- km 0 Start at Hotel Cap Negret on the seafront in Altea and head north along the coast.
- km 6 – 9 The first short climb of the day, over the Mascarat headland, with ramps close to double figures. A good warm-up.
- km 13 Calp, with the Peñón de Ifach rising out of the sea on your right.
- km 15 – 21 A steady 6 km drag inland up to Benissa, at about 4%.
- km 22 – 37 Down into the Jalón valley and along it through Llíber, Xaló and Alcalalí. Mostly gentle, between vineyards and almond groves. Xaló is the last bigger village before the climb: a good place for coffee and to fill your bottles.
- km 38 Parcent, about 280 m. The Coll de Rates starts as you leave the village.
- km 38 – 44 The climb: about 6.5 km of steady hairpins at around 5% to the pass at roughly 630 m. Restaurant at the top.
- km 44 – 51 A rolling stretch across the high valley to Tàrbena, with one more short rise before the village.
- km 51 – 58 A long descent of about 400 m through Bolulla towards Callosa d'en Sarrià. Steep and twisting in places.
- km 58 – 74 Through Callosa, over a final short rise and gently downhill back to the coast at Altea.
Before you go
Tips for riding it
Gearing
The gradient is steady and rarely above 8%, so normal road gearing is plenty. Our SuperSix EVO LAB71 SL runs 48/35 with a 10–30 cassette.
Food and water
Fill up in Xaló or Parcent before the climb. After that, the summit restaurant, Tàrbena and Callosa are your options.
Clothing
The top of the pass is noticeably cooler than the coast. From November to March, bring a gilet or a windproof for the descent.
Ride it on a proper bike
Which of our bikes for the Coll de Rates?
The SuperSix EVO LAB71 SL is the lightest bike we have and the one to take if you came to climb. It has a power meter as standard, so you can pace the climb properly. The SuperSix EVO 2 is the bike most of our riders choose for a week here. If you are riding with faster friends, the Synapse Neo e-road bike lets you climb together.
More rides with this climb
Want a longer day?
The Vall d'Ebo & Coll de Rates route adds the remote limestone valleys north of Parcent and finishes over the Coll de Rates: 121 km and 2,207 m of climbing. For something shorter on your first day, try Guadalest and the Algar valley, or see all six routes from Altea.
This route was generated by a cycling router along real roads, and the distance, climbing and profile are measured from that line. Treat it as a planning guide: road works, closures and café opening times change with the season. Maps © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Ride the Coll de Rates
A bike ready for the climb, waiting in Altea
Tell us your dates and your height. We will set the bike up to your position, load the GPX if you like, and have it ready at Hotel Cap Negret or delivered to where you are staying.