Hard is the full day. These loops are between 103 and 114 km, with 1,500 to 1,900 metres of climbing, and they take you deep into the Sierra de Gádor and the villages of the Alpujarra of Almería. You still start and finish at the marina, but you spend the day in the mountains.
They are for riders who are fit, who enjoy long days and who want several real climbs in a single outing.
The four loops at a glance
| Loop | Distance | Climbing |
|---|---|---|
| Hard 01 | 108 km | 1,709 m |
| Hard 02 | 114 km | 1,924 m |
| Hard 03 | 106 km | 1,599 m |
| Hard 04 | 103 km | 1,500 m |
All four start and finish in Almerimar. They are proposals: we adapt distance and pace to the group.
Hard 01: Río Chico, Benínar, Darrical, Lucainena, Alcolea, Berja and Dalías
The most complete of the three, with three climbs and a highest point around 830 m. It goes up the Río Chico valley, passes Benínar, crosses Darrical, Lucainena and Alcolea and comes back through Berja and Dalías and Matagorda. A real tour of the area in one day.
Hard 02: Dalías, Berja, Castala, Hirmes, Arbolillo and Río Chico
The one with the most climbing: 1,924 m and six climbs, the most of any loop we offer from Almerimar. It links Castala and Hirmes, two climbs around Berja, in the same day. Castala is about 6.6 km at a sustained 6%, and Hirmes about 6.3 km at 4.7% on average. The highest point is around 730 m, so the effort comes from repetition rather than altitude.
Hard 03: San Agustín, Vícar, El Marchal, Félix and El Solanillo
The one that goes highest: around 1,010 m, at the wind turbines of El Marchal, with two climbs. It heads east through San Agustín and Vícar, climbs to the turbines, passes through Félix and returns to the marina along the coast by El Solanillo. The shortest of the three, at 106 km, and the one with the most altitude.
Hard 04: La Parra and El Trebolar
The loop of the two climbs near Adra: 103 km, about 1,500 m and two long climbs, with a highest point around 620 m. It goes up the Puerto de la Parra (12.8 km at an average of 4.1%, counting the approach) and the Puerto del Trebolar (10.5 km at 5.8%), two climbs that are only a few kilometres from both Almerimar and Berja. A long day with few services, so plan your water. Read more about each climb: Puerto de la Parra and Puerto del Trebolar.
What's free here, and what's in the guide
This page tells you which loops exist and what kind of day each one is. The online guide (25 € per area, one guide for the whole group) is where we give you everything you need to ride them without a doubt:
- The GPX track for each loop, ready for your Garmin, Wahoo or phone.
- A detailed map with the route drawn on it.
- Where to stop for water, coffee and lunch, and what is closed on which day.
- The tricky junctions, the roads to avoid and the best time to start.
- Our own tips, from people who ride these roads every week.
Looking for a lower day? See our medium loops from Almerimar.
When to come
The Poniente coast is rideable almost all year. The best months are September to June. In summer, start early: the afternoon heat on the coast is serious.
