Berja is where the biggest days of the province start. These loops are between 114 and 127 km, with 2,700 to 2,950 metres of climbing, and they leave from the town at the foot of the Sierra de Gádor to reach the Alpujarra and, on the longest day, the Puerto de la Ragua at 2,000 m.
They are for strong riders who enjoy a full day in the mountains, with several real climbs and little traffic.
The three loops at a glance
| Loop | Distance | Climbing |
|---|---|---|
| Hard 01 | 116 km | 2,705 m |
| Hard 02 | 114 km | 2,699 m |
| Hard 03 | 127 km | 2,948 m |
All three start and finish in Berja. They are proposals: we adapt distance and pace to the group.
Hard 01: Calvario, Trebolar, Parra and Alquería
The lowest of the three, and the one with the most climbs: six, with a highest point around 620 m. It is a day of constant rolling effort rather than altitude, with no single long climb but a lot of them, and it returns through La Alquería, near Adra, before the last kilometres to Berja.
Hard 02: Murtas and the Alpujarra
The one that goes into the Alpujarra of Granada: five climbs and a highest point around 1,320 m. It goes through Murtas (km 39) and Ugíjar (km 62), two villages of the Alpujarra of Granada, and then comes back to Berja.
Hard 03: Castala, La Ragua and Laujar
The big one: 127 km and 2,948 m of climbing, with four climbs. It starts with Castala, the demanding climb above Berja (about 6.6 km at a sustained 6%), and then goes up to the Puerto de la Ragua, at around 2,045 m on the track (2,000 m on the road sign). It comes back by Laujar de Andarax, one of the main villages of the Alpujarra of Almería.
La Ragua is a real mountain pass. Snow and cold can close or complicate the road in winter, and the weather can be very different from the one at the coast. Check the conditions before you go and carry an extra layer.
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 easy loops and medium loops from Berja. Want to know more about the area? See our guide to Berja and La Ragua.
When to come
The best months are February to June and September to November. In spring the slopes are green and the temperatures are ideal. In autumn the light is soft and the roads are even quieter. In winter, check the snow on La Ragua before you go.
