Every cycling enthusiast who comes to Mallorca wants to ride Sa Calobra. The descent, the hairpins, the 270° knot bend, the climb back up. It is on every list, in every guide, in every group chat before a Mallorca cycling trip.
But there is a version of this ride that almost nobody does. It takes in everything Sa Calobra offers, adds one of the island's most beautiful and least-visited beaches, and turns a great climb into something closer to a complete day in the mountains.
This is the route we ride.
Port de Pollença > Coll de Femenia > Coll dels Reis > Cala Tuent > Sa Calobra > Coll de Sa Batalla > Caimari > Campanet > Port de Pollença
114km. 2,359 metres of climbing. Moving time around 4-5 hours, depending on stops.
The full GPX route is available on Strava.
Leaving Port de Pollença, the road climbs gradually through Pollença town, where the MA-10 begins its journey south through the Tramuntana. The Coll de Femenia is 7.5km at an average of 5.5%, a steady and beautiful climb with views that open progressively over the bay towards Cap de Formentor as you gain height.
It is not a climb that announces itself. No dramatic ramps, no famous sections. But it rewards patience, and by the time you reach the top, you have earned the right to what comes next.
From the Coll de Femenia, the MA-10 continues south towards Escorca. The landscape here is high, remote and almost completely silent outside the main tourist season. A few kilometres on, the junction for Sa Calobra appears. Take it. But do not descend to Sa Calobra yet.
Most cyclists follow the Sa Calobra road all the way down to the port. A few kilometres into the descent, there is a fork. Right goes to Sa Calobra. Left goes to Cala Tuent.
Turn left.
Cala Tuent is a small cove at the foot of the Tramuntana, accessible only by this road and by boat. There is a simple restaurant, a 13th-century chapel, and a beach of grey pebbles and extraordinarily clear water. In July and August, it sees some visitors. In spring and autumn, it is, for practical purposes, empty.
The descent to Cala Tuent is shorter, but the surroundings are wilder. There are no coaches here, no tourist shops, no queue at the café. Stop, swim if you have the time and the inclination, eat something. You have earned it.
Then comes the part that most people do not anticipate: you have to climb back out.
It is not long, but after the descent, your legs will remind you that the day is not over. Back at the junction, the Sa Calobra road continues down to the left. Take it now.
The descent to the port is everything the guides promise.
At the bottom, fill your water bottles. There is a café at the port. The Sa Calobra climb, the reason you are here, begins immediately.
9.4km. 680 metres of elevation. Average gradient 7%. The current KOM belongs to Jardi Van Der Lee, set in August 2025, and it took him 22:23. You are not likely to beat it. Nobody cares. It takes most experienced cyclists between 40 and 60 minutes. The climb is its own reward.
What Sa Calobra asks of you, particularly having already ridden Coll de Femenia and Cala Tuent, is honesty. Pace yourself from the first metre. The road is consistent but relentless. The knot bend, from below, signals the final kilometres. The Coll dels Reis sign at the top is one of the more satisfying things you will see on a bike.
Back on the MA-10, the route turns north towards the Coll de Sa Batalla, a different character to Femenia, but with its own rhythm. The descent through Caimari and Campanet is well-surfaced, passing through some of the prettiest inland villages in northern Mallorca before the road flattens out towards the coast and Port de Pollença.
The last 15km are a gentle cooldown. By this point, you will have ridden 114km and climbed 2,359 metres. The legs know what they have done.
Start time. Leave Port de Pollença at 6 am, or, if you want to ride it the way the locals do, at exactly 5:55. Bring lights. The Coll de Femenia in the dark and the early dawn, before a single car has passed, is an experience in itself. Sa Calobra descends best before 10 am, before the tourist coaches arrive. The reward for the early alarm is simple: the best cycling road in the world, entirely to yourself.
Water and food. Carry two full bottles from Port de Pollença. There is nothing between the town and Cala Tuent. Refill at Cala Tuent and again at Sa Calobra port before the climb.
One stop worth knowing: the petrol station bar at the Coll de Sa Batalla, on the return leg. It is a favourite among cyclists who know the area. The pepitos, toasted baguettes filled with meat or cheese, are exceptional value and exactly what you need after a day in the mountains. They also stock a good range of sports nutrition if you are running low. Easy to miss if you do not know it is there.
Season. March to May and September to October are ideal. In summer, the heat on Sa Calobra, which gets no shade and faces south, is serious. Start earlier rather than later.
Fitness. This is a genuine mountain day. The Coll de Femenia and Coll de Sa Batalla are both significant climbs in their own right, and you will tackle them before and after Sa Calobra itself. It is manageable for any regular cyclist but should be approached with respect.
Port de Pollença is the natural start and finish for this route, which is one reason our cycling properties in Mallorca are concentrated in the north of the island. All offer secure bicycle storage. Several include private pools and wellness facilities for recovery. If you are planning a cycling trip to Mallorca and want advice on routes, logistics or accommodation, get in touch. We know these roads.