Cycling Sa Calobra – One of the Greatest Climbs in the World 🇪🇸

🚴‍♂️ Cycling Sa Calobra – One of the Greatest Climbs in the World 🇪🇸

In this episode of The Little Explorer Vlog, I take on the legendary Sa Calobra climb in Mallorca — a bucket-list route for cyclists around the world. With 26 tight hairpin bends, dramatic switchbacks, and postcard-perfect views at every turn, this climb has earned its place as one of Europe’s most iconic cycling roads. I drove to the start of the climb as I was staying too far away to ride the full loop — and I wanted to save my legs for what was ahead.

I arrived at the Port de Sa Calobra just before 9am, and the timing couldn’t have been better — quiet roads, barely any cars, and just a few early-rising cyclists. It felt like I had the road to myself.

🌄 The Ride Begins The climb starts gently — the first 3 km offer a steady warm-up through the pine trees. As the road winds upward, the first real milestone is the Sa Calobra Tunnel, also known as the rock passage. From there, the scenery begins to open up and the gradient starts to bite. 💥 The Pain and the Beauty This climb isn’t just about the challenge — it’s about the views. Every time I looked down, I could see the road I had conquered below me. The second half of the climb really starts to burn, with gradients hitting 7–8%, but the reward is immense: mountain vistas, sweeping switchbacks, and moments of pure silence in nature.

🌀 The Tie Knot Bridge – Nus de Sa Corbata Just before the top, I reached the most famous landmark on the route — the “tie knot” bridge, where the road loops over itself in an engineering masterpiece. This is the kind of road that looks fake in photos — but it’s very real, and very beautiful.

🏁 The Summit – Coll dels Reis The final push took me to the Coll dels Reis, the summit of the climb, where I paused to take it all in. The road surface the entire way is smooth and well-maintained, which made both the climb and the descent an absolute joy.

⬇️ The Descent After a quick breather at the top, it was time for the best part — the descent back to the port. Twisting through every switchback I had just climbed, it was fast, thrilling, and incredibly scenic. Easily one of the most fun descents I’ve ever done.

⸻ 📍 Sa Calobra Cycling Stats
• 🌍 Location: Mallorca, Spain
• ⛰️ Climb: Sa Calobra to Coll dels Reis
• 📏 Distance: Approx. 9.5 km
• 📈 Elevation gain: ~700 m
• 🔁 Hairpins: 26
• 🔄 Average Gradient: 7%
• 🚲 Road Surface: Excellent

⸻ 💬 What You’ll See in This Vlog
✅ Port de Sa Calobra
✅ Rock Tunnel / Sa Calobra Tunnel
✅ Hairpin switchbacks
✅ Epic valley views
✅ Nus de Sa Corbata (“Tie Knot Bridge”)
✅ Coll dels Reis summit
✅ Scenic descent back to the coast

📌 Tips for Cyclists Doing Sa Calobra
• 🚙 Get there early – before 9am is perfect for a peaceful ride
• 💧 Bring plenty of water – there’s nowhere to refill until the top
• ☀️ Start early in the day – it gets hot quickly
• 🧢 Use sunscreen – much of the climb is exposed
• 🚴 Pace yourself – the toughest part is the second half

⸻ 💡 Why Ride Sa Calobra?
Sa Calobra is more than just a climb — it’s a cycling pilgrimage. Riders from all over the world come to test their legs and soak in the views. Whether you’re chasing a personal best, enjoying a scenic adventure, or just ticking off a bucket-list ride, this road delivers.