Sa Calobra
Sa Calobra is Mallorca’s postcard climb with a sting in the tail. The road drops you to the sea first, then asks you to climb back out through twenty six hairpins and the famous Nus de sa Corbata.
- Length
- 9.4 km
- Elevation Gain
- 670 to 700 m
- Average Gradient
- 7%
- Difficulty
- Very Challenging
Community recommendation
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Sa Calobra is unusual because you usually have to descend it before you can climb it. That changes the psychology of the ride. Every corner you enjoy on the way down becomes a promise you have to keep on the way back up. By the time you reach the bottom, there is only one proper way out.
The climb itself is beautifully engineered. It twists through rocky scenery, stacks hairpins on top of each other and never really gives you a long flat section to hide on. The gradient is manageable on paper, but the heat, the traffic and the constant rhythm changes can make it feel much bigger than the numbers suggest.
How to Ride It
- Keep your ego quiet at the bottom. The opening kilometres can feel exciting, but the climb rewards control.
- Stay patient through the hairpins. The road constantly changes direction, so focus on cadence rather than chasing speed.
- Take care near the Nus de sa Corbata. It is the visual highlight, but also a place where riders, cars and cameras can all compete for space.
Where to Stay
Port de Pollença is one of the best bases for riding Sa Calobra. It has the cycling infrastructure, the cafés and the route options to make the climb part of a proper Mallorca riding week rather than a one day hit.
Practical Tips
- Palma de Mallorca Airport is the main arrival point and has straightforward transfers to the island’s cycling bases.
- Ride early if possible. Sa Calobra gets busy, especially in peak cycling season.
- Take enough water before committing to the descent. Once you are at the bottom, you still have to climb out.
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