The Best Cycling Routes in Ibiza

The Best Cycling Routes in Ibiza

Ibiza’s reputation as a party island is beginning to fade, replaced instead by its status as a destination for luxurious wellness travel. The white isle is home to plenty of stunning scenery and breathtaking vistas, which not only provide the perfect backdrop for relaxation, but are ideal for exploring on two wheels.

Cycling in Ibiza allows you to discover the island in a unique way, traversing the coast, the hills and the forests and enjoying a brilliant variety of terrain. Whether you want to be challenged on your cycling holiday or you’re looking for a relaxing trip filled with picturesque routes, Ibiza is an ideal destination for an adventure that will surprise and charm you in equal measure.

When it comes to the best places to cycle in Ibiza, Love Velo are the definitive experts. In this article, we share our recommendations for the best cycling routes on the island, including some of the best climbs you can tackle during your trip.

The Best Cycling Routes in Ibiza

Ibiza doesn’t have the same kind of climbs as you’ll find in Mallorca, but there are still some notable sections of the island that offer challenging gradients.

Es Porquet

This relatively easy cycling route is named after the cycling race “Cursa des Porquet”. Starting and finishing in San Antonio, it leads through the town and then out towards the small village of Buscatell, down to the holy well Pou de Forada and then back into San Antonio.

At only 14km, this Ibiza cycling route should only take you about an hour and is ideal if you’re looking for a quick ride early in the morning or just to wake your legs up once you arrive in Ibiza.

Port des Torrent

Another easy cycle route that can be ideal for a quick spin if you’re in San Antonio, taking you along the coast and then back for just over 12km. It’s definitely a route to take at a slower pace so that you can admire the views of the ocean, or even leave the saddle for a quick trip to a beach along the way. You’ll be back at your starting point in an hour, so it’s a good one to have in your pocket if you’re looking for a pre-breakfast spin or a sunset ride.

Es Pobles

One of the most popular circular cycling routes in Ibiza is Es Pobles, a reasonably difficult 67.5 km with an elevation gain of 3,570 ft. It’s doable in about five hours if you don’t stop for a break, or can be enjoyed as a full day’s ride with excursions to the places that you’ll ride through on the way.

This journey is a great way to see several of Ibiza’s most popular towns and villages, as it takes you through places like San Lorenzo, Santa Gertrudis and San Antonio, as well as to the beautiful beach at Puerto de San Miguel on the northern coast. Make sure to prepare for the climbs on this route, but you will be rewarded with the views at the end of the ascent!

Es Plans

Another circular route with quite a high difficulty rating, Es Plans is a 45.6 km bike ride in Ibiza that begins in San Antonio on the coast. You’ll start easily enough by racing across the flat plains of Corona and San Mateu, then heading to Santa Gertrudis before turning back and wheeling toward the coast again to return to San Antonio.

The flat stints of this route mean that it should only take you around three hours to complete, although stopping off in Santa Gertrudis is encouraged if you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy lunch. This cycle route is particularly popular in the spring, as it takes you past some of the island’s famous almond blossom trees, which provide an absolutely stunning backdrop to your ride.

Sa Serra Grossa

For cyclists looking to get their teeth into one of Ibiza’s most popular climbs, Sa Serra Grossa should be on your list while you’re on the island. Beginning in the town of Sant Rafel, you’ll ride through the Sierra Gross mountains following signs to ‘El Infierno’, weaving through pine forests and catching glimpses of the ocean as you ascend.

Hellishly named and hellish for the legs, it’s a climb of 475 metres up to the highest point of the island, Sa Talaia. It’s a moderate to difficult challenge, although nothing like some of the climbs you’ll get in nearby Mallorca, and is a great test of endurance if you’re cycling the southwest of the island.

Tour of the Island

Finally, one of the brilliant things about cycling in Ibiza is that the island is small enough to cover in a single loop over the course of the day. There are a variety of different suggestions for how best to roughly traverse the perimeter of Ibiza, many of which take you through some of the island’s best towns and villages, as well as past its magnificent array of beaches. You might want to save this route until the end of your trip as a final farewell to Ibiza, or even split it up over two days if you’d rather enjoy the island’s hospitality along the way.

When To Cycle in Ibiza

Ibiza enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate, which means that the best times to visit for a cycling holiday are in the shoulder seasons across spring and autumn. At this time of year, the temperatures won’t be too high but the weather should stay relatively dry, providing the perfect conditions for wheeling through the landscape.

Not only will Ibiza be too warm for days in the saddle in the summer, but it’s also likely to be a lot busier with tourists who have come to the island to make the most of its beaches and club nights. We recommend that you avoid planning a cycling trip to Ibiza between June and August so you can enjoy quieter routes, milder temperatures and a more authentic atmosphere.

Cycling in the Spring

Spring is one of the most popular times for cycling in Ibiza, with the season for the sport beginning in February and peaking in May. With average high temperatures between 17°C and 22°C and only a couple of days of rain likely, you’ll also get to enjoy the arrival of spring across the island’s landscapes, providing a gorgeous backdrop to your bike rides. And if you’re exploring in late spring, it might even be warm enough for a dip in the sea once you reach the end of your spin.

Cycling in the Autumn

Conditions in Ibiza in the autumn tend to be warmer than in the spring, with September still seeing highs of around 27°C and even November having days that reach up to 19°C. If you’re not planning any particularly challenging climbs or just prefer the weather to be a bit warmer when you’re on your bike, autumn is a great time for a cycling holiday. It’s also a pretty quiet time of the year, so you can enjoy plenty of the routes we’ve listed in this article to yourself.

Cycling in the Winter

Winter is the off-season for tourism in Ibiza, so it’s the quietest time of the year on the island. The weather is cooler and wetter than the shoulder season, but it’s still a popular time to come to Ibiza to cycle. In fact, some of Europe’s best cycling teams spend the winter training in nearby Mallorca because of the ideal conditions, so you have it on their authority that winter in the Balearic Islands is perfect for cyclists!

Top Tips For an Ibiza Cycling Holiday

Now that you know where to go cycling in Ibiza and the best time of year to plan your trip, here are some of our top tips for getting the most out of your trip to the island.

Research Your Route

It’s important to have researched every route you plan to cycle when you visit Ibiza, not only so you know where you’re going but also so you’re prepared for what the terrain and topography have in store for you. Whilst many cyclists follow maps on their phones, it’s also a good idea to have a map with you and a rough idea of where you’re cycling on paper, as this will be incredibly valuable if you have a technological issue.

Check Your Bike

If you’re heading out on a full-day trip then you should always begin by thoroughly checking your bike before you cycle. With Love Velo, you’ll be hiring from our trusted suppliers so you can be assured of the bike’s quality, but it’s good practice to make any adjustments and check for potential issues before setting off.

Watch the Roads

The majority of cyclists visit Ibiza during the off-season or shoulder season, which means that the roads are likely to be quieter anyway and shouldn’t pose too much of a risk. But if you are cycling around the island closer to the summer months, or you’re just in a particularly busy area, be very aware of your surroundings and keep to the side of the road, ensuring that you and your pack are visible.

Fuel Up

Where to Cycle in Ibiza

Ibiza has plenty of exceptional cycling routes, whether you’re an experienced rider seeking new challenges or someone who just likes to relax by spending time in the saddle. If you’re looking for relatively flat, coastal cycling routes then places like San Antonio and Cala Llonga are ideal for mild to moderate excursions close to lively towns. Routes around Portinatx in the north are also great for a mix of hills and flat coastal roads, with the added bonus that you can stop off at hidden coves and quiet beaches on your way.

The highlight for any cycling enthusiast in Ibiza however is Santa Eulària, which has the most diverse range of terrain. There are scenic coastal routes with spectacular views, but also challenging mountain trails and winding road cycling opportunities.

Santa Eulària is also known for being a quieter area of the island, which is ideal for cyclists. This relaxing atmosphere means that there are plenty of wellness and spa hotels in the area, which can be just what you need returning at the end of a hard day’s cycle.

Making sure that you have enough energy to enjoy every moment of a bike ride in Ibiza is essential for enjoying the experience. You’ll want to fuel up beforehand and bring the necessary energy bars or gels with you, but should be aware that, if you’re planning a trip in the quieter season for tourism in Ibiza, it might be harder to find somewhere to stop for food on your route.

Bike Rental In Ibiza

The popularity of cycling in Ibiza means that there are plenty of options when it comes to hiring a bike for the duration of your trip. Love Velo works with the best suppliers on the island to make sure you’ll be kitted out with the best set of wheels for your trip, including e-bike options. No matter what you’re looking for or what questions you have about renting a bike in Ibiza, our team of experts will be here to help.

Summary

Ibiza is becoming more and more popular with cycling fans as a travel destination, especially as such good deals are available around the island in the off-season when conditions are ideal for getting out on your bike. It might not have as varied and challenging terrain as other European destinations, but if you’re looking for a trip with just the right amount of gritty routes and scenic rides, Ibiza is the place.

Thinking about a cycling holiday in Ibiza? Love Velo offers expertly crafted cycling trips in Ibiza, built on our unique knowledge of the island and its cycling opportunities.