How hard is Sa Calobra / Coll dels Reis?

Classified as Category 2, Sa Calobra / Coll dels Reis is a solid climb that will test your legs.

How long is Sa Calobra / Coll dels Reis?

Sa Calobra / Coll dels Reis is 10.2km long with 708m of elevation gain. At a typical climbing pace, expect the ascent to take roughly 1 hour and 1 minutes.

Where does Sa Calobra / Coll dels Reis start?

Sa Calobra / Coll dels Reis begins in Balearic Islands, Spain. The starting coordinates are 39.8504°N, 2.7998°E.

What is the steepest section of Sa Calobra / Coll dels Reis?

The steepest 100-metre section of Sa Calobra / Coll dels Reis hits 9.7%. A noticeable steepening, but manageable with good rhythm. The average gradient across the full climb is 7%.

How many hairpins does Sa Calobra / Coll dels Reis have?

Sa Calobra / Coll dels Reis has 17 hairpin bends. The hairpins break up the ascent and provide landmarks to track your progress.

Cat 2

Sa Calobra / Coll dels Reis

Balearic Islands, spain

Sa Calobra / Coll dels Reis covers 10.2km and 708m of climbing, reaching 721m at the summit. A sustained 7% average gradient with a maximum of 9.7% makes this a steady and demanding ascent. 17 hairpins punctuate the ascent, offering brief respite in the corners before the gradient bites again. Located in Balearic Islands, Spain.

The 3rd climb in Balearic Islands by elevation gain.
The 4th climb in Balearic Islands by difficulty.
17 hairpin bends punctuate the climb, each switchback offering a moment to regroup.

Sa Calobra / Coll dels Reis

Balearic Islands, spain

10.2km 708m 7%

Distance

10.2km

Avg Gradient

Max Gradient

9.7%

Elevation Gain

708m

Summit

721m

Wall Rating

4.7

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What things cost

Typical prices in Spain

€1.70

Coffee

€3.00

Beer

€11.00

Meal

€1.00

Water

The Story

The Snake Road

Sa Calobra is Mallorca's most spectacular cycling road. The descent from Coll dels Reis to the sea at Sa Calobra — which you then climb back up — features 26 hairpin bends including the famous "Nus de sa Corbata" (the Tie Knot), where the road crosses over itself.

The Climb

The route is ridden in reverse — you descend the 9.4km from the col to the cove at Sa Calobra, have a coffee, then climb back up. The gradient averages 7.2% but ramps to 14% in places, with the hairpins providing both challenge and spectacle.

The road was engineered by Antonio Parietti in the 1930s and is considered a masterpiece of mountain road construction. Every bend reveals a new perspective on the dramatic limestone gorge of Torrent de Pareis below.

The Experience

This is a climb about the experience, not the suffering. The views are extraordinary — the turquoise Mediterranean below, the Serra de Tramuntana mountains above, and the impossible zigzags of the road itself. It is possibly the most photographed cycling road in the world.

Pro Tip

Go early. By 10am in summer, the road is busy with tourist coaches and the experience is diminished. The best time is 7-8am when the light is golden and the road is empty. Start from the top (Coll dels Reis) and enjoy the descent before the climb back up.