20–26°C

Daytime temps

320

Sunshine days/yr

WHO

Healthiest habitat in Europe

Calm

May winds

The Jalón Valley — the beating heart of the Marina Alta — is famous for its almond blossom in February. But May is when the valley reaches its lushest, most vivid state. The vineyards that produce Moscatel grapes are in full, deep green leaf. Orange and lemon groves fill the lower valley floors. Wild rosemary and thyme colour the hillsides above. On a clear May morning, the scent alone makes the ride worthwhile.

May delivers the perfect cycling temperature: warm enough to ride in shorts from the first kilometre, cool enough to sustain effort on the longer climbs. The Marina Alta has been designated by the World Health Organization as the healthiest habitat in Europe — 320 days of sunshine a year, low humidity, and consistently clean air off the Mediterranean. In May, all of that comes together perfectly.

May sits in the sweet spot between the Easter rush and the summer influx. The inland routes — the Jalón Valley, the villages around Pego and Orba, the roads toward Castell de Castells and Benigembla — are as quiet as they get. You can ride for an hour without seeing another vehicle on some of these roads. That is not an exaggeration.

“The road through the Jalón Valley on a May morning — vineyards either side, Coll de Rates on the horizon, not a car in sight — is one of those rides that makes you feel genuinely lucky to be here.”

The Valley at the Heart of Everything

Base: Xaló / Jalón · All levels · 40–120 km

The Jalón Valley is the natural hub of Marina Alta cycling. Sitting at the crossroads of routes north to Dénia, south to Calpe, east to the coast and west toward Coll de Rates, it puts everything within reach. In May, the valley floor is a vivid patchwork of vineyard green and citrus gold. The café in Xaló village — a favourite of the winter pro peloton — fills with cyclists from first light. The valley is also the launchpad for Coll de Rates via Parcent and Alcalalí: in May conditions, this is the benchmark climb at its absolute best.

Coast, Cliff and the Montgó Natural Park

Base: Jávea · Road & MTB · 30–90 km

Jávea sits at the foot of the Montgó massif — the 753m natural park that dominates the northern Marina Alta coast. May is the ideal month to tackle the Montgó climbing routes before the summer heat makes them punishing. From the seafront, roads roll out through residential areas before hitting genuinely wild terrain on the natural park trails and mirador climbs. The views from the top back across the bay toward Dénia are extraordinary. Combine a Montgó loop with the coastal road south toward Moraira for a perfect half-day.

Flat Coastal Riding and the Hidden Interior

Base: Dénia · Leisure & e-bike · 25–70 km

Dénia is the largest town in the Marina Alta and the ideal base for flatter riding and leisure exploration. The coastal road south toward Jávea is a beautiful May morning ride — calm sea, low traffic, orange blossom in the air. Head inland and the roads climb gently toward Pego and the rice fields and orange groves of the Vall de Gallinera. It’s less dramatic than the mountain routes further south, but on a bright May morning it has a quiet, unhurried beauty that is hard to match. Also outstanding for e-bike exploration.

Castell de Castells, Benigembla & Beyond

Base: Any Marina Alta town · Road explorers · 60–110 km

For riders who want to go deeper, the roads north of the Jalón Valley toward Castell de Castells, Benigembla and Tárbena take you into a part of the Marina Alta that few visitors ever reach. White villages perched on hillsides, terraced fields of almonds and olives, the occasional bar with a hand-written menu and very cold beer. These are the roads the pros use for recovery rides — quiet, beautiful, and utterly restorative. May’s long daylight hours give you the time to explore properly.

The cycling café in the Jalón Valley. Natural midpoint of Coll de Rates, Val d’Ebo and Guadalest routes. Known to every pro who has trained here. Good coffee, home cooking, cyclist-friendly terrace.

On the Marina road at the edge of Dénia. Great coffee and energy snacks. Ideal start or finish point for coastal Marina Alta loops.

A village bar tucked into the valley before the climb begins. Simple food, cold drinks, almost always a few bikes outside. The kind of place that keeps these routes worth riding.

At the top of the most famous climb on the Costa Blanca. Beautiful terrace, views across the valley. The perfect excuse to make the ascent every ride.

● Start from the valley, not the coast. Basing yourself in Xaló or Jalón puts you within minutes of the best roads with none of the coastal resort traffic to navigate first.

● The afternoon sea breeze arrives around 2pm. In May it’s gentle and cooling rather than disruptive — perfect timing for a post-lunch spin back toward the coast.

● Muscatel wine at the end of the day. The Jalón Valley produces one of the finest Muscatel wines in Spain. After a long May ride, a chilled glass on a terrace is entirely justified.

🏃 Using the Marina Alta to Prepare for Aitana Tour

The Marina Alta is the perfect training ground for the V Aitana Tour on May 31st. Coll de Rates, Val d’Ebo and the Jalón Valley loops give you race-specific climbing in the most beautiful setting imaginable. Ride the landscape you love — and arrive at the start line ready.

→ bikescostablanca.com/aitana-prep

Coming up: our Triathlon Fever guide for the Mediterránea Triatlón Alicante (16–17 May). And in June we’ll be covering San Juan night rides, early morning heat-beaters and the best beach stops along the coast.