Costa Daurada

MOUNTAIN CLIMBS, EMPTY ROADS, ROLLING COUNTRYSIDE, AND TOP-QUALITY WINERIES ALL IN SOUTH CATALONIA

Costa Daurada covers the 216km stretch of the Mediterranean coast of South Catalonia down to Costa Blanca. This little known gem is often overlooked for some of Spain’s mecca cycling locations. However, don’t be so quick to dismiss Costa Daurada quite so easily. This area is a class cycling destination, whether you are a beginner or the most advanced rider.

Get off the highways and head inland for beautiful olive groves, vineyards, rivers, hill, and more.

The blessed Spanish sun shines down on Costa Daurada. Enjoy the stable and sunny weather bubbled over the region, while a few miles north it can be raining. The temperatures are ideal if you cycle in the winter, early spring, or late autumn. Actually, if you can tolerate some summer heat, this area is very much ridable throughout the entire year.

TERRAIN & QUALITY OF THE RIDE

Yes, Catalonia is best known for the Pyrenees and their outskirts up North. But that certainly does not mean that the South is flat! In fact, the whole of Catalonia is generally mountainous with limited flat stretches except for some riverbeds. The Costa Daurada area has many superb routes to explore by bike:

Coastal Ridge
The Prades Mountains
La Mussara Climb
Serra de Llaberia
El Priorat

Hit some of the best tarmac in Spain and ride with next to no road traffic. The quality of the ride is superb with so many options available from one point.

TRADITIONAL CUISINE

Food is one of the best ways to explore any destination. Costa Daurada gets really serious in terms of both food and wine. The cuisine is defined by two things: seafood-based coastline and traditional rustic countryside meats. That’s not to mention some totally top-notch wines to go with it.

Any cyclist doing it right will need a lot of calories to keep them going. Here you’ve got a great way to do that with gusto!

WINE CULTURE FROM EL PRIORAT

Let’s be frank – most of us prefer a couple of cold beers after a ride. But we can’t ignore the art and craft of winemaking from this region. Centuries of tradition produces a delicious red wine that tantalises your tastebuds and compliments the tapas spread perfectly.

El Priorat is a stunning wine region in Southern Catalonia know for its incredible wine and nature-based tourism, cycling and hiking alike. There only two DOQs (Dominacion de Origen Qualificada) in Spain – La Rioja and El Priorat. Rioja is well known, while Priorat is a relatively well-kept secret. If you happen to ride here, make sure you go for a wine tasting lunch in the family wineries to gain a lifelong memory.

DON'T MISS THIS

Costa Daurada has some epic climbs and rides worthy of any cycling adventure. So while you're soaking up some of that gorgeous Meditteranean sun and sampling the local flavours, be sure not to miss out these top-notch biking spots.

SIURANA

Fall in love with the narrow, twisting roads that carve through Siurana overlooking the Prades Mountains. Ride between rural villages, through ancient forest and past a UNESCO World Heritage monastery. Siurana has it all.

MARE DE DÉU DE LA ROCA DE MONT-ROIG

A calm and mysterious site with amazing panoramic views. The unique red ground around Mare de Déu de la Roca de Mont-Roig offers empty routes to explore by bike. This is definitely worth the ride and is not to be missed!

LA MUSSARA CLIMB

Costa Daurada's most iconic climb has to be La Mussara. This dramatic mountain offers a ride like no other. Dream-like hairpins on perfect tarmac make this location iconic and memorable.

EL PRIORAT

Not only is El Priorat supplying excellent wine, but the roads are dreamy too. Ride through the rolling vineyards and lose yourself to the natural beauty of the area.

Discover new places to find your adventure

View all destinations

1 ride in Costa Daurada

View all rides in Costa Daurada

La Mussara

Distance
10.5 km

Gain
636 m

Road
6%

Time
45 mins

Alt de la Musara is a picturesque cycling climb situated in the Tarragona province of Catalonia. It has been used in the Volta a Catalunya professional race, most recently in 2017 when the riders descended this side. The climb on the Vilaplana side is characterized by a high number of hairpin bends, as it winds its way through forest towards the Prades Mountains. Ocasionally, the trees open out to offer some nice views looking back down the climb. Alt de la Musara is nominally open year-round, with only very rare closures due to snow in winter.

More GPX

Costa Daurada

Top Stories