29.5
PDI
12.2 mi
DISTANCE
4,794 ft
GAINED
6.3 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Bryant Robbins, Palmer, AK, USA
INTRO
Peñas Blancas is a 19.6 km (12.2 mi) climb that starts at sea level on the outskirts of Estepona, on Spain's Costa del Sol, and finishes at 1,299 m (4,263 ft) high in the Sierra Bermeja - one of the best-known cycling climbs on this stretch of the Andalucian coast. Riders gain 1,461 m (4,794 ft) at a 6.3% average grade, climbing from the Mediterranean seafront over the Puerto de las Peñas Blancas pass (973 m) and continuing along the ridge road partway toward the Los Reales TV tower, the high point of the range.
The scenery is the real draw here. After the initial switchbacks out of town, the road opens up into a long run of miradores (viewpoints) looking back over the Mediterranean and the Estepona coastline, then climbs into forests of pinsapo - the rare Spanish fir found almost nowhere else on Earth outside these mountains. Despite sitting minutes from the crowds of the Costa del Sol, Peñas Blancas stays quiet and lightly-trafficked for nearly its entire length.
The climb has featured in La Vuelta a España three times, most recently as a summit finish won by Richard Carapaz in 2022, and again as the finish of Stage 19 of the 2026 edition.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. Peñas Blancas averages 6.3% over 19.6 km (12.2 mi) - long rather than brutally steep, though the grade is uneven along the way. The steepest kilometer comes in at 12.6%, the steepest half-mile at 14.3%, and the steepest quarter-mile spikes to 18.1%, so expect several punchy ramps between longer, steadier stretches.
Roadway: The MA-8301 (Estepona-Jubrique) is paved the entire way from Estepona over the Puerto de las Peñas Blancas pass. The Diputación de Málaga resurfaced the lower 7.8 km of the road in 2025 to fix pavement cracking and deformation, and a second phase of repaving extending up to the pass was slated to go to tender in 2026 - so expect fresh pavement low down, with the possibility of short work zones higher up depending on timing.
Traffic: Light once you're clear of Estepona's outskirts. The MA-8301 is a quiet secondary road linking the coast to the Genal Valley, not a through-route for coastal traffic, so cars are infrequent for most of the climb.
Parking: Riders typically start from the inland edge of Estepona, where the MA-8301 leaves town and begins climbing (36.435185, -5.147179); free street parking is available on the residential streets near this junction.
Provisions: Stock up in Estepona before you start - there are no shops along the route itself, though Refugio Salvador Guerrero near the top offers a place to stop for coffee.
Gear: A standard road bike with compact or triple gearing is all this climb needs - it's paved the entire way. Bring a light layer if you're continuing past the pass toward Los Reales; the ridge sits well above 1,200 m and catches wind even on a warm coastal day.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Refugio Salvador Guerrero, just below the summit, is a good stop for a coffee or a break by the fire in cooler months. There's nothing else along the route once you leave Estepona, so fill your bottles in town beforehand.
Peñas Blancas can also be climbed from the other side, out of Jubrique or Genalguacil in the Genal Valley - quieter, harder approaches to the same pass, and worth combining into a longer loop if you have the legs. Use our Routes in the Area tool to see what else is rideable nearby.
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