Spain Llano de las Animas
Llano de las Animas Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

66.3
PDI
9.7 mi
DISTANCE
6,470 ft
GAINED
12.7 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
MORE

Page Contributor(s): Dani Avila, tard0d lifestyle; Teun van Oostenbrugge, Puntagorda, La Palma; Alessandro Massoni, Milan, Italy

INTRO

This is one of the greatest bike climbs in the world.  A top 10 world ranked climb, this is one where you'll find yourself saying, "Can I do it?!" First, you need to get yourself to the island paradise of La Palma (Canary Islands) which is a similar motivator to Mauna Kea (Hawaii 🕶🌞 👍).  This is one of a handful of climbs in the world worth traveling thousands of miles to experience - a true Bucket List climb.  This climb was highlighted in the Spanish cycling magazine Solo Bici.

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.
The grade for this climb is 12.6% (14.1% climb only).  This climb has every gradient segment you will ever encounter on a climb: 8% descent, 8% at 0-5% grade, 18% at 5-10%, 27% at 10-15%, 24% at 15-20%, and a startling 15% at ≥ 20%.  The steepest 500 meters is 24% and steepest two kilometers is 20.8%.

See more details and tools regarding this climb's grade via the “Profile Tool” button.
Roadway:  Narrow two lane asphalt road with no center stripe in good condition for the first 12.8 kilometers.  The road is grooved concrete (like you see on super steep roadways like Scanuppia and Passo della Forcella) which is great for traction on the way up, but rather bumpy on the descent. 

Turns to Beware of:  At kilometer 7.8 (mile 4.9), cross LP-1 (Ctra General; just to the left of the Santa Cruz/De La Palma sign) and walk your bike up a short dirt path to connect too the roadway and route above (Map;  Street View). 

Traffic:  Light in the first half; minimal over the second half. 

Parking:  There are spots to park at the beginning of the climb (Map;  Street View). 
Provisions:  There are locations for meals, food, and/or beverages in Pino de La Virgen at kilometer 7.3, but nowhere else along the climb (Route Map;  Google - Places to Eat in Pino de la Virgen).

Gear:  Be sure to bring a road bike with gearing for your ability and fitness level.  A 34 compact chainring and 42t cassette is recommended for all but the absolute strongest cyclists.
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.
Viewpoints along this climb:  At the start is Puerto de Puntagorda (Google Map + Reviews) and Llano de Las Animas at the finish (Google Map + Reviews). 

While on the Island, be sure to ride Spain #7/World #64 Roque de Los Muchacho.  This is also considered the #1 tourist attraction on La Palma (although nearly all visitors drive to the top).  There are spectacular views from the short path accessed at the finish of our route (Google Map + Reviews).

There are tons of great places to stay on the gorgeous island of La Palma, including some great house rentals.

ROUTE MAP

MEMBER RATING

Not Yet Rated
-
Road
-
Traffic
-
Scenery

CURRENT WEATHER

PJAMM TRIPS ADVENTURE STARTER BUNDLES

Check out PJAMM Adventure's prepackaged (self-guided) cycling trips. They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure.
ALL TRIPS
Browse all of our prepackaged trips and find your next adventure!

NEARBY CLIMBS (0) RADIAL PROXIMITY

FROM
No Climbs Found

MEMBER REVIEWS & COMMENTS

Let us know what you thought of this climb. Signup for our FREE membership to write a review or post a comment.
Already have an account?
LOG IN HERE
Mar 27, 2021
Sheeeeesh, 6,500 feet in less than 10 miles?! Unreal
ROUTE MAP
PROFILE TOOL
Route Data
S.G. (%)
hide
Segment Data
hide
CLIMB SUMMARY

Cycling Llano de las Animas, Spain - bike parked against guardrail overlooking ocean next to rusty sign that reads "Feel the moment...it's a present!!" with a smiley face

Cycling the sixth hardest bike climb in the world

Llano de las Animas

Ride 15.6 kilometers (9.7 miles) gaining 2,000 meters (6,560’) at 12.6% average grade (13.7% climb only)

Climb summary by PJAMM’s John Johnson.

The name of this climb derives from the name of the plateau we climb to - ironically, llano means “flat” in Spanish.  

photo collage shows sign for Llano de Las Animas, PJAMM Cyclists stand with bikes next to water tank, view of rough, one-lane road

Llano de las Animas is one of the world’s greatest road bike climbs.

This is the second-steepest 10 kilometers of tarmac in the world at 15.2% (just behind Al Jaadah Pass, Saudi Arabia at 15.4%).

SEGMENT 1

photo collage shows bike parked against guardrail, informational signs next to large cacti, rough roadway, ocean in background

The climb begins about 80 meters above the sea.

The pavement is rough and broken for the first segment of the climb.

photo collage shows blue waters at Puerto de Puntagorda, roadway on cliffside above ocean

Just below the start is Puerto de Puntagorda, a gorgeous oceanside beach and cave area accessed only by foot.  See Google Reviews for more.

The first two kilometers of the climb from the Puerto de Puntagorda parking lot along Camino del Puerto averages 13.6% - this is but a slight incline compared to what is ahead.

SEGMENT 2

Camino de la Costa

We finish Segment 1 and begin Segment 2 at Camino de la Costa.

photo collage shows Segment 2 of climb, Pino de la Vergen

Segment 2 is the easiest of all at 7% for 5.8 kilometers through Pino de La Vergen to state highway LP-1.

BRIEF HIKE

photo collage shows brief section where roadway ends and cyclists must hike with bikes

Here we have our only acceptable hike (briefly on dirt) . . .

. . . there will be more walking further up the mountain for a much different reason. 😟

Cross LP-1 and walk up the foot path for 30 meters to the beginning of Camino Top Blanco, a narrow concrete road past homes that averages 18% for 300 meters. If you would prefer paved all the way and eliminating the short 30% section, used this Komoot Route.

SEGMENT 3

photo collage shows rough roadway and old village at segment 3 of climb

photo collage shows area of forestation, large pine trees

There’s a half-kilometer pleasant alpine setting and 8% rest zone beginning at kilometer 9.7.

cyclist fills water bottle from irrigation pipes

I didn’t risk it, but Luke got plenty of water from irrigation pipes along the route.

SUPER STEEP!

photo collage shows segment of 30% grade

There is a brief but deadly 30% segment that is impossible for a human cyclist to climb . . . 😟

 If you would prefer paved all the way and eliminating the short 30% section, used this Komoot Route.

photo collage shows cyclists taking their cycling shoes off to walk up portion of roadway

Top left: Alessandro Massoni - shoes off = walking on 30% grade.

Top right: Luke Hise on a 30 percenter.

Bottom: Komoot warning about a segment of this climb.

Komoot’s Steep Hill definition.

Komoot segment for this climb.

Komoot Map of Llano de las Animas.

PJAMM's profile tool shows climb gradient, route overview

PJAMM’s Profile Tool: Two kilometers average 20.8%, 500 meters average 23.4%, and 200 meters 29.4%.

The gradient profile for this climb says it all: there are several segments of extraordinary steepness.  Add the length and altitude of this climb and you have the legitimate World Top 10 bike climb behind: (1) Mauna Kea (Hawaii), (2) Al Jaadah (Saudi Arabia), (3) Babusar Pass (Pakistan), (4) Apagua (Ecuador), and (6) Baniamr Pass (Saudi Arabia).

PJAMM Cyclist stops on route to treat his overheated breaks

Beware that your brakes will likely overheat on the descent - stop frequently.

photo collage shows how steep the grade of the road is

Photos rarely capture “steep” but this is a rare road bike climb.

Scenes along the way from kilometers 11 to the 12.8 kilometer mark where we roll onto the cement.

CEMENT PATH TO THE FINISH

photo collage shows steep cement segment of roadway

Cement begins at kilometer 12.8.

Cement segment is 2.8 kilometers at 18.1% average grade.

PJAMM cyclist rides on steep cement segment with friction cuts

Cement with friction cuts almost always spells S T E E P!

aerial view shows the cement portion of roadway to top of climb

2.8 kilometers of cement to the top.

FINISH

Finish the climb at a water treatment tank.

Thank you to our extreme cycling contributors and three of the few who have ever experienced this amazing bike climb:  

  • Dani Avila, tard0d lifestyle
  • Alessandro Massoni of Milan, Italy
  • Teun van Oostenbrugge of Puntagorda, La Palma

TIES’ SUMMARY

Climb summary by our Legendary Mountains co-author, Ties Arts.

La Palma is the jewel of the Canary Islands, although it’s not really an island, it’s a miniature continent at 708+ square kilometers. Only a full continent could hold cloud forest and semi-desert, bananas and horizontal, foot-long icicles. On most days of the year, you can decide which climate you fancy and then drive to it. It’s a volcanic island, last erupting in 1949.

The main reason for this extreme variety is the island’s height and steepness. Meet Llano de las Animas!

The Llano de las Animas climb is located on a plateau in the Caldera de Taburiente National Park, the western part of the island. The plateau is unique and staged, especially in springtime, by admirable orchards of pink Tajinastes (echium wildpretii ssp trichosiphon) exclusive to the summits of La Palma and found nowhere else in the world.

This climb will test the best riders in the peloton, and you must thoroughly prepare for the beast. It is one of the world's most brutal climbs with 12.6% average grade (14.1% excluding the 1.2 kilometers of descent) for 15.6 kilometers.  Only the few can keep their feet from the road and avoid the “Johnny Walker” (paperboy) method.

The climb starts at the Puerto de Puntagorda. A sign marked with the legendary words: “Feel the moment, it’s a present!” welcomes you to the second hardest road bike climb in the world.  Here you go, with the sea on your port side, you begin your climb up the mountain towards Puntagorda.

Many switchbacks and severely steep segments will test your legs. And with steep we mean in that in the first two kilometers there are four short 20% sections.  Until Puntagorda (at kilometer 12.8) you average 11.3% but do have several flat spots and even descents (descents total 1.2 kilometers during this segment).  And, while the climb can be torturous, be sure to appreciate the lovely scenery surrounding you.

The road is paved and in fair condition. Then, after Puntagorda, the real hell begins. Between rocks and pine trees the average gradient is 18%!  And the last three kilometers are on a concrete surface running through a firewall. The road is extremely steep - there is a 20.8% average two-kilometer segment with sections exceeding 25% - this is the real deal!

THANK YOU DANNY AND ALESSANDRO

Cycling Llano de las Animas, Spain - photo college, PJAMM Cycling logo in corner, bike parked next to LOVE statue, cyclist pushing bike up steep section of roadway, aerial view of roadway in mountainside

Thank you Danny Avila of Madrid, Spain.

The summit hosts a water raft. Time for cooling down. The road is open for cars so if you want support make sure you have a 4x4.

Cycling Llano de las Animas, Spain - cyclist at top of mountain, rooved pavement and a water tank behind him

Thank you Alessandro Massoni, Milan, Italy.

That’s a wrap!