FRIEBIKER

Twisty road · CIRCULAR · Faro

Serra de Monchique loop

A loop from Monchique: down through the hills to Marmelete and Aljezur, back inland via Bensafrim and Portimão, and a final climb past Caldas de Monchique.

107 km
DISTANCE
2 h 50 min
RIDING
490 m
HIGHEST POINT
-2 m
LOWEST POINT
147
CURVES
3
HAIRPINS

13.7 curves every 10 km. Curves counted on the line: sections that turn 25° or more; hairpins, 135° or more on a tight radius. Junctions and roundabouts are left out.

Altitude profile-2–490 m

The loop starts and ends in Monchique. It heads west on the EN 267, along the wooded slopes of the range, to Marmelete and drops down to Aljezur, near the west coast. From there it turns south through the interior to Bensafrim, carries on towards Portimão and climbs back to Monchique on the EN 266 past Caldas de Monchique.

It brings together two sides of the Algarve: the green, twisting Serra de Monchique among eucalyptus and cork oaks, and the more open country of the west. The final climb from Portimão to Monchique is the classic part of the ride.

It is about 107 km and almost three hours without stops, with some 150 bends and a few hairpins. Altitude ranges from sea level to about 490 m. Traffic picks up near Portimão; the rest is quiet.

Route

  1. Monchique
  2. →Marmelete
  3. →Aljezur
  4. →Bensafrim
  5. →Portimão
  6. →Caldas de Monchique
  7. →Monchique

Roads: ER 267, EN 267, EN 120, ER 266, EN 266, EN 125, EN 124, ER266, EM 535, ER 124

Where it goes

Districts

  • Faro

Protected areas

  • Parque Natural del Suroeste Alentejano y Costa Vicentina
  • Monchique
  • Costa Sudoeste
  • Ria de Alvor
  • Zona de Protección Especial de Monchique
  • Zona de Proteção Especial da Costa Sudoeste

Municipalities

  • Monchique

Best time

All year round; best in spring and autumn. In summer, go early.

Before you go

  • Aljezur makes a good halfway stop.
  • Near Portimão there is more traffic and plenty of roundabouts: stay alert.
  • FRIEBIKER's speed-camera warnings only cover Spain (DGT data): there are none in Portugal, so watch the signs.
  • You are in Portugal and its traffic rules apply. Inside the EU you need nothing special, but carry your own and the bike's documents.

Route chosen by FRIEBIKER. Distance and time calculated for motorcycles, avoiding motorways, without stops. Always check the road conditions. © OpenStreetMap.

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