The Costa del Sol has some of the best cycling routes in the World and without doubt the most popular of all cycling routes is the Istan Mountain ride, starting in Nueva Andalucia in Marbella.
The road snakes up 12 km along the mountain road between the stunning Embalse de la conception reservoir and the iconic 1350 meter La Concha Mountain.
Cycling The Istan Road is Fun, Safe, Friendly, And a Real Challenge
The tarmac is perfectly smooth with little traffic and plenty of other cyclists to help you out or encourage you with the traditional shout of Vamos Vamos – GO GO!!!!
It’s a great experience and as an added bonus you’ll burn off around 1200 calories, (6 large gin and tonics) along the way.
The ride takes between 1 and 2 hours, straight up and down the mountain. In the summer heat, the smells from the plants and trees are intoxicating. If you’re lucky you’ll see eagles, and wild boar often wander along the road. Fortunately, they’re usually too busy to chase cyclists.
Loved by Road Cyclists and Mountain Bike Riders Alike
Mountain bike routes on either side of the road lead further up into the hills or down to the reservoir. If you’re not sure of the way just tag onto the back of a group of mountain biker cyclists or take a look on wikiloc before you go.
At the end of the road is the white village of Istan with an elevation of over 500 meters. You can get water from the fountain (just follow your ear), or park your bike on the balcony for a coffee at the cyclist-friendly terrace of La Parada (look for the green sign on the left as you enter Istan).
I’m lucky enough to live at the bottom of the route, but if you arrive by car you can park opposite the Manolo Santana Racquets Club, which is also handy for the Marbella Heliport.
Hard Work Up The Hill Pays Off When You’re Cycling Home
After an easy warm-up, you hit the most challenging climb called “hard work up the hill” or in Spanish: repechos (Steep Slopes), at 13% average they’re not joking.
Don’t be afraid to walk this bit, many do. The good news is that once you’re over the top everything else seems relatively easy.
The rest of the climb is a combination of dips and rises with an average gradient of just 4% until you hit the run down into Istan where you can take a break before the exhilarating ride home.
Coming down is a real buzz and makes all your hard work seem worthwhile. You can pedal like mad or just freewheel down and enjoy the views. The bravest cyclists hit speeds of over 70km an hour down the two repechos.
If you feel the need to chill out after your ride the Small World café is handy and has plenty of outdoor space to lock up your bike. Go straight over the roundabout and it’s about 1km on the right.
There are Two Great Marbella Cycling Shops Nearby Where You Can Rent a Bike.
Aloha bikes are the nearest and good value, for higher-end bike rental as well as e-bikes we recommend Marbella Rent a Bike.
Both will deliver for free in the local area.
If get the chance to ride the Istan road, don’t hesitate because you’ll have an amazing ride that will live in your memory forever.
