Small villages around Alicante province provide interesting sites to visit. One of those villages is Busot. I find myself visiting Busot few times a year. The “Cuevas de Canelobre” are spectacular and the views from there are definitely worth the visit. The caves are sometimes used as a concert location providing evening entertainment. During day-times you can get into the caves just to admire them. During hot summer day it might be cooler inside a mountain. Oh! Of course, there is also a Castillo in Busot.

To get to Busot by bike one needs to navigate through or around Alicante. Our group usually takes the route going through Torrellano. From Torrellano head towards Alicante and on towards San Vicente del Raspeig. From San Vicente follow the CV-821 until you come to a roundabout just before Mutxamel. We are lucky to have Jorge to take us through the city as he has great local knowledge. Take the exit that says Monnegre and Mutxamel (norte) so you don’t have to ride through whole of Mutxamel. There is a cycle-path which you can ride on the side of CV-819. Once the cycle path discontinues turn to the right on to a small road that takes you Carrer Comtat. At the end of Carrer Comtat take a left and then a right to Calle Marina which then turns to CV-773 that takes you to Busot. There are nice coffee shops in Busot if you don’t want to do the last 6 kilometers. The last 3 being a steepish climb to have a coffee at the caves. For the caves take left on a roundabout to Xixona CV-774. The junction to caves is well marked to the right from CV-774.

For the return you can always trace your cookie trail back to home or you can do a loop that will make the ride longer and tougher with more climbing. The loop could be to continue to Xixona and from there to Tibi and over to Maigmo and home through Agost. If you choose to come back through Alicante it might be an idea to have a look at some damns made in to Rio Seco around Mutxamiel next to road CV-800. For example “Assut De Mutxamel” or “Assut de Sant Joan”.

Whole ride www.strava.com/activities/1860686701 Including the climb to Cuevas de Canelobre

Distance for the full route approx. 105km. Moving time approx. 4½ hours.
Difficulty: Medium/Hard (hard for the last climb to the Cuevas de Canelobre)

Route: Torrellano – San Vicente del Raspeig – Mutxamel – Busot. Retrace your steps back to Gran Alacant

You can find several weekly rides from facebook group or you can post in search for company or route. “Gran Alacant Road Cyclist (Bici Gran Alacant)” and local bike shop For Riders have events on their facebook page.

Few things to keep in mind:

    • Always have something to drink with you and for a bit longer rides maybe a banana or mueslibar
    • Always have a little money if you need to stop to buy food or drink.
    • Take the phone with you.
    • And the most important. Wave to the fellow – cyclists