Until 1997 the Coll de Sóller was the only direct road link between Palma and Sóller. Then the roughly 3 km tunnel under the pass opened and car traffic almost completely vanished from the old pass. What stayed are road cyclists, who appreciate exactly that: hardly any cars, plenty of hairpins, decent asphalt.
The pass sits at 497 meters and is accessed from both sides. The south side starts near Bunyola on the Ma-11a and is the shorter option, about 5 km at around 5% average gradient with 20 turns. The opening is gentle, then individual ramps push up to 11%. The north side from Sóller is the tougher one, just under 8 km at around 6% average with almost 30 hairpins stacked closely on top of each other. From Port de Sóller you add 4 km of approach. About 50 hairpins on both sides together, hence the nickname "hairpin festival".
At the top of the pass there are two classic cyclist stops. Ca'n Topa has been open for over 130 years, the popular place for coffee and fresh orange juice, often half the Pollenca cycling scene meets here around 11. Dalt des Coll a few meters away has a shaded natural terrace.
Car: the pass is drivable. If you do not cycle, the old road is a small adventure, but be patient in the corners and considerate towards cyclists. Bikes are banned in the tunnel, so do not accidentally enter it coming from Sóller, take the second roundabout exit instead.
Public transport: TIB bus 204 runs Palma-Sóller through the tunnel, not over the pass. If you want to be on the pass itself without a bike, you have to hike up from Bunyola (tough, hardly any shade, not recommended in summer) or drive over and stop for the views.
When to ride: March-May and September-October are the main months. July-August is too hot to climb, and the main cycling road on to Sa Calobra is choked by tour buses in the middle of the day. November-February can be wet on the north side in the morning, slippery in the woods after rain, so easy on the descent. The pass is open year-round except for the rare snow event above 600 meters.
