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Please leave your luggage in the hotel reception each morning (by 9am at the latest) so that it can be transferred to your next hotel. Make sure that your luggage is clearly labelled with the nametag provided.
Your bike fitting is scheduled for Mon November 10 at TBC at your hotel (after you arrive).
Call the Bike Spain Tours office on +34 915 590 653, or out of office hours call +34 677 356 586. We will get you where you need to be and get you the help you need.
Please be aware that Spaniards follow a very particular routine in terms of their daily meals, and this is often strictly enforced by restaurant opening hours, especially in small towns!
You can expect restaurants to be open for lunch from approximately 1:30pm – 4pm. Many places will offer a menú del día: a set menu with 2/3 options for each course, usually including a drink, bread and dessert or coffee. Remember that lunch is the main meal of the day in Spain.
Dinnertime in Spain is any time from 8pm onwards. Dinner in Spain is typically a lighter meal.
Andalucía, a vibrant region in southern Spain, is renowned for its rich culinary heritage and diverse flavors. The cuisine here is a delightful blend of Mediterranean influences, local ingredients, and traditional recipes that have been passed down through generations.
One of the most iconic dishes is gazpacho, a refreshing cold soup made from ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, garlic, and olive oil, perfect for hot summer days. Another must-try is salmorejo, a thicker version of gazpacho, often garnished with hard-boiled eggs and jamón (cured ham).
Seafood lovers will be in heaven with dishes like fried fish (pescaíto frito) and grilled sardines (espetos), especially along the coast. Andalucía is also famous for its tapas culture. Small plates of delicious bites, such as patatas bravas (spicy potatoes), croquetas (fried dough filled with various ingredients), and jamón ibérico (Iberian ham), are perfect for sharing with friends over a drink.
Speaking of drinks, you can’t visit Andalucía without trying sherry (vino de Jerez), a fortified wine that comes in various styles, from dry to sweet. Another popular beverage is tinto de verano, a refreshing mix of red wine and lemonade, ideal for cooling off in the sun.
For dessert, indulge in flan or rice pudding (arroz con leche)!
In summary, the food and drinks of Andalucía offer a delightful journey through flavors and traditions, making it a must-visit destination for any food lover! Enjoy your culinary adventure!
Click here for our packing suggestions for a self-guided bike tour.
Click here for our recommendations for cycling safely and legally in Spain.
Click here for our recommendations on what to do if you experience mechanical issues with your bike during your tour.
Monday November 10: Lucena
Arrival Day
Accommodation: Hotel Santo Domingo
Hotel services: laundry, restaurant, bar
Meals included: dinner
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Welcome to Andalusia and the start of an amazing tour!
You will be picked up on Calle Real 17 in Marbella at 11am by your taxi. He will stop at the Holiday Inn Malaga Airport for Leanne to drop off the bike. Then you’ll all continue on to your hotel in Lucena. Your accommodation tonight is a repurposed 18th-century convent, full of local character and charm – the perfect place to begin your adventure!
Your bikefitting will be at approx. 2pm on Monday. We will confirm soon!
Tonight’s dinner at the hotel is included in your tour package. Please advise reception of your preferred dinner time upon arrival.
Click here for our Google Maps list of recommendations!
Tuesday November 11: Lucena – Zuheros
Route: 38 km/23.9 miles
Elevation: +690 m/2264 ft
Accommodation: Hotel Zuhayra
Hotel services: laundry, restaurant
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
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Please leave your luggage in the hotel reception each morning (around 9am) so that it can be transferred to your next hotel.
Next, it’s time to start cycling! Enjoy a beautiful route through classic Andalusian countryside, over rolling hills covered with endless olive trees and vineyards. Once we pass the town of Cabra, we will continue along a peaceful greenway biking path, a former railway line once used to transport trains full of olive oil from Andalusia to the rest of Spain. Our destination for today is the charming medieval Moorish village of Zuheros, a striking example of beautiful Andalusian architecture, nestled in the Sierra Subbética mountain range.
As you enter the town of Cabra, you have an optional ascent to the Hermitage of La Virgen de la Sierra, from where you can enjoy fabulous views (700m/2300ft over 12km/7.5 miles!)
Once in Cabra, you can decide whether you would like to go directly to Zuheros or ride an extra loop through the Protected Designation of Origin wine region of Montilla-Monriles, where you can visit Bodega Rockera (open Mon – Fri, 7am – 3pm) and/or one of the traditional lagares (wineries/olivepresses) We recommend La Primilla (open Mon – Fri 9am – 2pm / 5pm – 8pm, Sat/Sun: 10am – 2pm) or Los Raigones (open Mon – Fri: 9am – 2pm, Sat/Sun: 10:30am – 2pm).
Zuheros retains the traditional architectural style of white houses with ochre roofs, and is set at the foot of a historic Moorish castle.
Tonight’s dinner at the hotel is included in your tour package. Please advise reception of your preferred dinner time upon arrival.
Bike shops
Click here for our google maps list of recommendations!
Wednesday November 12: Zuheros – Priego de Córdoba
Route: 49.1 km/30.5 miles
Elevation: +863 m/2844 ft
Accommodation: Hotel Patria Chica
Hotel services: laundry, restaurant, massages
Meals included: breakfast
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Today, you will enjoy a day of cycling through dramatic landscapes, passing by the traditional Andalusian white village of Carcabuey on your way to your next destination: Priego de Córdoba.
As you leave Zuheros, you can decide whether to take an optional extra loop up to the hilltop town of Baena, protected by a 9th-century Moorish fortress, and surrounded by a sea of olive groves. On the way back to Zuheros, you’ll climb up to the hilltop town of Doña Mencía, from where you can enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding area: olive groves, the Sierra Subbética and medieval foretresses. Here, we recommend brunch of lunch at Restaurante La Paloma 1976 (open Tue – Sun 11am – 6pm).
In the afternoon, take some time to wander the streets of this romantic Andalusian white village, surrounded by the mountains of the Natural Park of Las Sierras Subbéticas. This is one of the key stops on the Route of the Caliphate between Córdoba and Granada, recognised as an official Cultural Route by the European Council.
Casa Banos de la Villa offers a nice relaxing activity in the afternoon, with massages available. We recommend reserving in advance , look here for more info. (On the left hand side click on ”Arab baths and messages”)
Bike shops
Click here for our google maps recommendations!
Tonight, dinner is not included. The hotel restaurant is excellent; however, if you would prefer to explore the town further we recommend Asador La Muralla (open Tue – Sat, 8pm – 12am), located close to the hotel. Priego’s cuisine, made with olive oil with its very own Protected Denomination of Origin, completes this perfect day.
Thursday November 13: Priego de Córdoba – Iznájar
Route: 31.7 km/19.7 miles
Elevation: +528 m/1792 ft
Accommodation: Hotel Caserío de Iznájar
Hotel services: laundry, restaurant, bar
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
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Today you will enjoy a beautiful cycle route through the Natural Park of Sierra Subbética, riding through endless olive trees and along quiet roads that curve through the mountains as you bike south towards the valley of the river Genil. Your destination for today, Iznájar, is a gem of traditional Andalusian architecture: a maze of narrow streets and whitewashed buildings, winding their way up a hill overlooking the impressive reservoir of the same name. The Moors called the town Hins Ashar (stone castle), after the 8th century castle that keeps watch over the area from the top of the hill.
Our route takes us up into the town to explore the winding streets and enjoy the fabulous views, before heading back down to our hotel, located just outside town beside the reservoir.
If you feel like a bit more cycling once you arrive in Iznájar, you can enjoy an optional extra loop around the reservoir and through the foothills of the Sierra Subbética up to Rute, a beautiful moutain town famous for the production of anís: a sweet liqueur made from aniseed. Visit the town’s own Anís Museum (open Mon – Fri, 9am – 2pm) to discover the secrets of this local specialty, and enjoy its prize-winning flower-filled Andalusian patio.
Tonight’s dinner at the hotel is included in your tour package. Please advise reception of your preferred dinner time upon arrival.
Click here for our google maps recommendations!
Friday November 14: Iznájar – Loja
Route: 47 km/29.4 miles or 22.6 km/14 miles
Elevation: +1100 m/3574 ft or +543 m/1782 ft
Accommodation: Hotel Rural La Paloma
Meals included: breakfast
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Today’s ride takes you through beautiful traditional villages, against a background of mountains and endless olive groves. Everywhere, the air is scented with aniseed, thanks to the numerous traditional aniseed distilleries that made the area famous.
You have a few possible cycle routes for today: a long route through the villages, and a more direct route for those who would like to spend the afternoon at the hotel. You also have the option of visiting the charming village of Riofrío, famous for its pure river waters which have made the area a production centre for organic beluga caviar, and consequently a place of pilgrimage for fans of fine gastronomy. The Caviar de Riofrío farm offers guided tours, subject to prior reservation.
Saturday November 15: Loja – Antequera
Route: 43 km/26.7 miles
Elevation: +500 m/+1629 feet
Accommodation: Parador of Antequera
Hotel services: laundry, restaurant, bar, swimming pool
Meals included: breakfast
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Your final cycle route takes you along quiet country roads through the foothills of the Sierra Subbética, passing through olive groves and meadows, and through the medieval frontier town of Archidona, a stage start line for this year’s La Vuelta a España. We recommend a quick stop here to visit the hilltop Moorish fortress. If you’d like to have lunch in Archidona, we suggest Restaurante Arxiduna (open Thu – Sun, 11am – 4pm), set in a natural cave.
The route is largely downhill, allowing you to enjoy a relaxed ride into your final destination: Antequera. When you arrive at your accommodation, please leave your bike with reception for us to collect.
The city of Antequera dates back to time immemorial, to the extent that even the Romans named it “Antikaria”, meaning “ancient”! The city’s Bronze Age dolmens have been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the patchwork of streets reflect the many different eras and cultures that have left their mark in the city over the centuries. The city is surrounded by mountains, of which the most famous is the Peña de los Enamorados (Lovers’ Peak), the base of many local myths and legends.
Click here for our google maps recommendations!
Dinner tonight is not included. The restaurant at the hilltop Parador de Antequera offers delicious local gastronomy with fabulous views; if you would prefer to eat out in the city, we recommend Restaurant Mar de Gloria (open Mon – Sat 7:30pm – 11pm).
Sunday November 16: Antequera
Meals included: breakfast
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Your taxi will pick you up at 11am at the hotel to transfer you back to the Holiday Inn Malaga airport. Enjoy the afternoon in Malaga, we recommend eating some grilled sardines (espetos—on skewers) on the beach. Wash it down with a tinto de verano (summer wine, although it’s November)!
We hope Leanne has had a great Ironman and all of you have enjoyed the tour!
