Andalusia Cycling Tour – Southern Spain

Malaga – Ronda – 98 km – 2 000m of elevation

Our first cycling day under the beautiful Andalusian sun! After around 40 km leaving the busy city life behind, we’ll tackle our first proper climb on quiet mountain roads.

From there, we’ll spend most of the day climbing through the beautiful Andalusian countryside, with some lovely views along the way. The reward comes at the end, with a long 10 km descent taking us straight to the historic and spectacular town of Ronda, famous for its impressive Puente Nuevo (New Bridge), built over a deep gorge.

Ronda loop -106 km – 2 150m of elevation

Today we’ll explore the beautiful countryside around Ronda, riding on winding, quiet roads with very little traffic. Three main climbs await us, none of them particularly steep, but with plenty of smaller hills in between – it’s actually quite difficult to find any flat roads here! We’ll spend most of the day at around 600 metres of altitude, so don’t be surprised if we get a little wind.
A beautiful loop through the Andalusian mountains, with lovely scenery almost all day long.

Ronda – El Chorro – 92 km – 1 800m of elevation

Today we’re leaving Ronda to reach El Chorro, one of the highlights of our Andalusia cycling tour. We’ll start with a long, steady climb on beautiful winding roads, followed by a lovely descent towards El Burgo. Two more climbs of around 5 km will take us further into the Andalusian mountains before reaching the spectacular landscapes of El Chorro. Before the hotel, you can choose an extra 5 km climb, with some very steep sections but absolutely amazing views from the top! Otherwise, head straight to the hotel, relax by the pool and enjoy the incredible view overlooking the reservoir.

El Chorro – Vélez-Málaga – 115 km – 2 500m of elevation

A challenging start today, with some steep gradients on beautiful winding mountain roads. The scenery is quite spectacular, and some sections might even remind you of a smaller version of the Dolomites! By halfway through the ride, you’ll already have climbed around 1,500 metres. Fortunately, the second half is a little easier, with steadier climbs and some amazing views towards the Mediterranean Sea.
On a clear day, you’ll even be able to see Málaga in the distance. A final beautiful descent will take us to Vélez-Málaga, where we’ll spend the next two nights.

Vélez-Málaga Loop – 82 km – 1 450m of elevation

For our fifth ride, we’ll start by heading towards the Mediterranean coast, with the chance to stop by the sea and even dip your feet in the water! From there, we’ll turn back inland, leaving the coast behind to discover some of the beautiful white villages of Andalusia. Expect quiet, winding roads, a few lovely climbs and some great views over the surrounding mountains.
After passing through several traditional villages, we’ll enjoy a beautiful descent back to Vélez-Málaga, with plenty of time to relax before dinner.

Vélez-Málaga – Málaga – 76 km – 1 577m of elevation

Already the last ride of our Andalusian cycling adventure! We’ll start by riding part of Ride 4 in reverse, before turning off towards probably the toughest climb of the week: 4.5 km at a very steady 10% gradient – definitely one to remember! But the climbing isn’t quite over yet, as another 10 km climb awaits, with plenty of ups and downs along the way.

After all these beautiful days in the Andalusian mountains, we’ll finally reach the Mediterranean coast and enjoy the last kilometres along the sea, all the way to Málaga, our final destination.