CYCLING IN ANDALUSIA
The biking in Andalucia starting from Almáchar is varied, fun and challenging. The mountains surrounding the village range between 200 and 2000 meters, but the training begins down in the village. Some of the hills inside the village are so steep that the tops can barely be reached by bicycle. Experiencing the village is a challenging yet pleasurable place for interval training, whether by bicycle or on foot.
Starting from the village you can go on 100 km and even 200 km bicycle tours without encountering heavy traffic. Meeting only two cars per hour is not unusual at all if you, for example, choose the climb to the village of Comares, which is situated 600 meters above sea level, and then continue making your way along the mountainside until you reach the villages of Colmenar and Alfarnate situated closest to the mountaintops with peaks on 1500 meters altitude.
The restaurant Venta del Alfarnate started 500 years ago and has a delicious meny enforcering you during the 50 km challenging climb from Almáchar. The line to the entrance is mainly crowded of local Spanish people. Unlike many cities on Costa del Sol, Almáchar offers cycling in immediate contact with Andalusian nature and with very little, to no traffic at all, and with few meetings with tourists, unless some bike riders from all over the world.
The air in the mountains is fresh and the possibilities many. You can take a different route each day and still travel 1000 km in a week. The mainland offers new routes for several weeks, even if you start from Almáchar and make day trips. You learn Mallorca in a week, cycling is more limited there. Around Almáchar, you can do tours of different degrees of difficulty. A short pass is the beautiful road past El Borge, the 8.15 km downhill run to Benamargosa and the 40 km climb back to Almáchar.
A challenging daytrip for the physically fit is Almáchar–Pico Veleta up in the mountains of Sierra Nevada, 3398 meters above sea level. Unfortunately, you need to walk the last thirty meters. I once met a cyclist who, almost at the top, chose to lift and carry his bicycle through the last bit of tough, rocky mountain terrain. But it was perhaps worth it – his friend photographed him lifting his bicycle against the blue sky, with Pico Mulhacen, 3 493 meters above sea level, the highest peak in Spain, as the background.
310 kilometres and 7000 altimeters in a single day is a test in strength and endurance, even for the fittest. This trip is best in June when most of the snow has melted, and temperatures are still moderately cool. Even then, you still have to make your way through seven-meter-high walls of snow to get up to the plateau, where you can see the Mediterranean Sea behind the mountains.
Have you got energy for an extra eighteen kilometres? Cool down with a well-deserved sea bath in Torre del Mar. 328 km will then be the total distance travelled.
In Almáchar, the coldest part of the winter is in January and February, when the average daytime temperature is 16 degrees in the shade. In December during the darkest period of the year, dusk starts at approximately 6.30 pm.
SUGGESTED BICYCLE ROUTES
- Make the challenging climb up to Comares, situated 26 km from Almáchar, ends with an 18 percent steep slope in the centre of the village. At the top, a lonely old lady longing for someone to chat with, might try to drag you into her home and offer you sweet almonds.
- In the neighbouring village El Borge, 3 km from Almáchar, there is a beautiful plaza, an old church and several well thought of restaurant. Posada del Bandolero sticks out.
- Alhama de Granada with the hot springs (pleasant on a cool winter day, if you are ever honoured with one). The church and the ravine next to the square filled with restaurants are well worth the tough, but moderate distance100 km, day round-trip.
- Venta de Alfarnate is the oldest restaurant in all of Andalusia with excellent, traditional Spanish food at a low price. It is located 50 km up the mountains. The food tastes even better if you make your way here on a bicycle. Downhill mostly the way back to the hotel. The pointed mountain peaks are excellent alpine hiking.
- The peaceful, charming and relatively non-touristy coastal village Maro, located 50 km away from Almáchar. I recommend taking a whole day here to soak up the calm atmosphere, and experience the lovely, calm beach between two dramatic cliffs.
- Bike eastwards along the sea to the village of Almuñécar. Continue up the mountains to the village of Otívar. When you have reached the peak, turn off to the left to Alhama de Granada and Zafarraya. Then downhill all the valley, and finally just a short climb to Almáchar. This is a 198 km trip with spectacular views all the way.
- Cycle from Almáchar past Benamocarra and Cajiz. Continue along the sea and take off towards Totalan. Aim for the top of the mountain. Here there is a section with an 18 percent gradient, but the names of famous cyclists painted in the asphalt prompt you to reach the top. Continue towards Comares and Benamargosa. The final climb is 8.15 km, but the gradient is mostly modest. Back, the meter reads 90 km, if you took the turn up to the center of Comares to take in the view.
