Nerja – Torre de Mar – Velez Ma – Puerto del sol – Alfarnate

Nerja, Velez, Periana, Puerta del Sol, Velez, Nerja,

This a big day out on the bike with a bit of everything that cycling in the Axarquia has to offer. The day’s climbing challenges are sandwiched between coastal sections that are relatively flat for this part of Andalucía.

Starting in Nerja the route proceeds west on the old coastal road towards Torre del Mar.  Initially the way is flanked on the left by the sea and steep cliffs on the right. The coastal towns of Torrox, Algorobbo, Caleta and Torre del Mar lie on the route offering a nice variety of options for food and drink stops if you fancy it.  After Torre the road turns inland and towards the large settlement of Velez Malaga, our regional capital. Velez also has a great bike shop , Bike Philosophy, much frequented for both sales and repairs by local ciclistas. Continuing on and out of  the town the route soon becomes more rural and tranquil. Little hamlets are dotted along the way amongst the plantations of avocados, lemons and mangos. The road gradually climbs upwards towards the villages of La Vinuela and Puente de Manuel where a turning to the left leads to the climb up to Periana.  The area around here is famous for olive oil and the fruitful trees are abundant on the surrounding hillsides. It’s a steady 7km climb to Periana with great views back down to the azul waters of the Embalse de Vinuela emerging on your left. This is the local reservoir serving much of the Axarquia coastal area and is also  a venue for water sports.

Periana itself is a traditional Andalusian town with a large Balcon, or viewing point, overlooking the area to the South and over the Embalse to the shimmering  sea in the distance. It offers numerous options for a drink and some food which you are advised to make use of given the shortage of options from now on for a while. 

 After leaving the Periana a turning to the right marks the start of the tough but beautiful climb to the Puerta Del Sol. This much locally revered section of road winds upwards into the Sierra for 6,5 kms at an average gradient of 6.5 kms.  However, some of the multitude of hairpins are much steeper and this disrupts your cycling rhythm at times. As you head upwards try to enjoy the amazing views and mountain scenery surrounding this isolated little road that is extremely quiet with little traffic.  On cresting the climb, you have attained an altitude of 1078 meters since leaving the coast and a signpost celebrates this and offers a nice photo opportunity.

A relatively short descent leads to the quiet village of Alfarnate lying on the plain beneath the mountains.  There is a less Mediterranean feel here and the weather is a little fresher. However, the beauty of the mountains still predominates up  here and the village itself is quiet yet friendly. There are a few bars and a famous bandits inn in the area where you can have a break after the tough section of climbing required to reach here.  After the village the road heads firstly towards Loja and then Zaffaraya through a stunning landscape of rugged mountains and limescale strewn meadows. This is by no means a flat section of road which rises and falls over some smaller yet testing passes.  Heading east riders can catch a glimpse of the peaks of the Sierra Nevada, often snow-capped, in the distance and the destination for another ride described here.

On arriving in Ventas de Zaffaraya, you pass the twin rocks of the Passo straight into a swooping descent with incredible views to both the neighbouring  mountains and over to the sea to the south. This is another quiet road but make sure that you keep to the right, especially on the bends, as it is sometimes used by lorries transporting vegetables around the area.  As you descend the temperature rapidly increases after emerging from the cooler inland side of the mountains. Only too quickly the descent levels out at Puente de Don Manuel and pedalling is once again needed to make progress.  From here the route back to Nerja is the same as the outward leg in reverse.