Andalucia's Sherry Triangle

Sherry Triangle Cycling Tour in Spain

This fabulous self-guided cycling tour explores the Sherry Triangle region on the western cost of Cadiz province in Andalucía. You will enjoy varied rural landscapes and spend time exploring the wonderful towns and bodegas which produce one of Spain's most famous products.

You begin in the spectacular scenery of the Serranía de Ronda mountains and then cycle via traditional white villages to the rolling hills and coastal ports of Spain’s famous sherry-producing region. You visit the three main sherry-producing towns of Jerez de la Frontera, Sanlúcar de Barrameda and Puerto de Santa María, before a final night in the city of Cádiz.

(Prefer walking holidays? Explore our Multi-Day Walking Tours from Ronda.)

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Book Your Tour Now

Overview

 

START:  Ronda     FINISH:  Puerto de Santa Maria

Price	From €1250 p.p. based on 2 people sharing a double or twin room
Duration	8 days	7 nights	5-6 cycling days
Distance	233km total	46km daily avg     ( max 54km - min 41km )
Grading	Moderate - This tour has been designed to follow the 'less-travelled path', cycling on a mix of quiet roads, unsurfaced roads and tracks on hybrid bikes (e-bikes also available). The route keeps riders away from traffic as far as possible. The first two days have the most ascent but as you head further west towards Cádiz, the terrain becomes less mountainous and the days become easier. Optional final days' cycle or take Cadiz ferry.
Availability	March - June | Sep - November  Choose the dates which suit you. Start on any day of the week. N.B. Supplements may apply during Easter week due to inflated accommodation prices.

 

Andalucia Sherry Triangle Tour Highlights 

Culture & History Ronda 'City of Dreams' - Puente Nuevo bridge and 120m gorge Arcos de la Frontera- clifftop town Jerez - Cathedral, castle and flamenco! Sanlucar de Barrameda - bodegas, beaches and salt pans Puerto de Santa Maria - sherry port and home of Osborne's giant metal bulls which decorate the Spanish countryside Opportunity to visit renowned bodegas (wineries) and a sherry museum. Learn about the history and techniques of sherry production

Cycling Highlights Ride on quiet roads and easy unsurfaced tracks, away from traffic Take the less-travelled routes, that tourists rarely discover Spectacular scenery and amazing vistas at every turn –limestone mountains, rolling hills and coastal paths Ride along the seafront of the Bay of Cadiz

Itinerary

 

Arrival Day in Ronda

Extra sightseeing days can be added on request

Check in to your hotel and enjoy the sights and sounds of the beautiful clifftop town of Ronda. Briefing and bike set-up will take place on your first evening.  

 

Cycling Day 1 - Ronda to Zahara de la Sierra

38km +602m

Your cycling tour begins by riding down to the bottom of Ronda’s valley, for spectacular views of the famous Puente Nuevo bridge. You climb out of the valley and then head out into the countryside and a region of limestone mountains. You skirt the edge of the Grazalema Natural Park, descending past vineyards and olive groves, to then cycle along the length of Zahara Lake. A short climb to finish takes you up into the village of Zahara de la Sierra and your overnight accommodation, overlooked by the Arab fortress, which is perched at the top of the village.

Cycling Day 2 - Zahara to Arcos de la Frontera

50km +745m

Leaving Zahara, you ride on an undulating road through arable farmland and open countryside. To your left, you will see dramatic mountain crags but your route avoids the toughest climbs, so you can just enjoy the views. You reach Arcos reservoir and enter the lowest levels of the town. You will stay in the heart of the old town – the short ride today allows you longer to explore the steep narrow streets on foot; see the church of Santa Maria (with its unfinished tower, where the church guardian still lives) and, on the opposite side of the church plaza, a balcony with views from the top of the cliff down to the river.

 

Cycling Day 3 - Arcos to Jerez de la Frontera

46km +329m

Descending into the countryside below Arcos gives fantastic views of the clifftop town. This is now easy riding on a quiet road, whilst the traffic uses the newer and faster main road. You will ride close to the Jerez motor racing circuit, before entering the outskirts of Jerez, the main town of the ‘Sherry Triangle’. 

Take some time for a late lunch in this historic town, maybe visit the cathedral, the Alcazar or begin your sherry experience with a bodega (winery) tour and tasting. Bodegas Tio Pepe and Lustau offer afternoon tours in English (subject to season). Or add an extra night in Jerez to give you plenty of time to explore this historic town and take in a bodega tour in the morning (offered in moany bodeagas every day).

Learn about the history and techniques of sherry production in this unique region of southern Spain, including tastings of classic varieties of sherry, from bone-dry fino and nutty oloroso to super-sweet Pedro Ximenez.

Cycling Day 4 - Jerez to Sanlucar de Barrameda

41km +260m

From Jerez, you ride northwest, heading towards the Atlantic, through the heart of the chalk hills which provide the perfect growing soil for sherry’s main Palomino grapes. You arrive in Sanlúcar in an area that was once under the sea before the land was reclaimed and the castle found itself no longer on the seafront, but now in the heart of the town.

Check in to your hotel and take a short walk up to the castle and the Barbadilla winery and the Sherry museum. The museum includes explanations of grape varieties used in sherry production, the story behind the invention of sherry vinegar and many artifacts and pieces of machinery that have been used for centuries in the production of the region’s world-renowned products. Then take a stroll down to the beach, a wide expanse of flat sand where horse racing takes place at low tide on summer evenings, in Europe’s oldest equestrian event.

 

Cycling Day 5 - Sanlucar to Puerto de Santa Maria

43km +235m

Head south-westwards, continuing through the Sherry Triangle region. You will ride through fertile and highly cultivated flatlands, where a wide variety of vegetables and fruits are grown. Eventually, you head closer to the coastline, following the seafront of the Bay of Cádiz to the mouth of the Guadalete River and the port of Puerto de Santa Maria.

Visit the Osborne bodega, where some of the finest sherries are produced and shipped around the world. Osborne is also the home of the giant metal bull billboards which are dotted through Spain’s landscape, creating one of the most iconic images of the country. Discover their history in the bodega museum.

In the afternoon, relax in the town, visit the castle, or cross the river and take a walk along the 6km Playa de Levante beach.

 

Cycling Day 6 (optional) Puerto to Cadiz; Sightseeing in Cadiz

41km +185m

Historical sights of Cadiz

This morning you can choose to either cycle or take a short ferry trip across the bay to the historic city of Cádiz, for your final night. 

The city is famous for its long maritime history, having been founded by the Phoenicians in 1100 and being the main port of the Catholic Kings at the time of the discovery of America and the New World. The cathedral has striking twin towers and an impressive, yellow-tiled, Moorish-style dome, with a lovely plaza in front. The Museo de Las Cortes has many interesting artefacts and paintings which chart the changing size and shape of the city over the centuries. The botanic gardens overlooking the sea contain species brought back from travels worldwide. Soak up the atmosphere in the old town’s narrow streets or at the seafront fort or simply go to the beach – this city has something for everyone!

 

Day 8 - Departure Day

Extra sightseeing days can be added on request

Check out from your hotel and say goodbye to Cadiz.

We hope you have enjoyed the sights, sounds and tastes of Andalucia and the Sherry Triangle on this unique cycling tour.

We can provide transfers to your next destination or airports of Sevilla or Malaga. POA

What's Included

 

WHAT'S INCLUDED 7 nights of accommodation on a B&B basis  Luggage transfers Quality hybrid bike (or e-bike, supplement applies) Optional seat-post rear bag and/or handlebar bag for your daily needs (we recommend travelling light) Helmet & water bottle (or bring your own) Toolkit (multi-tool, chain tool and speed links, tyre levers, inner tube, pump, puncture repair aerosol) Overnight lock Route GPS (phone App with daily routes, profiles, and maps, no Data-usage required) or GPX files Handlebar phone mount (normally 1 per couple/family) Annotated route maps  Briefing Pack, incl advice, tips, and day-by-day route notes Briefing meeting on arrival  Bike collection from cycling finish point See our suggested KIT LIST for cycle touring in Spain.

ACCOMMODATION Your tour goes through a mix of large and small towns and more rural areas, so the accommodation style and standard will vary greatly. In the larger towns, we usually book 4-star or 3-star hotels; outside of these, you will stay in countryside haciendas, boutique B&Bs or traditional-style village hotels. On this tour, there is one night in a self-catering apartment (much nicer than the village's only hostal, with breakfast cafes close by). All rooms have en-suite facilities. Our selections are based on clean and comfortable accommodation (if sometimes quite simple), friendly owners and staff, a warm welcome, bike storage, and sometimes a swimming pool too.

 

FAQs

 

 

IS THERE A LOT OF TRAFFIC ON THE ROUTE?

All our Leisure Cycling Tours are designed to follow the ‘less travelled path. The route avoids traffic as much as possible, cycling on a mix of quiet country roads and unsurfaced tracks. It is not off-road mountain biking, so is perfect for cyclists on our hybrid bikes (or e-bikes) who are keen to explore the countryside. Drivers in Andalucia are generally very considerate to cyclists.

 

HOW FIT DO I NEED TO BE?

All our Leisure Cycling Tours are graded at a ‘Moderate’ level with daily distances from 20-55km, depending on the specific tour. There are hills in every tour but we keep daily distances manageable, particularly on days with more hills. These tours are designed for leisure cyclists who are reasonably fit and happy to be on a bike for 3-5 hours a day. Check the individual tour Itinerary for a daily breakdown of distance and ascent.

 

WHAT’S THE WEATHER LIKE?

Our cycling tours run from March through to November, with the best cycling weather from March to June and from September to November. Most routes are also possible during the summer months but we recommend an earlier start to beat the main heat of the day, and don’t forget to carry plenty of water.

 

WHAT HAPPENS TO MY LUGGAGE?

We transfer all your main luggage for you. We provide a rear seat trunk bag or small side pannier and a handlebar bag (per couple) to carry a few essential items with you each day e.g. water, snacks, sunscreen, but we recommend you travel light.

 

HOW DO I NAVIGATE EACH DAY?

Navigation on this tour is very easy with our phone app. RidewithGPS. We provide personalised daily routes from door-to-door of each day’s accommodation. The app shows maps and daily routes in great detail, with distances and route profiles, so you always know what is coming up. The app is used in offline mode so you do not need to use Data on your phone and can still navigate in areas where there is no phone signal.

 

WHAT HAPPENS IF I HAVE A PUNCTURE OR PROBLEM WITH MY BIKE?

On this self-guided tour, we provide all the necessary kit on your bikes for you to fix your own flat tyres or deal with minor mechanical issues (e.g. broken chain). If you do not know how, ask a bike mechanic at home to show you before your holiday or check our Bike Repair notes at the bottom of every webpage. If you need our assistance, you can call us on the number provided and we will help as much as possible on the phone; we may be able to attend to minor mechanical issues but this may be subject to a charge. In the case of a more major mechanical issue, we we will come to repair the bike or bring a replacement.

 

WHAT MEALS ARE INCLUDED?

All accommodation includes breakfast (unless specifically stated). Lunch and dinner are not included, so you are free to eat when and where you wish. We mark up your map with suggested lunch locations. Your hosts can recommend dining options, or sometimes they will serve dinner – this information will be included in your daily route notes.

 

IS THIS TOUR AVAILABLE WITH A GUIDE / SUPPORT?

We can offer a guided version of this tour with qualified guides and support vehicles or a semi-supported version with a support vehicle and driver/mechanic. There is a minimum requirement of 6 people to be able to provide this service. Please do not hesitate to enquire about price and availability.

 

WHAT IF I NEED TO CANCEL OR CHANGE MY BOOKING?

If you need to cancel or change the dates of a booking, we have a scaled set of charges based on the work already completed and any costs already incurred which we cannot get back. If you re-book a holiday with us within 12 months of a cancellation which has incurred charges, we will credit up to 50% of the retained amount to the new holiday. Our full cancellation policy can be found here