Cycle Tour I Circumnavigation the Iberian Peninsula I Spain and Portugal I Stage 6 - Southern Spain
This seventh stage I leave the Bed & Breakfast located on the seafront of San Luis de Sabinillas and the route winds along the coastline of Costa del Sol of the EuroVelo 8 runs mostly flat, passing by the seaside resorts with their splendid beaches of Estepona, Marbella, Mijas, Fuengirola, Benalmádena with its beautiful beaches.
Then, I cycled a beautiful route southwest of Málaga passes through the Guadalhorce Natural Park and after the picturesque sandy beach of San Andrés (Huelin), the town of Vélez-Málaga and along the road in the off coat area of Benajarafe is located on top of a promontory the Moya tower and finally the town of Torre del Mar situated in the municipality of Vélez-Málaga on the Malaga coast, Costa del Sol with its beautiful beaches..
.In this town I stayed at the BQ Andalucía Beach Hotel where I settled in I took a walk along the promenade along the seafront has clubs, restaurants, cafes and the landmark of Antiguo Castillo de Torre del Mar but no castle to see was just a plaque on a piece of wall but there was a beautiful square with a fountain and white houses.
The next day I left the hotel and followed the cycle path of the town of Torre del Mar, near the sea; it was a corridor of palm trees continuing along a coastal road with curves that wound on uneven terrain, with sections up and down through beautiful coastal landscapes, passing Torrox-Costa and in the coastal area of Nerja on the right hand side of the road you could see the imposing structure of the Aqueduct of the Águila (Eagle Aqueduct), also known as the Bridge of the Águila (Puente del Águila) and still used today by the local community to irrigate the farmland.
After that in the coastal area of Nerja the road consists of a long challenging climb and long sections of quiet deserted road and a great coastal scenery that initially skirt the cliffs of the promontory of Punta de la Mona to the town of Almuñécarn located in the southwestern part of the comarca of the Costa Granadina, in the province of Granada.
This beautiful town of Almuñécar was visible from the road was positioned between the mountains, the fertile green valley and the sea and after crossing the tunnel of "Punta de la Mona", and from afar you could see perched on a hill you could see the town of Salobreña with the castle of Salobreña overlooking the sea.
Then arrived at the town of Motril another tunnel but not long and at the exit other coastal views road passing areas and villages seen from the road the village of Gualchos framed by a beautiful melting, splendid beaches with a blue sea,
Continuing other coastal towns such as Lujar, Rubite where you go through another tunnel arriving at the village of Castillo de Baños where I camped at Camping Bungalows de Baños is situated in the same named village, located by the sea on the Tropical Coast of Granada
Day 43 I Bed & Breakfast, Manilva - San Luis De Babinillas - BQ Andalucia Beach Hotel, Faro Del Torre, Malaga I Spain
Day 44 I BQ Andalucia Beach Hotel, Faro Del Torre, Malaga - Camping Castillo Baños, Polopos in the Coast of Granada I Spain Lujar
Video 2 I Camping Castillo Baños, Polopos, Granada to Camping Bellavista, Aguilar I Spain
Day 44 I BQ Andalucia Beach Hotel, Faro Del Torre, Malaga - Camping Castillo Baños, Polopos in the Coast of Granada I Spain Lujar
Day 45 I Camping Castillo Baños, Polopos in the Coast of Granada - Hostel Delfin Verde, Almeria I Spain
Day 46 I Hostel Delfin Verde, Almeria - Camping Bellavista, Águilas I Spain
From Camping Castillo de Bonos I passed the coastal towns of La Guapa, Polopos, El Pozuelo and a few miles inland the area of Albuñol then the town of El Toril is a hamlet in Adra while Adra has beautiful sandy beaches located of the foothills of the Sierra de la Contraviesa.
Then in the coastal region of Vicare in Almeria passing by he El Ejido and La Gangosa coast, area dedicated to intensive greenhouse agriculture surrounded by a sea , often referred to as the “plastic sea.” Not nice to see!
Afet that I cycled along a road on the rugged coastline of the Enix area with many images of the breathtaking views that open up, curve after curve until arriving at El Zapillo is a neighborhood in Almería.
Where I stayed at the Hotslal Delfin Verde located near the beach and in this hotel they had stayed the musical group of Beatles and the owner had on the wall some photos of them when they had stayed at this hotel.
Leaving Hoatlal Delfin Verde early in the morning and pedaling along the coast, setting Google Maps for my next destination and pedaling along an isolated strip of dry vegetation that bordered the highway to my left, arriving in Níjar and after crossing a land rich in greenhouse crops, it was difficult to imagine that such a natural jewel could appear to be the entrance to the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park/Parque natural del Cabo de Gata-Níjar (in Spanish).
It is a natural park declared a Biosphere Reserve, with a semi-desert and volcanic character in the municipality of Níjar, the largest protected coastal area in Andalusia, in the province of Almería. However, another large area of this natural park falls within the municipality of Carboneras.
Cycling through this beautiful park was a unique experience: roads that wind through unspoiled mountainous landscapes with desert landscapes, incredible rock formations, a rugged volcanic landscape and small picturesque villages.
The park combines a sea and beaches but there is no coastal road that connects the various beautiful locations but there is the possibility of following one of the many trekking paths to reach the crystalline beaches, imposing cliffs.
Arriving at the town of Carboneras is set against a beautiful landscapeIt and is beside Cabo de gata's Natural park. Then the coastal road winds in a continuous zigzag with the ups and downs and surrounded by magnificent landscapes of uncontaminated and wild nature of the sea and all that surrounds it. On the coastline there was the ghost Algarrobico Hotel an Illegal construction of the abandoned and never been finished located in the natural park of Cabo de Gata in Carboneras.
Afterwards the road ran closer to the sea passing by Macena with its beautiful beaches, the charming fishing village of Garrucha, and close to the sea there is the Castillo de San Ramón / Las Escobetas is a fortress, with two circular towers, which defended the coast from pirate attacks.
Then the coast district of Villaricos located in Cuevas del Almanzora and along the coast you pass in front of the Castillo de Villaricos was built in the 18th century as a watchtower finally the locality of aguilas is situated at the southern end of Murcia's Mediterranean coastline. And at the Bellavista campsite where I stopped for one night is located the Playa Matalentisco a blue flag beach with a dog friendly area plus there are the concrete bunkers built during the Spanish Civil War.
Video 1 I Bed & Breakfast, Manilva - San Luis De Babinillas - Camping Castillo Baños, Polopos, Granada I Spain
Day 47 I Camping Bellavista, Águilas - Camping Lo Monte, Torre de la Horadada, Alicante I Spain
Day 48 I Camping Lo Monte, Torre de la Horadada, Alicante - Camping Santa Clara, Altea, Alicante I Spain
Leaving the Águilas campsite I continued towards The Calnegre and Cabo Cope Regional Park is a part of the EuroVelo 8 (network of long-distance cycling routes across Europe) cycling route, located between Águilas and Lorca, is a protected area in Lorca, Spain, known for its beaches, rocks, and natural caves. It is a stunning natural gem located in the southern part of the Region of Murcia Region close to the border with Andalucia.
Afterwards, the route runs along very quiet rural roads, with several challenging climbs crossing the Park with many images of the breathtaking views that open up, curve after curve, until I reach Mazarrón and the route runs parallel to the beaches passing through the The beach Del Playa Del Alamillo is a wide beach with some parking at the side of the main road that runs along it.
I was relaxing on one of the benches and I had met Barbara a woman from Germany who also traveled alone by bike who was heading after Spain in Africa. After a chat with Barbera, a very nice person, I continued on to other climbs in the Cartagena area and climbing the Alto de la Cuesta. 352m and ending at the Camping Lo Monte, Torre de la Horadada in the south of Alicante.
Leaving the campsite the road wound through flat coastal terrain where I passed the resort of Guardamar. The cycle path and main road ran alongside a pine forest on the side, lemon trees and coastal views of the sea. Then the road ran alongside on my right to the Parque Natural de Las Salinas de Santa Pola is a natural park located Bajo Vinalopó region, south of the province of Alicante
Arriving in Alicante I passed the Regatta Club, the port, the the wonderful waterfront Ensanche is Central district of Alicante which also includes the city's western beach, with shops and restaurants.
Once I left that beautiful area of Alicante I headed north on the road wound up hills and ups and downs passing El Campello and Cada d'Or and the seaside of Benidorm, Altea where I camped at the Santa Clara Camping is surrounded by nature, close to the sea and to the town of Altea. It is located in the Valencian Community, on the section of Mediterranean coast called the Costa Blanca.
Video 3 I Camping Bellavista, Aguilar to Camping Santa Clara, Altea, Alicante I Spain
Day 49 I Camping Santa Clara, Altea, Alicante - Hostal Andrés (El Saler), Poblados del Sur, Valencia I Spain
Day 50 IHostal Andrés (El Saler), Poblados del Sur, Valencia - Camping Torrenostra Torreblanca, Castelló I Spain
Day 51 I Camping Torrenostra Torreblanca, Castelló - Camping Joan Bungalow Park Cambrils, Tarragona (Costa Daurata) I Spain
Video 4 I Camping Santa Clara, Altea, Alicante to Camping Joan Bungalow Park Cambrils, Tarragona (Costa Daurata) I Spain
Day 52 Camping Joan Bungalow Park Cambrils, Tarragona (Costa Daurata) - Hotel EL Tiburon, Castelldefels, Barcelona) I Spain
Day 53 I Hotel EL Tiburon, Castelldefels, Barcelona - Camping Globo Barcelona, Canet de Mar, Barcelona I Spain
Day 54 I Camping Globo Barcelona, Canet de Mar, Barcelona - Hotel La Jonquera, La Janquera, Girona ( near the French Border) I Spain
Video 5 I Camping Joan Bungalow Park Cambrils, Tarragona (Costa Daurata to Camping Globo Barcelona, Canet de Mar, Barcelona I Spain