Spain’s Most Beautiful Cycling Route? Grazalema Loop Ride

⸻ 🚴‍♂️ Ride Details:
• Start: Zahara de la Sierra
• Main Climb: Puerto de las Palomas (14km | 6.7% avg | 830m gain)
• Midpoint Stop: Grazalema (lunch + village tour)
• Loop Distance: Approx. 40–50km depending on route variations
• Bike Used: S-Works (custom paint job)

⸻ 🌍 Location Highlights:
• Zahara de la Sierra: A hilltop village with Moorish origins and breathtaking views of the reservoir. • Puerto de las Palomas: One of Andalusia’s best cycling climbs, popular with locals and pros alike.
• Grazalema: A historic village nestled in the mountains, known for its traditional architecture and local cuisine.
• Garganta Verde: A massive limestone canyon visible from scenic viewpoints along the ride.

⸻ 🎥 About This Vlog: This video is part of my cycling vlog series exploring epic roads and off-the-beaten-path routes around the world. I’m all about scenic climbs, cultural stops, and capturing those quiet, magical moments you find when traveling by bike. If you enjoy beautiful landscapes, cycling challenges, and discovering hidden gems, be sure to subscribe and check out more videos on the channel!

Join me for an unforgettable ride through one of southern Spain’s most underrated and spectacular cycling destinations—the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park.
This scenic adventure begins in Zahara de la Sierra and takes me up the legendary Puerto de las Palomas climb, before descending into the charming village of Grazalema and looping back along quiet countryside roads.
The Sierra de Grazalema might not be as famous as Spain’s bigger national parks, but that’s part of what makes it so special. Tucked away in the province of Cádiz, it’s a true hidden gem for cyclists—offering a mix of dramatic limestone peaks, winding mountain roads, and picturesque whitewashed villages that feel like they belong on a postcard.
I started the day in Zahara de la Sierra, one of Andalusia’s most photogenic villages, perched high on a hillside overlooking the shimmering blue reservoir below. From there, the goal was clear: climb the Puerto de las Palomas, a challenging and beautiful ascent that climbs about 830 meters over 14 kilometers, with gradients that hit up to 14%.
As I pedaled out of Zahara, the views back toward the reservoir were absolutely breathtaking. Spring was in full bloom, and wildflowers lined the road—creating a colorful frame to the ever-expanding vistas. The higher I climbed, the more rugged the terrain became, with dramatic rock formations and sweeping views in every direction. The Puerto de las Palomas is a proper mountain climb—averaging 6.7% but throwing in some punchy ramps just to keep things interesting.
One of the coolest parts of this climb is that you can often see the road winding way up ahead of you, stacked with tight switchbacks as it snakes up the mountainside. It’s motivating… and a little intimidating too! A quick stop at the Mirador Puerto de los Acebuches gave me a glimpse of the incredible Garganta Verde canyon, with its sheer limestone cliffs and deep crevices carved by centuries of erosion. These lookout points are worth the pause—they’re reminders of just how wild and powerful this landscape is. The final stretch of the climb is unreal. Tight hairpins cling to the side of the mountain, and each turn reveals a new jaw-dropping view back down the valley. When I finally reached the summit at 1,357 meters, the sense of reward was huge. The climb had tested the legs—but the views, the atmosphere, and the descent made it all worthwhile. Just 5 kilometers from the summit sits Grazalema, another whitewashed village rich with history and charm. Nestled at 810 meters, it’s a beautiful spot to take a break. I stopped for lunch and enjoyed albóndigas con patatas—classic Spanish meatballs with potatoes. Simple, comforting, and well-deserved after the climb. From Grazalema, the ride continued along peaceful backroads—rolling through farmlands bathed in golden afternoon light. At one point, I stopped beside a herd of goats, who seemed very interested in the custom paint job on my S-Works bike! The final leg of the ride took me back down to the valley floor and along the shores of the reservoir, returning full circle to Zahara de la Sierra. It was one of those rides that had everything: a tough but rewarding climb, jaw-dropping scenery, quiet roads, great food, and unexpected moments that made the day unforgettable.