Bike Touring Sierra Espuña | Quiet Roads and Scenic Climbs

I kicked off the ride with a steep little warm-up climb out of my hotel in El Berro — a quiet and incredibly pretty village that’s ideal for cyclists and hikers wanting to explore Sierra Espuña’s natural beauty. You’re surrounded by rugged, pine-covered mountains and deep ravines, with barely a car in sight. The route starts on Carretera Juan Bautista, winding gently into the heart of the Parque Regional de Sierra Espuña. This protected area spans over 25,000 hectares and climbs up past 1,500 metres in elevation. Once heavily deforested, the park was reforested in the late 1800s by the legendary Ricardo Codorníu, now known as “The Apostle of the Tree” — and it really shows! 🌲 The first half of the ride was a dream: smooth roads, pine forests, and minimal traffic. I cruised up to the Fuente del Hilo restaurant, a popular cyclist hangout tucked into the forest near the visitor centre. After a quick stop for some local pastries and a sandwich, I pushed on past the Ricardo Codorníu centre and dropped into an incredible 10km descent toward Alhama de Murcia. The descent? Honestly one of my favourites ever. No cars, no braking, no pedalling — just flowy curves through the trees with views that stretched all the way to the distant plains. Pure cycling bliss. 🌀💨 At the bottom, I turned away from the town and headed up the Cuestas del Marqués — a climb that winds its way 9km back up toward El Berro. It wasn’t too steep, which was lucky because my legs were already feeling it! But the scenery made it worth every pedal stroke: orchards, vineyards, dramatic ridgelines, and even views across to the Barrancos de Gebas, the surreal badlands below. Halfway up, I stopped for water, took in the view, and gathered my energy for the final push. Near the top, the road was packed with tight hairpin turns — super fun to ride and very Insta-worthy 😍 Before long, I rolled back into El Berro, sweaty and happy, after what turned out to be a perfect afternoon loop.