Via Verde del Aceite (5d)

You’ve likely already arrived in the charming city of Jaén a bit earlier, but today the journey really begins. After receiving all your travel documents and bikes (if you’re renting), you’ll be transported from the hotel to the start of the Vía Verde del Aceite. You’ll then enjoy a relaxed ride to the beautiful town of Martos, where you can take a stroll through the town in the afternoon and visit the famous castle.

From Martos, the route leads us through a sea of olive trees. Everywhere you look, you’ll see white farmhouses. Alongside the path, there are ditches where large rabbit populations have dug their burrows. You’ll cycle through a quiet part of the route until you reach the town of Alcaudete, the overnight stop for this stage. In Alcaudete, you can take a walk through the historic district, visit the Calatrava castle, and explore the well-known factories where sweets are made.

We leave the province of Jaén and cross the Guadajoz River via a viaduct into the province of Córdoba. The route offers stunning views of the castle of Zuheros, perched high on a rock, and the canyon of the Bailón River. From Zuheros, you might want to take a side trip to the ‘Cueva de los Murciélagos,’ or bat cave. You’ll also see the mountains of the Sierras Subbéticas Natural Park & Geopark rising before you. We arrive in Doña Mencía, where we’ll stay in a modern hotel with a swimming pool. The wine museum of Doña Mencía is definitely worth a visit.

This is a stage full of contrasts. You’ll see old trenches from the time of the Civil War and pass the La Sima viaduct. At the old Cabra station along the route, you’ll find the enormous steam locomotive that for decades pulled the tren del aceite (the oil train) along the route we are now cycling. The stage ends in the lively town of Lucena, with its many shopping streets and terraces, where we can enjoy a relaxing afternoon.

The end of our journey is approaching, and the sea of olive trees gives way to small vineyards of the Montilla-Moriles grape (D.O.). At the old station of Las Navas del Selpillar, a museum has been set up where you can learn everything about this grape variety, which is very important for the region. You’ll continue cycling a bit further to Puente Genil. There, someone from the travel organization will be waiting to collect the bikes and take you to the train station (high-speed line) in Puente Genil or to Lucena. You can also request to be taken somewhere else, even back to the starting point in Jaén (additional costs apply).

• From the endpoint in Puente Genil, you can travel to your destination by private transfer, train or bus.
• Because you cannot reach the train station from the endpoint of the Vía Verde by bus, you first travel with our short transfer (± 15 minutes) to Puente Genil–Herrera.
  • To reach Málaga Airport, you travel by train and metro or bus in approximately 2 hours (with one transfer).
    Prefer comfort and speed? With a private transfer, you will arrive in approximately 1.5 hours and this can be arranged through us.
  • To reach Granada Airport, you travel by train and bus in approximately 3 hours (with one or two transfers).
    A private transfer is also possible here and will take you to the starting point in approximately 1.5 hours and can be arranged through us.
• For current metro and train times, please visit:
  Renfe (metro) and Renfe (train)
• For current bus times, please visit:
  Alsa

• Travelling back to Jaén is possible by train or by private transfer. By train, the journey takes approximately 2.5 hours (2 transfers). Because you cannot reach the train station from the endpoint of the Vía Verde by bus, you first travel with our short transfer (± 15 minutes) to Puente Genil–Herrera.
• Would you prefer to travel directly? Then a private transfer is the fastest option; this takes approximately 1.5 hours and can be arranged through us.
• For current metro and train times, please visit:
  Renfe

• On the first cycling day, we will pick you up in Jaén around 9:45 and then go to the official starting point of the Vía Verde. Are you travelling to the starting point under your own steam? Then we ask you to be ready at the official start of the Vía Verde no later than 10:00.
• From there, you cycle to Alcaudete or to Martos, depending on which variant of the trip you have booked. If you cycle the stage in one go, you will be on the road for approximately three hours. Of course, you can always stop along the way for a coffee or a small snack; you set the pace entirely yourself.

• You do not necessarily need to be in Jaén a day earlier, but we do recommend it. Jaén is a beautiful city with rich cultural heritage, an impressive cathedral and pleasant streets full of cafés, restaurants and shops. By booking an extra night in advance, which can easily be done through us, you can arrive calmly and explore the city at your leisure before you start cycling.

• You can reach Jaén from Málaga city centre, Málaga Airport and Granada Airport. This can be done by train, bus or private transfer.
  Tip: Flying to Granada is highly recommended; it is small, quiet and a beautiful city to start your trip.
  • From Málaga, you travel by metro and train to Jaén in approximately 3.5 hours (1–2 transfers). The bus runs directly and takes about 4 hours.
    Prefer comfort and speed? With a private transfer, you will be in Jaén in approximately 1.5 hours and this can be arranged through us.
  • From Granada Airport, Jaén is most easily reached by bus. This takes approximately 1 hour and runs without transfers. A private transfer is also possible here and will take you to the starting point in approximately 1 hour and can be arranged through us.
• For current metro and train times, please visit:
  Renfe (metro) and Renfe (train)
• For current bus times, please visit:
  Alsa

• This route lies at a lower altitude and the climate is generally stable. Spring offers pleasant temperatures and long, bright days; autumn is quiet and often still wonderfully warm.
  • Ideal months: March to early June and September to November.
  • Avoid: mid-June to August, as it often becomes very hot in this part of Andalusia.
• Here you can find exactly when it is most pleasant to cycle: Climate Andalusia
• For a broader overview, you can also consult our general climate page: Climate Spain