Via Verde del Aceite (3d)

You’ve likely arrived in Jaen the day before the tour, giving you the opportunity to explore this Andalusian city with its rich cultural heritage. Around the beautiful cathedral, you’ll find a network of charming streets with shops, cafes, and restaurants.

Today is the day your cycling tour begins. After receiving all the travel documents and checking the bikes (if you’re renting), you’ll be transferred from the hotel to the start of the Vía Verde del Aceite near the Las Fuentezuelas sports center.

For the first few kilometers, we share the route with locals who frequently use the Vía Verde. We take it easy, gradually climbing until we reach Torredelcampo. Before arriving at Torredonjimeno (km 15.5), we pass through the first tunnel and cross two old viaducts. From this point, we can already see the next town, Martos, which lies at the foot of a striking rock formation. Martos boasts one of the most beautiful historical centers in the region. We head towards the Guadajoz River, passing the Salado viaduct, the Vado-Jaén station, and the spectacular Víboras viaduct (km 43).

We’re now near our overnight stop in Alcaudete. Here, we’ll need to climb a bit to reach the town and your hotel from the Via Verde.* The climb is worth it because in Alcaudete, you’ll find (besides your hotel) one of the best-preserved castles of the Knights of Calatrava. The well-known confectionery factories and many narrow streets also make Alcaudete an interesting place to explore.

*You can also choose to be transferred to the hotel by a minibus (included in the price).

After leaving Alcaudete, you cycle past a beautiful lagoon surrounded by olive trees: the Laguna Honda. This is a favorite spot for many bird species. After this, we leave the province of Jaen and cross the viaduct over the Guadajoz River, entering the province of Cordoba. We approach the station of Luque, which now houses a restaurant and still has old train carriages. A metal bridge takes us to Baena, the city of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, with its renovated castle and olive oil mills.

Further along the route, you’ll enjoy stunning views, such as the castle of Zuheros perched on a rock, the canyon of the Bailón River, and the Sierras Subbéticas Natural Park & Geopark. After passing Zuheros, it’s not far to Doña Mencía, our stop for the second leg of the journey. From Zuheros, you can take a side trip to the ‘Cueva de los Murciélagos,’ or the bat cave. You’ll stay in a modern hotel, where you can take a refreshing dip in the lovely pool. A visit to the town, with its famous Calle de las Flores and the wine museum, is a must. At the museum, you can taste wine and learn everything about the Montilla-Moriles wine, which is very important for this region.

It’s already the last day of cycling on the Via Verde. You bid farewell to the charming Doña Mencía and head towards Cabra. The route takes you past trenches carved into the rocks from the time of the Civil War, through the Plantío tunnel, and over the La Sima viaduct to Cabra station. There, you can admire the impressive steam locomotive that powered the “oil train” for decades. We continue towards Lucena, passing through tree-lined avenues that provide pleasant shade. Both Cabra and Lucena are worth leaving the Via Verde briefly to explore their town centers.

As the end of the tour on the Via Verde del Aceite approaches, olive trees give way to small vineyards of the D.O. Montilla – Moriles. At the Las Navas del Selpillar station, there is an open-air museum with fascinating information about this region’s important cultivation. We arrive in Puente Genil, where the Via Verde and your cycling tour come to an end.

Trekking tours with a difficulty level of 3/5 are suitable for the average recreational cyclist. These tours are not overly long but may involve some elevation gain. The routes can include extended sections of unpaved terrain (gravel) but remain easily rideable. There may be 1 or 2 days that are somewhat longer and more challenging. On average, daily distances range between 30 and 50 kilometers, with elevation gains of 200 to 400 meters per day

The Via Verde del Aceite gently undulates through hilly terrain. However, the great thing about Vias Verdes is that you never encounter steep descents or climbs.

The bike tour on the Via Verde del Aceite can be done year-round, but it is not recommended in July and August when temperatures in this part of Spain can be very high. Spring and autumn are the most suitable periods.