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.

• 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