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).

Difficulty level 2 for trekking tours refers to cycling holidays that are easy for the average recreational cyclist. The routes are not too long but may involve some elevation changes. The tour might include stretches of unpaved terrain (gravel), but it is always easily rideable. There may be 1 or 2 days where the route is a bit longer and more challenging. On average, the distances range between 30 and 50 kilometers per day, with elevation gains of 50 to 200 meters per day.

The Via Verde del Aceite is gently rolling, taking you through hilly terrain. However, the beauty of Vias Verdes is that you never encounter steep descents or climbs.

You can cycle the Via Verde del Aceite throughout the year, but it is not recommended in July and August when temperatures in this part of Spain can rise significantly. Spring and autumn are the most suitable periods.