- Main route from Burgos to Valencia – 1,100km
- Expansion (“anillos”) and an extension (until Alicante) also possible
- Beautiful maps, website, and error-free GPS files
- Majority of the route has clear signposts
- Choice of paved or unpaved route
- Stamp your route booklet or “letter of safe conduct” in all of the towns and places of interest along the way
Written by Cycling Spain
The Camino del Cid: A Grand Cycling Adventure
The medieval knight, Rodrigo Diaz, El Cid, alongside Don Quixote and Don Juan is one of Spain’s most treasured and renowned heroes. During the Reconquista, he fought his way from Burgos to Valencia, which he eventually managed to win back from the Moors.
The route follows in the footsteps of El Cid during the 11th century, from his exile and his attempts to survive through many skirmishes with the Christians and the Moors. These routes are available for walkers, cyclists, motorists, and mountain bikers. There are two main routes for those planning to go by bike – one that follows (mostly) quiet secondary roads, suitable for cyclists who seek paved roads, and an unpaved route for mountain bikers. The total route is 2,000 kilometers long, but that includes extra loops (anillos) and extensions. These are wonderful if you have extra time, but they can also be skipped. The main route (Burgos to Valencia) is 1,100 kilometers in length and takes you through the majestic and mysterious inland regions of Spain. Wide-open landscapes, mountains and valleys, fortresses on mountain tops, and charming historic villages and towns, are the sights that await you on this epic journey.
Wonderful Documentation
The organization that maintains El Camino Del Cid (the entire route is checked and straightened out every year), offers an overwhelming amount of information on their excellent website. Most information is available in English.
Cycling the Paved Camino del Cid
If you go to this page of the El Camino del Cid website, you will find the entire 2000 kilometer cycling route divided into blocks of 2, 4, or 6 days. Each interconnected portion of the route has its own name and theme. If you click on one of the themed routes, you will gain access to downloadable information booklets, maps, accommodation options, tourist information, and GPS tracks.
The structure of themed routes means that it is quite possible to cycle the Camino del Cid in parts. The first four routes take you from Burgos to Valencia. Thereafter, you can cycle to Alicante for a few days. There are also themed routes with extra loops (anillos), but if you have limited time you can save these for later.
The majority of the route follows secondary roads with sporadic traffic and a ranging quality of asphalt. You will occasionally be met with busier and more traveled roads along the way, but these are still generally also fairly quiet. The downloadable route booklets found on the website contain all the information regarding the name of each route, the quality of the road surfaces, traffic density, and the shoulder width.
5 popular sections of the Camino del Cid
The Camino del Cid is an impressive cycling route across Spain, stretching from Burgos to Orihuela on the Mediterranean coast. Many cyclists choose to ride the entire route, while the section from Burgos to Valencia is also especially popular. Along the way, the landscape changes constantly: from the open plains of Castile to quiet mountain regions, Moorish towns and finally the Mediterranean coastline.
You can cycle the Camino del Cid as one long journey or divide it into shorter stages. Below we have outlined the five standard sections. Of course, it is also possible to create a fully tailor-made Camino del Cid trip.
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El Destierro – from Burgos to Atienza
The first section of the Camino del Cid takes you through the heart of old Castile. You cycle past grain fields, pine forests, small villages and historic towns such as Santo Domingo de Silos and El Burgo de Osma. A quiet route filled with space, history and long horizons.
- Day 1: Arrival in Burgos or Vivar del Cid
- Day 2: Vivar del Cid / Burgos – Santo Domingo de Silos — 76 or 63 km
- Day 3: Santo Domingo de Silos – Langa de Duero — 62 km
- Day 4: Langa de Duero – El Burgo de Osma — 64 km
- Day 5: El Burgo de Osma – Berlanga de Duero — 43 km
- Day 6: Berlanga de Duero – Atienza — 52 km
- Day 7: End of the trip
Tierra de Fronteras – from Atienza to Calatayud
This section crosses former frontier lands between Christian and Moorish kingdoms. You ride through remote high plains, past castles, fortified villages and historic towns such as Sigüenza. A quiet and rugged part of the route with a strong sense of history.
- Day 1: Arrival in Atienza
- Day 2: Atienza – Jadraque — 47 km
- Day 3: Jadraque – Sigüenza — 46 km
- Day 4: Sigüenza – Maranchón — 52 km
- Day 5: Maranchón – Arcos de Jalón — 54 km
- Day 6: Arcos de Jalón – Calatayud — 79 km
- Day 7: End of the trip
Las Tres Taifas – from Calatayud to Cella
This route leads through Aragón and the lands of the old taifa kingdoms. You cycle across wide open landscapes, past fortified towns and medieval villages. Albarracín, with its narrow streets and reddish stone houses, is one of the highlights along the way.
- Day 1: Arrival in Calatayud
- Day 2: Calatayud – Daroca — 65 km
- Day 3: Daroca – Monreal del Campo — 49 km
- Day 4: Monreal del Campo – Molina de Aragón — 60 km
- Day 5: Molina de Aragón – Checa — 66 km
- Day 6: Checa – Albarracín — 50 km
- Day 7: Albarracín – Teruel — 21 km
- Day 8: End of the trip
La Conquista de Valencia – from Cella to Valencia
From the inland mountains you gradually descend towards the Mediterranean Sea. The scenery slowly changes from rugged mountain landscapes to orchards, fertile valleys and the lively atmosphere around Valencia.
- Day 1: Arrival in Teruel
- Day 2: Teruel – Mora de Rubielos — 52 km
- Day 3: Mora de Rubielos – Montanejos — 62 km
- Day 4: Montanejos – Navajas — 60 km
- Day 5: Navajas – Valencia — 77 km
- Day 6: End of the trip
La Defensa del Sur – from Valencia to Orihuela
The final section of the Camino del Cid follows a warmer and more Mediterranean landscape. You cycle through orange groves, historic towns and quiet inland roads towards Orihuela, the southern end of the route.
- Day 1: Arrival in Valencia
- Day 2: Valencia – Xàtiva — 62 km
- Day 3: Xàtiva – Bocairent — 55 km
- Day 4: Bocairent – Petrer — 56 km
- Day 5: Petrer – Orihuela — 68 km
- Day 6: End of the trip
The Camino del Cid for Mountain Bikers
If you opt for the unpaved version of the Camino del Cid, you will cycle along many of the same paths as the hikers. For the most difficult parts of the route, an alternative path has been laid out for mountain bikers. The MTB version of the Camino consists of 7 themed parts and is a maximum of 1,500 km long. Click HERE for all the information regarding mountain biking the Camino del Cid.
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