We love to keep up with the photos and videos of your fabulous cycling tour!
Follow us on Instagram at @bikespaintours and on Facebook at BikeSpainTours, and tag us in the posts from your trip.
Your guides for this tour will be Pablo (+34 677 35 65 86), Enrique (+34 696 54 60 88) and Alejandro (+34 674 95 99 64).
Call the Bike Spain Tours office on +34 915 590 653, or out of office hours call +34 677 356 586. We will get you where you need to be and get you the help you need.
Your insurance policy number is 21113293. You can find your insurance documents here.
Sunday, August 25th. Madrid.
Arrival day
Accommodation: Hotel Catalonia Goya
Arrival at leisure in Madrid. Today, we’ll enjoy some free time to get to know Spain’s elegant capital. You can check into the hotel from 3pm.
At leisure in Madrid
Eating and drinking in Madrid
Monday, August 26th. Baiona
Accommodation: Parador de Baiona
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner
Please leave your luggage in the hotel reception by 8:30am so our van can collect it and transfer it to Ourense.
10am: Your guide, Pablo, will pick you up from the hotel reception and accompany you to Madrid Chamartín-Clara Campoamor station. In case of any issues, please call Pablo on (+34) 677 35 65 86.
11:20am: Train departs from Madrid Chamartin-Clara Campoamor station. You can access your train tickets here.
1:58pm: Train arrives into Ourense station. Your Bike Spain Tour guides will pick you up from the station and transfer you to your hotel in Baiona.
We’ll take some time to explore Baiona’s atmospheric historic centre and quaint fishing port. The town’s most important historic building is the Castelo de Monterreal, a medieval fortress that still retains the cannons once used to defend the town from pirates, and which offers fabulous views over the bay from the parapet. Nowadays, it is a luxury hotel; our hotel for the night, in fact!
Later, we’ll carry out the bike fitting and tour welcome briefing. Next, we’ll take our bikes out for a spin before getting to know each other over a delicious dinner.
Tuesday, August 27th. Baiona
Accommodation: Parador de Baiona
La Vuelta: Stage 10: Ponteareas > Baiona
Route: 74 km/46 miles
Elevation: +1123 m/+3685 ft
Meals included: Breakfast
Today’s cycle route takes us around the Bay of Baiona, following the Atlantic coast in a fast, flat ride all the way down to the Río Miño, which demarcates the border between Spain and Portugal. Next, we’ll tackle the climb up Alto de Groba, the highest peak in the surrounding Serra de Groba, from where we can enjoy spectacular views over the beaches of the Bay of Vigo, all the way out to the Cíes Islands.
In the afternoon, we’ll head back to Baiona in time to take our VIP seats at the finish line of today’s Vuelta stage, and wait excitedly for the peloton to arrive!
Dinner tonight is not included, so you’ll have the chance to sample the freshest of fresh seafood at the tapas bars around Baiona’s old port.
Wednesday, August 28th. Leiro
Accommodation: Eurostars Monasterio San Clodio
La Vuelta: Stage 11: Campus Tecnológico Cortizo > Campus Tecnológico Cortizo
Route: 93.5 km/58.1 miles
Elevation: +1797 m/+5894 ft
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Pack your bags, we’re going to Leiro!
Today, we’ll take a break from La Vuelta to explore the stunning interior of Galicia.
We’ll spend the morning following the course of the Río Tea from Pontevedra into the province of Ourense, immersing ourselves fully in the millennial Galician culture. We’ll pass by ancient Celtic fortifications, cycle up forested mountainsides, and enjoy spectacular views of the endless vineyards that line the river Miño, before finishing in the tiny hamlet of Feá. Keep your eyes peeled for hórreos: traditional raised granaries made of stone, frequently seen outside rural Galician houses.
After finishing our cycle route for the day, we’ll enjoy a guided visit to a local winery, where we can discover the secrets of the Rías Baixas wine region, which has Protected Denomination of Origin status. Our visit includes a tasting of delicious Rías Baixas wine, and a picnic in the vineyard.
We’ll finish the day with a delicious group dinner at the hotel.
Thursday, August 29th. Villafranca del Bierzo.
Accommodation: Parador Villafranca del Bierzo
La Vuelta: Stage 12: Ourense > Estación de Montaña de Manzaneda
Route: 85 km/52.8 miles
Elevation: +2269 m/+7445 ft
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner
Today we’re plunging further into spectacular rural Galicia, following today’s La Vuelta stage from Luintra along the breathtaking Sil Canyon, all the way to the finish line at the Estación de Montaña de Manzaneda.
The Sil Canyon winds its way through the Ribeira Sacra, offering some of the most spectacular views in Galicia. The steep sides of the canyon are lined with grape vines, producing the Protected Denomination of Origin Ribeira Sacra wine, as well as native cork oaks and strawberry trees. Against this verdant backdrop, we’ll be able to spot majestic clifftop monasteries, perched in quiet contemplation far from the madding crowd.
After a beautiful ride along the verdant slops of the Sil Canyon, we’ll arrive at today’s Vuelta finish line at the Estación de Montaña de Manzaneda, and applaud the pros as they crest the summit finish that we ourselves conquered mere hours previously.
Finally, we’ll make our way to tonight’s accommodation, located in the beautiful mountainside town of Villafranca del Bierzo. The town boasts a long and storied history, and is replete with churches and monuments, testament to its importance as a stop on the ancient Camino de Santiago route.
Tonight, we’ll enjoy a delicious group dinner at the hotel.
Friday, August 30th. Villafranca del Bierzo.
Accommodation: Parador Villafranca del Bierzo
La Vuelta: Stage 13: Lugo > Puerto de Ancares
Route: 122 km/75.8 miles
Elevation: +2720m/+8924 ft
Meals included: Breakfast
Our bike ride today will take us from Villafranca del Bierzo along the ancient Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route towards the town of Cacabelos. From here, we’ll head north into the Ancares Leoneses Biosphere Reserve, an unspoilt natural paradise in the Cordillera Cantábrica mountain range, protected by UNESCO. The rugged mountains and deep valleys are home to endangered species such as the brown bear and capercaillie, and are dotted with the remains of ancient cultures.
A challenging climb takes us up to the endpoint of today’s La Vuelta stage at Puerto de Ancares. We’ll get our breath back as we wait for the pros to make their way up to the summit finish, before hopping back on our bikes and heading back down to Villafranca del Bierzo.
Dinner tonight is not included, so you can spend the evening exploring the historic bars and taverns of Villafranca del Bierzo.
Saturday, August 31st. Astorga.
Accommodation: Hotel Eurostars Vía de la Plata
La Vuelta: Stage 14: Villafranca del Bierzo > Villablino
Route: 80 km/49.7 miles
Elevation: +2720m/+4712 ft
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner
Today, our route will take us along the Camino de Santiago to another important pilgrim city: the monumental city of Astorga!
Today, we’ll be watching the start of the stage from Villafranca! We’ll use our VIP passes to join in with the behind-the-scenes excitement before the beginning of the day’s stage, taking selfies with our favourite pro cyclists and chatting to their teams.
Once the final cyclist has disappeared off into the distance, we’ll follow the ancient pilgrim route through Castile and León to Astorga, cycling along the same path that countless pilgrims have followed to Santiago over the centuries. Along the way, we’ll pass through cities such as Ponferrada – historically a stronghold of the Knights Templar and still dominated by their imposing 12th century castle – and charming medieval villages such as Molinaseca and Rabanal del Camino.
The highest point of today’s route is also the highest point of the Camino de Santiago. Here, we will find the famous Cruz del Ferro, where pilgrims traditionally leave a small stone as a symbol of leaving behind their burdens before arriving in Santiago.
We’ll spend the night in the historic town of Astorga. Located at the convergence of the Camino de Santiago and the Vía de la Plata, Astorga offers a rich medieval legacy of churches, convents and hospitals. More recently, the Bishop’s Palace by Modernist architect Antonio Gaudí has taken its place amongst the city’s impressive list of attractions.
Our day finishes with a final group dinner, the perfect opportunity to share favourite memories from the tour and make predictions for the rest of La Vuelta.
Sunday, September 1st. Madrid
Accommodation: Hotel Catalonia Goya
La Vuelta: Stage 15: Inifiesto > Valgrande-Pajares
Route: 25.7 km/16 miles
Elevation: +1545 m/+5068 ft
Meals included: Breakfast
Today we’ll tackle one of La Vuelta’s most legendary climbs: the fearsome Ciutu Negro! With gradients of up to 23%, this peak is one of the most challenging of the whole race. We’ll ride the same route as the pro cyclists in a 26km climb up to the peak, before settling into our VIP seats to watch the exciting summit finish of a stage which has the potential to crack the race wide open!
After cheering on our favourites one last time, we’ll travel back to Madrid by private transfer, where our guides will say goodbye.
Gratuities
Gratuities for our guides are much appreciated to thank them for exceptional service, support, and expertise. The industry standard for each individual guest is 7.5-10% tip of the trip price at the end of the tour. Unless you want to tip separately, guides will divide tips among themselves. Local currency is preferred.
Monday, September 2nd. Madrid
Departure day
After breakfast, our services will come to an end.
We hope that you had a wonderful La Vuelta experience with us!
Bike Spain Tours will provide you with a cycling jersey: the perfect souvenir of your La Vuelta experience! We will also provide water bottles and, optionally, helmets.
On a Bike Spain vacation, understanding and abiding by the rules of bicycling safety are the most important part of each day.
You are probably familiar with some common safety guidelines. Below are those that we follow at Bike Spain, and we ask that you follow them while traveling with us:
To check the weather before you leave on your trip, please take a look at current weather conditions at www.weatheronline.co.uk. For historical temperature and precipitation statistics visit www.weatherbase.com or take a look at the Spanish Meteorological website with detailed information per region (http://www.aemet.es/en/elclima/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos)
The history of Spain is a compendium of influences from the different cultures that have lived in the country. The first settlers on the Peninsula were the Celts and the Iberians. The Roman presence in Hispania lasted for seven centuries, during which time the basic borders of the Peninsula in relation to other European towns were set up. Many institutions were inherited from Rome such as the concept of family, Latin as a language, religion and law. At the start of the 5th century new settlers from the North arrived and settled on the Peninsula: the Visigoths in the interior and the Swabians on the West. The decomposition of the Visigoth state apparatus would lead to the successive infiltration of Arab and Berber troops from the other side of the Straits of Gibraltar at the beginning of the 8th century. In the middle of the 8th century the Muslims had completed occupation and Cordoba became the center of the flourishing Andalusian state. The Arab presence in Spain would last for almost seven centuries and leave an indelible mark on the Spanish cultural heritage.
Following a long period of peaceful coexistence, the small Christian strongholds in the North of the Peninsula took on a leading role in the Reconquest, which ended with the capture of Granada in 1492 under the reign of the Catholic King and Queen, traditionally considered the founders of peninsular unity and the imperial management of the Spanish revival. The 16th century represents the zenith of Spanish hegemony in the world, a process that would last until the middle of the 17th century. Following the death of Charles II, the last of the Austrians, who died without having had children, Phillip V inaugurated the dynasty of the Bourbons of Spain.
The crisis of the Old Order opened the doorway to the Napoleonic invasion. The War of Independence was a war against the French invasion, but also a revolutionary war due to the decisive involvement of the people and the clear formation of a national consciousness that would later shape the 1812 Constitution. The Courts of Cadiz thereby enacted one of the first Constitutions of the world which ratified that sovereignty would reside in the nation. The conflict between liberalists and absolutists, or in other words, between two different ways of perceiving the establishment of the state, would be one of the longest Spanish conflicts throughout the 19th century.
The ballot box is introduced into Spain and with it the first democratic experience of the 20th century: the second Republic, a brief attempt to introduce the reformations the country needed, frustrated by General Franco’s military rising and the outbreak of the Civil War in 1936. The military victory of General Franco gave way to a long dictatorial period that would last until 1975. Following his death, the Spanish peacefully made the transition from dictatorship to democracy in a process known as ‘the Spanish model’. Don Juan Carlos I, as King of the Spanish people, became the chief of a social and democratic state of law, which molded the Constitution of 1978.
More information…? Should you be interested in a specific theme, please check here, you will find many info about culture, environmental issues, nature, society, geography and politics.
In Spain you have exquisite and innovative dishes with the guarantee of internationally prestigious chefs. The highest quality products from the best producers, recipes combining popular tradition with artistic creation and offer you exciting, new flavors. Spain’s culinary revolution, headed by master chefs like Ferrán Adriá, Arzak and Berasategui turns the pleasure of good food into a luxury for the senses that is at its finest when savored in Spain.
Spanish cuisine is nowadays recommended in the finest restaurants, heralded by the most prestigious critics and demanded by millions of consumers over the world. It has gone through a real revolution, which, in the time of a few short years, has put Spain at the top of international cuisine. With traditional styles as the basis, a modern, innovative cuisine has developed, identified by the use of quality products and by the creativity of its chefs.
To read more about Spain’s cuisine
Hotel Catalonia Goya
Sleep in Madrid’s Golden Mile at the Catalonia Goya hotel in the heart of the Salamanca neighbourhood.
The hotel has recently refurbished rooms with a contemporary design, an urban pool ideal for cooling off on a hot day, and a gym to keep up with your workouts. Each morning you will enjoy an extensive buffet breakfast with a cooking show and you can stop off at the Gastrobar anytime for Mediterranean-inspired dishes that can also be served in your room.
Parador de Baiona
To the south of the Rías Baixas, protected by the sea and with views over the beautiful Bay of Baiona, is the peninsula of Monterreal. There, we find the Parador de Baiona: a historical castle with spectacular views of the ocean.
A mix between a medieval castle and a Galician stately home, the Parador offers regal and elegant rooms, carefully decorated to will take you back in time to another age. Outstanding features include the majestic stone stairway in the reception area and a huge garden, equipped with a large swimming pool, from where you can view the entire bay.
Hotel Eurostars Monumento Monasterio San Clodio
This beautifully renovated 12th-century Cistercian monastery is set in gardens and provides an historic setting for your visit to Galicia’s Ribeiro wine region.
Eurostars Monumento Monasterio de San Clodio Hotel & Spa is set around two cloisters built in a Baroque and Renaissance style. Since its renovation, the interior combines the impressive original stonework with subtle modern design and state-of-the-art lighting. Spacious, air-conditioned rooms feature high ceilings, stone walls and views over the surrounding vineyards and woodland.
Parador de Villafranca del Bierzo
Villafranca del Bierzo es un pueblo lleno de iglesias, monasterios y conventos. Justo a la entrada del pueblo se encuentra este edificio histórico reconvertido en un Parador.
El alojamiento turístico de referencia en la fascinante comarca de El Bierzo. Está rodeado de montañas cubiertas de cerezos e higueras, laderas salpicadas de castaños, chopos y pequeñas granjas.
Hotel Via de la Plata Spa
Eurostars Vía de la Plata was built over the stones of what was the Convent of San Francisco. This charming hotel combines the flavour of history with a design that stands out for its spacious rooms and its contemporary nuances.
Rooms feature parquet floors and smart, elegant décor. The hotel has a spa with views, where you can rest and renew your body and mind.
