River Ebro to La Rioja Cycling Tour

Day 1: Arrival in Campoo
You will arrive in Santander or Bilbao and transfer to your hotel in Campoo, in the Cantabrian Mountains. There is time to test your bike before an evening meal with wine, served in the hotel.

Day 2: Campoo – Polientes (59 km or 97 km)
You will ride through fabulous, unspoilt scenery, from the green mountain pastures of the Cantabrian Mountains along the shores of the Ebro Reservoir, passing the forested Monastery of Montesclaros before rejoining the river in the Valley of Valderredible. Tonight you rest in Polientes. The longer 97 km version circles the Ebro Reservoir. Dinner with wine is served in the hotel.

Day 3: Polientes – Valle de Zamanzas (43 km)
You will cycle through the open valley of Valderredible, visiting the Romanesque church of San Martín de Elines and the churches carved into the rock that are characteristic of this region. The valley narrows into a canyon where eagles and vultures soar overhead, and you will pass through the village of Orbaneja del Castillo, with its cascades, before reaching your hotel in the Valle de Zamanzas. Dinner with wine is served in the hotel.

Day 4: Valle de Zamanzas – Medina de Pomar (36 km; 63 km with extension to Puentedey)
The route follows a bend of the river through picturesque, undiscovered villages. An optional extension (63 km in total) takes you to the village of Puentedey, built on a natural rock bridge over the River Nela. You will spend the night in the Castilian town of Medina de Pomar, with its old Jewish quarter and the castle dominating the town. Dinner with wine is served in the hotel.

Day 5: Medina de Pomar – Frías (58 km)
You will head back to the Ebro along a quiet country road running parallel to the river as the valley opens out again, visiting the Romanesque church of San Pedro de Tejada before cycling through another canyon into the fertile valley around Frías, a village built around its castle with views of the Ebro Valley. Your hotel is in a small village close by. Dinner with wine is served in the hotel.

Day 6: Frías – Haro (62 km)
The valley closes in again into another canyon, with the road running along the shores of a reservoir and through short tunnels carved out of the rock. You will cross the town of Miranda del Ebro before reaching the open valley of La Rioja. Tonight you rest in the wine-producing town of Haro, birthplace of Rioja wine.

Day 7: Haro – Laguardia (25 km or 50 km)
You will cycle through vineyards and picturesque villages of La Rioja, with the Sierra de Cantabria mountains as a backdrop and the Ebro never far away, finishing in the walled medieval village of Laguardia. A longer 50 km option is also available.

Day 8: Departure from Laguardia
Transfer from Laguardia to Santander or Bilbao, departing at 9 a.m.

Note: the evening meal with wine is included on days 1 to 5 only. Dinners on days 6 and 7 (in Haro and Laguardia) are not included.