From Facinas to Africa (almost)

Tap the pic, let Strava do the guiding.

You know a ride’s gonna be good when it kicks off with 10 km of smooth tarmac, rolling hills, and views that already make you stop for a photo. No suffering here — just a scenic warm-up before the real fun begins: gravel roads straight out of a daydream.

Enter Parque Natural Los Alcornocales — home to one of the largest cork oak forests in Europe, prehistoric cave art, wild deer, and endless green horizons. It’s wild, it’s quiet, and it smells like eucalyptus, dust, and the kind of freedom you don’t get on popular roads.

From the moment you leave the asphalt behind, you’re off the grid — but still rocking LTE, because even when you’re remote, you’re never too far from uploading that mid-ride selfie.

The gravel here rolls on for kilometers — just you, your bike, and the occasional chill cow. And then, just when you think it’s time to turn around... boom.

At the very end of the gravel stretch, the land drops away, and there it is: Africa. No binoculars needed — on a clear day, it just shows up like a magic trick. If your legs weren’t jelly already, they will be now — from the view, obviously.

After soaking in that hello Africa moment, get ready for a long gravel, so smooth it feels like flying — until the wind hits you like a freight train, reminding you, that even downhill rides have their challenges. Bonus: you’ll cruise right under massive wind turbines, which honestly seem like they're judging your cadence.

The road drops you near Tarifa — the southernmost point of mainland Europe, where the ocean meets the sea and the horizon steals the show.

Loopin back to Facinas — a place so relaxed, even your GPS might take a break. As you pedal through, you'll pass a few campsites that might just make you question your life choices. Maybe it’s time to swap pedals for a surfboard? Your legs are noodles, your face is sun-kissed (okay, borderline crispy), and your bike? Dusty, heroic, and silently judging your decisions. But don’t worry, Facinas is just around the corner—coffee, bocadillo way of life.

Facinas - (almost) Africa - Tarifa

Distance: 55 km

Elev Gain: 800 m

Time: 2.5 h

Type: Gravel with bonus tarmac intro and outro

Strava link: https://www.strava.com/routes/3346409850465318272