From La Azohía to postcard gravel

Agata ziemecka
7 days ago
2 min read

A 55 km loop that starts calmly by the sea and slowly gets under your skin. Quiet coastal asphalt near La Azohía, a demanding but beautiful gravel stretch on EuroVelo 8, semi-arid landscapes framed by Sierra de las Moreras, and a postcard-perfect stop at Playa Percheles — the kind of ride that doesn’t shout, but stays with you.

**Tap the pic, let Strava do the guiding**

The start: La Azohía

La Azohía is one of those coastal villages that feels slightly paused. Fishermen, small coves, clear water, and the kind of morning light that makes you forget you’re about to ride 55 km. If you want a tiny pre-ride detour, the Cabo Tiñoso coastline nearby is a reminder that this area has always been more about watching the sea than rushing anywhere.

I rolled out heading toward Marazon, on an asphalt road that refuses to leave the coast. It twists gently, sometimes right next to the water, sometimes just high enough to make you look down and think: okay, this is already good.

Around km 15: where things quietly shift

Somewhere around the 25 km mark, the ride does that thing No announcement. No drama. Just a subtle okay, we’re doing this now.

The asphalt fades out and gravel takes over. Visually: unreal. Under the wheels: demanding, but fair. Big, loose stones that keep you awake without sending you into survival mode. I rode the whole section on 35 mm semi-slicks, which worked surprisingly well and felt like a decision made half on confidence, half on vibes (very Loop Club).

This stretch follows EuroVelo 8 and you can feel it. The line flows. It knows where it’s going.

On one side, the shapes of Sierra de las Moreras. On the other, the sea — close enough to keep stealing your attention. In between: a semi-arid landscape that feels almost desert-like. Dry ground, sparse vegetation, sun pressing down gently but persistently.

Playa Percheles: postcards are real sometimes

The gravel ends in a way that feels almost staged. Suddenly you’re rolling into Playa Percheles — a small, beautiful bay that looks exactly like a postcard you’d normally ignore. Except now you’re there, dusty, slightly tired, and very happy about it. There’s a bar on the beach, which automatically makes this a perfect snack stop. Sit. Eat something. Stare at the water. Forget about kilometres for a minute.

The way back

From Playa Percheles, the route continues on asphalt. Traffic is moderate, the shoulder is wide, and the views stay raw and dry in a very Murcia way. It’s solid, honest riding.

Or... you can turn around and take the same gravel section back. I’ve done that too. More than once. Because sometimes you don’t need variety. You just need the same good thing again.