From Ubrique to Malaga (province)

Agata ziemecka
May 14
3 min read

It starts with a climb. It ends with a glow-up. I know what you’re thinking — "Another route from Ubrique?!" Yes, again. Always. Forever! This 70 km semi-loop has it all: hills that hurt just right, suspiciously empty roads, fluffy sheep barricade, pine-scented climbs, a house built into a rock (seriously), and the kind of sunset descent that makes you believe in happy endings.

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

Just for a change of scenery… (lol, not really), this route starts once again in Ubrique — my forever fave town in the Sierra de Grazalema. For many reasons: mountain views, good vibes, and the kind of people who make you want to stay for coffee, skip the ride, and maybe move in next week.

This 70 km loop starts exactly how tradition demands: with a solid 10 km climb. Or "gentle uphill exit." Honestly, it's the best warm-up you didn’t ask for. The reward? A stunning view over Ubrique, peacefully tucked between the mountains — unlike us, chaotically sweating into our jerseys.

The road ahead is blissfully quiet, practically car-free. It’s the kind of silence that makes you suspicious, like… am I in a cycling dream? But don’t worry, there are traffic jams — the fluffy kind. Sheep crossings, standing strong, living their best slow-paced life. Honestly, we could all take notes.

And just when you’re hoping the climb is finally over… it actually is! And there she is — not exactly all dressed in white, but close enough: Málaga! Okay fine, it’s just a road sign. But still — crossing into Málaga province deserves a little drama, no?

As befits the province, stunning vistas are guaranteed. Ahead lies nearly 15 km of road leading to Cortes de la Frontera — a mix of descents (well-deserved) and ascents (naturally).

This stretch takes you through a gorgeous patchwork of Mediterranean forest, where pines and cork oaks share the stage. And with all that shade and scent of pine needles in the air, you might even forget you're climbing again.

After Cortes, it’s time for a nearly 10 km gravel adventure — nobody asked, everybody needed! Truth is, this bumpy detour is the better life choice compared to turning back and climbing into Cortes from the other side (which, let’s be honest, is only “pleasant” when you’re bombing down it, not crawling up). The gravel here isn’t too wild — just enough to make you feel like a real explorer without triggering an existential crisis about your tire pressure.

We roll into La Cañada del Real Tesoro — a sleepy village with a name that sounds like it hides pirate gold, but in reality, it hides something even better: Casa de Piedra (aka the house inside a rock). Yes, it's literally carved into the mountain — talk about real estate with character.

From here, we climb back up towards Cortes (yes, that one), but it’s all part of the plan — because the reward is the glorious return ride to Ubrique. Time to snap the photos you missed earlier (because of, you know, heavy breathing and sunscreen in your eyes). As the old cycling proverb goes: What goes up must cycle downy.

Soak in the views of Ubrique one more time — or blast down the descent pretending you're in a Strava segment showdown.Pro tip: try to time your return for golden hour. Trust me, Ubrique glows harder than your quads on that first climb.