From Zahara de la Sierra to "Maybe I Could Live Here?"

Agata ziemecka
21 kwi
2 minut(y) czytania

Zaktualizowano: 27 kwi

Ride in Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park once and boom — you're in love, you're in pain, you're on Idealista looking for a finca rustica with mountain views.

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

We’re starting strong — forget any dreams of a “gentle warm-up climb. This ride opens with over 10 km of solid climbing to wake up your legs and your existential doubts. The starting point? Zahara de la Sierra — a village so photogenic, even Netflix couldn’t resist using it in their dark sci-fi series Feria: la luz más oscura.

Good thing this climb is absurdly beautiful — otherwise you'd have no excuse to stop every 10 minutes for content. Somewhere halfway up, the giant Embalse appears below like a mirage, and honestly? Jumping in feels way more achievable than pedalling to the top. But hey, at least your Instagram will look strong… even if your legs don’t.

After kilometers of sweat and soul searching, we finally reach the lookout point Puerto de las Palomas at 1357 m above sea level. Obviously, it's time for the obligatory bike shot with the sign — because if it’s not on Instagram, did it even happen?

Good news — we’re about to get rewarded with a descent just as stunning as the climb. But fair warning: wild goats are included in the package. They’ll stare at you like you’ve interrupted their afternoon nap, silently judging your form.

The 15 km downhill is a pretty solid reward — or maybe the climb was just a small price to pay for this speedy stretch. If only you weren’t so busy chasing that Strava glory, you’d have way more time for Instagram pics. But hey, who needs personal records when you're gliding through paradise?

And here we are again — another dreamy pueblo blanco, this time Grazalema. But this one’s got a twist: it’s the only village in the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park where it snows in winter. While the surrounding villages are basking in sunshine, Grazalema is out here throwing snowballs. So, if you're dreaming of a white Christmas in Andalusia, Grazalema’s got you covered.

Courtesy of Grazalema Town Hall. Photo by Francisco Moreno

The final 15 km are here to test you — a bit flat, a bit not, just enough to keep you guessing. At least you’re rolling alongside the insanely blue Embalse, which looks more tempting with every salty, sweaty pedal stroke. Honestly, jumping in feels like a solid life choice at this point… unless you’re laser-focused on the real finish line: food in Zahara. Your call — swim now and tapas later?