Towards the last spanish Moorish: The Vía Verde del Noroeste and Ricote valley.

From the milenary orchards of Murcia until the Holy City of Caravaca de la Cruz, cycling by the last moorish redoubt of SE Spain.

Code:

VV-03

Thematic:

FamilyFood and WineNatureTraditions and Culture

Location:

Northwest county of the Region of Murcia, Ricote valley.

Type:

Selfguided

Modality:

Bicycle

Duration:

7 to 8 days

Difficulty:

Low

Price from

476€

Cycling the Ricote valley and the Vía Verde del Noroeste.

Mapa of the bike route "Forward the last Spanish Moorish".

Need more information?

En savoir plus?

TAB

Information and Prices

Overview:

The Region of Murcia has been a terrotiry rich in Cultures and History. The Comarca del Noroeste and the Ricote valley are two perfect cycling destinations to find out some of the most important historical and cultural traces: The last moorish of the Ricote valley, the trace of the House of Los Vélez and its marquessate or the signification of the Holy Cross of Caravaca de la Cruz. From the milanery orchards of Murcia, the Vía Verde del Noroeste (cycle lane) will lead you into the most rural and forestry part of the Region of Murcia. The fortress of Mula, the vineyards of Bullas or the Holy Cross Sanctuary of Caravaca are some of the milestones who mark the first part of your trip. During the second part, you will cycle the Ricote valley, from the head city of Cieza, finding out sceneries with air of Palestine. The Segura river will be your companion until Murcia.

Highlights:

The green orchards of Murcia
The old quarter of Mula with its churches and monastries
The peacefull on the Vía Verde
The vineyards of Bullas, typical of the Mediterranean landscapes
The inmensity of the Llanos del Cagitan flatland
The impresive holy Cross Sanctuary of Caravaca de la Cruz
The narrow valley of Ricote

Prices and Departures:

This is a self-guided route. Therefore, you may start the route whenever you please. No hurries, no schedules, we only need to know the date. A route in complete freedom.

From	Price 2024 (per person)	Book
7 days	From 476€	Book now!
8 days	From530€	Book now!

Prices based on 2 sharing a double room with breakfast. 2 people minimum.

Optional: single supplement from: +224€/pers. (7 days) // solo departure supplement from: +100€/pers. (7 days) // Half-board from: consult

Price information:
The price includes:

Documentation and maps of the trip
Accommodation for seven or eight nights at inns and 4* hotels with breakfast
Luggage transfer between your accommodations

The price does not include:

Tickets price for visiting monuments and museums
Personal insurances
Bicycle rental
Lunches and dinners

Bicycle rental rate: the bicycles are fully equipped (luggage carrier, 1 saddle bag, 1 lock, 1 helmet, 1 repair kit with a pump and 1 map holder).

Bicycle rental: 5 days: 110€
Electric bicycle rental: 5 days: 150€

How to get there?

Which airport should I fly to? : Alicante, Murcia-San Javier.
Nearest train station: Murcia del Carmen.
Transfer options from airport: Consult.
Transfer options from train stations: Consult.

Complementary Activities:

This route has the following complementary activities:

Itinerary

DAY 1

Arrival in Murcia. Night in Hotel 4*.

DAY 2

Cycling the Orchards of the Region of Murcia: From Murcia to Mula through the badlands. The first stage will allow you to reach Mula by the greenway. First through the orchards around Murcia and along the Segura river. After passed by some interesting heritage sites you will reach the greenway in direction to Mula. The sceneries change : from the green orchards you will pass to the dry and desertic badlands between Molina de Segura and Albudeite. Arriving at Mula, the scenery change again with the vision of oranges, peaches and apricot trees. Night in Charming Inn.

Cycling the Orchards of the Region of Murcia: From Murcia to Mula through the badlands. Distance: 54km. Difficulty: Easy.

DAY 3

During this stage, you will follow again the Pilgrim's Greenway, La Vía Verde del Noroeste, from Mula to Caravaca, making a stop in Cehegín to visit its old quarter. You will be riding one of the more interesting part of the greenway Vía Verde del Noroeste. Through fields and pine forest, the old railway cross tunels and bridges to enter progressively in the mountainous area of the Northwest county of the Region of Murcia. In Cehegín, you will make a detour to climb to the old quarter and discover the village. After returning to the Vía Verde del Noroeste, you will finally reach the city of Caravaca de la Cruz. The end o the stage will carry you by local roads until the awesome place where the hotel is, at the bottom of the valley of the river Argos. Night in Charming Inn.

Mula to Caravaca, via the greenway Vía del Noroeste. Distance: 44km. Difficulty: Moderate

DAY 4

Cap to the Segura river and its green valley. The village of Moratalla, with its nice old quarter will be your first stop. The views from the church square are awesome. To reach Calasparra you need then to cross large olive trees fields until the valley of the Argos river, the same you crossed the day before. When you arrive in Calasparra, we recommend the visit of the castle to enjoy the nice views on the Argos and Segura rivers valleys. Night in Rural Inn.

Caravaca to Calasparra via Moratalla and Valentín. Distance: 45km Difficulty: Moderate.

DAY 5

Headed to the Segura River: Calasparra to Cieza via the Alfonso XIII reservoir. Distance: 46km Difficulty: Easy. Bye-bye dry landscapes, you are going to change of sceneries with the discovering of the Segura river. Firstable, the Sanctuary of the Virgin de la Esperanza and its surroundings is a very nice beginning for your ride. Reach again Calasparra before riding towards the Alfonso XIII reservoir. A last climb and you go down until the Segura rvier valley, following the river banks, until Cieza. Night at Inn.

Calasparra to Cieza via the Alfonso XIII reservoir. Distance: 46km Difficulty: Easy.

DAY 6

Through the Valle de Ricote, the last moorish valley. The Ricote valley was one of the last moorish reduct at the end of the Middle Age. The valley has some airs of Palestina, with a green mix of oranges trees, peaches and apricots trees and palm trees at the bottom of the valley, and brown colour mountains surrounding the landscape. You are going to cycle from village to another one, looking for the essence of this unknown corner of Southern Spain. After Abarán, Blanca, Ójos and Ulea, Archena marks the end of the valley: the horizon is more open and the landscape turns more urban. At the end of the route you will reach again the Contraparada, the birth place of the Orchards of Murcia. Night in Hotel 4*.

Through the Valle de Ricote, the last moorish valley. Distance: 60 km Difficulty: Moderate.

DAY 7

End of the tour after the breakfast.

OPTIONAL RIDE IN CARAVACA - DAY 4

During this stage, you will discover the natural and cultural richness of the surroudings of Caravaca. Between irrigation ditches and elm groves, the route will take you from fountain to fountain, passing by Roman and Christian sanctuaries and unique places where Paleolithic, Argáric, Iberian, Roman and Medieval settlement traces coexist. Going out of the city of Caravaca by local roads, you will reach the Itinerario Ecoturístico Archivel-La Encarnación, a marked way that will guide you through rural villages and fields. From La Encarnación, you will go back to Caravaca following a GR red/white marked way. One nightt accommodation in a rural inn.

49 km. 5h by bike. Difficulty: Medium. Caravaca de la Cruz-Archivel-La Encarnación-Caravaca de la Cruz.

Material / Guides

Luggage:

We strongly recommend that you divide your luggage between a rucksack and a non-rigid travel bag.

The rucksack, together with the bicycle saddle bag, will be very useful in cycling and walking days. We recommend that you keep your fragile stuff (cameras, binoculars and personal belongings) in the rucksack, whereas everything else can be kept in the saddle bag (picnic food, water, change of clothes, etc.). It must be medium-sized (around 20 litres) to make cycling movement easier.

The non-rigid travel bag will contain the rest of your personal belongings (clothes, toiletries, etc.). Every time the accommodation is changed, we will bring it to your new accommodation at the end of the day. Before leaving, you will be given a set of tags to identify your luggage with your full name, address, and identification data of the route you are doing.

If you travel by plane, we recommend you to consult the conditions regarding luggage with your air company: authorised products, size, weight, etc. In addition, you should be careful that your personal belongings or gifts you may have bought during your stay do not exceed the maximum authorised weight.

Recommended clothes:

1 hat or cap.
1 kerchief.
T-shirts (1 for each cycling or walking day). No cotton garments, as they take a long time to dry; short-sleeved T-shirts made of breathable synthetic fabric are preferable.
1 long-sleeved T-shirt (follow the previous recommendation) or 1 long-sleeved shirt.
1 Gore-tex jacket or similar (simple and light).
A pair of padded cycling shorts for better cycling comfort.
A pair of long trousers for the evening.
Underwear (preferably seamless). It is recommended to wear the cycling shorts without underwear to avoid skin abrasion.
Socks (a pair for each or two cycling days). Breathable fabric is recommended.
1 swimsuit.

Footwear:

A pair of comfortable multi-activity boots with regular sole to pedal and walk (avoid high boots).
A pair of sneakers or sandals for the evening.
This list is to be reviewed depending on the season.
Gear:
A pair of good quality sunglasses.
1 front light (optional).
1 utility knife (do not carry it in your flight hand luggage.
1 waterproof purse.
1 bathroom kit.
1 set of towels (we recommend fast drying towels).
Toilet paper.
Sunscreen and lip balm.
Ear plugs (optional).

If you bring your own bicycle:

1 helmet (not compulsory, but strongly recommended).
A pair of long cycling gloves.
1 map holder (optional)
1 water container or water rucksack (1.5l minimum)
1 repair kit.
1 lock.
Saddle bags.
Bicycle insurance.

Picnic stuff:

1 Tupperware or similar hermetically sealed plastic container.
Plastic glasses.
Cutlery.

Personal first-aid kit:

Your habitual medicines.
C Vitamin or multivitamins.
Painkillers: preferably paracetamol.
Elastic adhesive bandage.
Plasters and sterile gauze pads.
Anti-mosquito products.
Hand sanitizer.

Material provided:

If you rent our bikes (supplement):

1 conventional or electric hybrid bicycle (see conditions), equipped with front suspension, rear handle bags, helmet, reflective jacket, repair kit, lock.

Material not provided: