Ride Across Spain 2: Madrid to Tarifa

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $150 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

OVERVIEW: This ride, together with “Ride Across Spain Part I: San Sebastian to Madrid,” provides the opportunity to cycle the length of Spain from the north coast to the south coast. Both rides are designed for strong experienced riders who will have a good base of challenging riding leading up to the start of the tour, and are capable of riding long daily distances with significant climbs. You’re welcome to sign up for either ride or both! These rides were previously led in 2017 and 2023, but in the reverse direction, south to north, and in the spring rather than the fall.

The tour starts on Sunday, Oct. 4th, 2026, in the vibrant international city of Madrid with the traditional BAC happy hour at 6pm in Hotel AC La Finca. We’ll finish riding in Tarifa on Monday, Oct. 19th where we’ll have our final happy hour and group dinner. After breakfast the following morning, Tuesday, Oct. 20th, we’ll take a private bus to Malaga with stops at the airport and the center city.

Experience the varied landscapes and cultures of the Iberian Peninsula as we ride from Madrid through the autonomous communities of Andalucía, Castile-La Mancha, Extremadura, and Madrid. We’ll enjoy some of the most scenic riding to be found on the Iberian Peninsula as we travel through Spain’s lush green countryside past Spain’s famed white villages, olive plantations, vineyards, and bull ranches. Most of our routes will be along quiet country roads with little traffic and excellent surfaces. Our overnights will be in quaint towns where we’ll have a chance to tour ancient cathedrals, historic churches and palaces, and Roman ruins. We’ll enjoy tapas and other delicious Spanish cuisine and Spain’s renowned red wines. In several locations you’ll be able to attend flamenco performances. We stay in, or will have the option of visiting, UNESCO World Heritage sites in Toledo (rest day), Guadalupe, Mérida (rest day), and Seville (rest day). Highlights of the tour include:

• Toledo. Toledo is known for its labyrinth of narrow streets, mosques, synagogues, churches and museums. On our rest day here, plan to visit the Catedral de Toledo with its mixture of architectural styles, the Alcázar at the highest point of the city, the Museo de Santa Cruz which houses several El Greco originals, and an old Jewish quarter. UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Guadalupe. This white village with its uneven cobbled squares and bubbling fountains is the home of the spectacular Real Monasterio de Santa María de Guadalupe, one of the most important monasteries in Spain for more than four centuries. UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Mérida. Mérida is home to the most extensive and impressive Roman ruins in all of Spain, scattered throughout the city. UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Seville. Our second rest day will be in Seville, known for its architectural landmarks such as the Reales Alcázares palace and its immense gothic cathedral and adjacent Giralda. We’ll enjoy a flamenco performance on our second night in Seville. A loop ride will be an option for those who prefer to bike rather than sight see or relax. UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Arcos de la Frontera. Arcos sits high above the valley of the River Guadalete. Its Renaissance and Baroque whitewashed mansions showcase classic Andalusian wrought iron balconies trimmed with window boxes overflowing with red geraniums.
• Vejer de la Frontera. Vejer de la Frontera, perched atop a rocky crag overlooking the valley of the River Barbate, is one of Andalucía’s most picturesque white villages. Take time to visit its castle for spectacular views.
• Tarifa. We end the tour in Tarifa, the southernmost town on the Iberian Peninsula, sitting at the Strait of Gibraltar where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean. On a clear day you can see Morocco, a mere 9 miles away. (You can easily extend your vacation with a trip to Morocco via a short ferry ride!) 

HEALTH & SAFETY: Participants are expected to come to the tour in good health and ready to
ride. Should someone's health become compromised and the group’s health and safety placed
in jeopardy, a plan will be developed by the ride leader and communicated to all individuals.
The expectation is for the group to work together to mitigate any spread of infection or illness as
a means to ensure the tour can continue as planned.

RIDE RATING: 3C! This will be a challenging ride! There will be 12 required riding days with daily distances averaging 52 miles, ranging from 34-64 miles. The average ascent will be 3200’ of climbing, ranging from 1800-5200’. There are 5 required riding days that exceed the 3C rating (hence the “!”):

• Day 2: 61 miles with 4600’ of climbing (4C)
• Day 3: 64 miles with 5100' of climbing (4C)
• Day 4: 55 miles with 5200’ of climbing (4C)
• Day 7:  61 miles with 4000’ of climbing (4C)
• Day 13:  61 miles with 3980’ of climbing (4C)

The ride rating is based on the average of the shortest ride options for each required riding day. There will be longer ride options available for many days, generally with additional elevation, and riding options on rest days for those who prefer to ride rather than sightsee or relax. Although most routes will be on well-paved, lightly traveled back roads, there will be one short section (~0.1 mile) of hard-packed dirt near the end of our last day’s ride.  Many of the days have very short sections (10-50’) with grades above 8%. Although most of the routing in and out of the large cities (e.g., Madrid) will be on bike paths, there will be short stretches on some days that may have heavy traffic. You should be comfortable riding hills, in remote areas, and for short distances in heavy traffic which we may encounter in urban areas. Riders must come prepared to handle minor mechanical mishaps (e.g., flat tires, minor bike mechanical adjustments) and carry anything they’ll need during the day such as sufficient water; tool kit with whatever you’d need to change a flat tire or make minor mechanical adjustments to your bike, lunch/snacks, rain jacket, etc. All riders are expected to ride the entire route each day; the luggage transport van does not support riders on the road except those with significant injuries, or whose bikes have a major mechanical issue. For a detailed itinerary with daily distances and climbing contact the Ride Leader.

Cue Sheets, Maps, GPS Files: Excellent GPS routes, cue sheets, and maps will be provided. Riders must be able to complete each day’s ride using a navigation device (e.g., Garmin, Wahoo, smartphone with RWGPS, etc.), or cue sheets and maps. We will not ride as a “stay together” group, and thus riders must bring (and be able to use) a navigation device or plan to navigate via cue sheet and map.

Bikes, Bike Cases, Bike Rentals: If you bring your own bike, be sure it is in good mechanical condition, and has appropriate gearing for tours with a 3C! rating. Road bikes, gravel bikes, or hybrids are appropriate for this tour. Due to occasional short sections of rough road and a short section of hard packed dirt on our last riding day, tires with a width of at least 28mm are recommended. E-bikes and tandems will be accepted on a case by case basis. If you plan to ride an e-bike or tandem, contact the ride leader before you sign up.

Iberocycle will arrange transport of bike cases from Madrid to Tarifa for a cost of 80€ per case, payable directly to Iberocycle. If you prefer, you may make your own arrangements to transfer your bike case from the starting hotel in Madrid, to the final hotel in Tarifa. (For those who are doing both Rides Across Spain, the cost for Iberocycle to arrange transport of bike boxes from San Sebastián to Tarifa will be only 80€ per case – i.e., not 160€.)

To rent a bike for this trip (at your own expense) contact Iberocycle (info@iberocycle.com). They can supply rental bicycles at the following costs: Cube Carbon road bike 206€ rim brakes / 232€ disc brakes, Hybrid bike 145€, Road e-bike 305€, Hybrid e-bike, 262€.

WEATHER: Average high temperature in Madrid in early-mid Oct. is 74°F, rarely falling below 36°F or exceeding 83°F. and the average number of days with precipitation is 10. Average temperature in Andalucía in Oct. is 68°F, and the average number of days with precipitation is 5. The average daytime and nighttime temperatures for the parts of Spain we’ll visit on this tour range from the mid-40s to the lower 80s.

LODGING & MEALS: Sixteen (16) nights lodging, including two (2) nights in Toleda, Mérida, and Seville, and one (1) night each in Madrid, Toledo, Horcajo de los Montes, Trujillo, Cáceres, Llerena, Cazalla de la Sierra, Arcos de la Frontera, Vejer de la Frontera, and Tarifa. Lodging will be in 2–5-star hotels.  We’ll overnight in exceptional modern properties, several with historic significance. A detailed list of hotels will be available before the start of the tour. Daily breakfasts will be provided, and there will be 14 happy hours and 6 group dinners. All other meals will be on your own.

LOGISTICS: We’ll have our initial happy hour at our starting hotel, Hotel AC La Finca on Saturday, October 4th, at 6pm. Plan to arrive no later than noon to allow adequate time for putting together your bike, or for fitting your rental bike. Our first day of riding will be Sunday, Oct. 5th and our last day of riding will be Monday, Oct. 19th.when we arrive in Tarifa where we’ll have our final happy hour and group dinner. The tour ends on Tuesday, October 20th, after breakfast when we’ll take a private bus to Malaga with stops at the airport and the center city.

Ride participants can book an open-jaws flight into Madrid (MAD) with a departure from Málaga (AGP). For those who prefer to fly in and out of the same city, there are bus and train services between Málaga and Madrid. The Málaga-Costa del Sol airport is about five miles from the city center and has bus service from downtown.

ETIAS Pre-Screening: Starting in mid-2025, travel to Europe will require completion of the European Travel Information & Authorization System (ETIAS) mandatory pre-screening security questionnaire. Without ETIAS approval, travelers from the US, Canada, and many other countries cannot book travel into Europe. Approvals can be issued quickly and once issued are valid for 3 years. Sign up for ETIAS notifications or to complete the ETIAS application here: https://etias.com/etias-application.

COST AND ADMINISTRATION: In addition to the $100 non-refundable BAC ride registration fee, the estimated tour cost is $4,200 based on an exchange rate of $1.15 = 1€ and a minimum of 14 participants.  The estimated cost includes: 16 nights lodging with full breakfast; 14 BAC social hours with beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages and snacks; 6 group dinners; a Flamenco performance in Seville; private bus transport from Tarifa to Malaga; luggage van & emergency sag support; maps, cue sheets and GPS files; ride leader expenses; gratuities; and a 5% contingency. Once you are accepted onto the ride, a deposit of $1,200 is due within 2 weeks. The second payment of $3,000 is due by Mar. 31st, 2026, and may be adjusted based on the exchange rate on Jan. 1st, 2026. . Any funds remaining after the trip will be refunded to participants.

The BAC tour cost does not include:

• Transportation to/from the start/end of the tour.
• Meals other than daily breakfasts and 6 group dinners.
• Transfer of bike cases from the start to the end of the tour. For those who bring their own bikes, Iberocycle can arrange bike case transfer from Madrid to Tarifa for 80€ per case. (For those on both Rides Across Spain, the cost is 80€ for bike case transport from San Sebastián to Tarifa.)
• Bicycle rental. Bicycles can be rented directly from Iberocycle: Cube carbon road bike 206€ rim brakes/232€ disc brakes; hybrid bike, 145€; road e-bike, 305€; hybrid e-bike, 262€.

SINGLES & SOLOS POLICY: Singles (riders sharing a room with a room-mate) and Solos (riders occupying a room by themselves) are both welcome. The solo supplement payment is $1,205 and is due within a month of signing up for the tour. Singles should attempt to find their own room-mate, but the Ride Leader will assist by attempting to match singles who apply for the ride. After the receipt of the initial deposit, a single without a roommate will be placed on the tour and given a month from when they sign up to find one. If they are unable to find a roommate, they will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the BAC fee and credit card processing fees) or pay the $1,205 solo supplement fee and stay on the tour.  If a single pays the solo supplement fee, they may continue to seek a roommate, but must plan to participate without a roommate if necessary.  If they find a roommate, the solo supplement will be refunded.

Solo supplement payments may be made in one of two ways:

1. By check made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check. Checks should be mailed to: Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193.
2. By Zelle. This is how to use Zelle for a solo supplement payment:

• In your online bank account, add Bicycle Adventure Club as a new recipient, with email address treasurer@bicycleadventureclub.org
• Initiate a payment
• In the Message block enter the name of your ride

If you have questions about using Zelle to make the solo supplement payment, contact Nancy Bohnett (nbohnett@bicycleadventureclub.org ) in the BAC office.

NOTE: Only solo supplement payments may be paid via Zelle. All other tour payments must be made by credit card through the BAC website.

CANCELLATION POLICY: The BAC ride registration fee and payment processing fee is not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled due to participation below stated minimum requirements. Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the cancelling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the cancelling participant cannot be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the cancelling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour. BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY:  Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean-up. Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

INSURANCE STATEMENT:  Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. BAC maintains insurance that covers expenses related to accidents, medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected sickness, and repatriation. This coverage applies when touring outside the US and your home country, regardless of your nationality. It will cover you door-to-door for a maximum of 90 days but will expire if you make a side trip not related to the BAC tour for more than 7 days before or after. There is limited coverage for a family member to join a covered person in an emergency. The policy covers the cost of treatment for Covid and other unexpected illnesses, but not quarantine. You should ensure that your vaccinations are up to date. Coverage is subject to a $1000 deductible.

SUGN-UP:  To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the terms of the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the Tour Deposit and the non-refundable BAC Ride Registration Fee by credit card.. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.