málaga to VENTAs
DE ZAFARRAYA
CYCLING ROUTE

A journey through the Axarquía region to reach the borders of the province of Malaga. A flat route with a 20-kilometer climb in the middle and a fun descent to the coast.

Images and text by Escapada Cycling

A journey through the Axarquía region to reach the borders of the province of Malaga. A flat route with a 20-kilometer climb in the middle and a fun descent to the coast.

The first part of our cycling route to Ventas de Zafarraya is completely flat. Depending on the departure time, we may find some traffic when leaving Malaga and crossing Rincón de la Victoria, but from that moment on traffic will be limited to Vélez-Málaga streets.

The Malaga cycling routes to the Axarquía region follow the same coastal route to avoid the mountains that divide the province and that would greatly lengthen the route.

Most part of the route it’s spent cycling along the N-340. It’s one of the oldest roads in the country and curiously extends to Barcelona, so if you have the necessary strength, do not hesitate to keep going! Currently, this road is very well paved and is frequented by cyclists and triathletes looking for a good race pace. Following the N-340 we will reach Torre del Mar first to later on deviate to Vélez-Málaga.

Even though you could stop in Torre del Mar or Vélez-Málaga if you feel like, we believe that it’s possible to reach our destination without stopping if we carry enough water and/or energy bars with us. The best time to provide some energy intake is upon arrival in Torre del Mar, where the area is still flat and far enough from the climb to digest well. If you choose to stop, Torre del Mar is the place to do it, with cafes and shops around.

Leaving Vélez-Málaga behind, the climb begins gently. We will be soon leaving the city and begin to see agricultural fields and fruit trees all over the place. This beautiful landscape is known as the Axarquía region, an area with sub-tropical weather and authentic Andalussian towns.

The climb to Ventas de Zafarraya is not very difficult. With a fine cadence adjustment over time, we’ll be able to sort out the climb as the road never gets very steep. 5 kilometers after passing Viñuela, the A-402 road takes us to the left side of the valley. From there, Sierra de Tejeda stands on our right, with the peak of “La Maroma” on top (the highest peak in the province at 2049 meters). Finally, we will be arriving to Ventas de Zafarraya after passing through an old welcoming arch to Granada province.

Ventas de Zafarraya is a very small, humble and mainly agricultural town. Depending on the day, we may not even find open cafes, although there will always be open supermarkets and fresh water sources.

After a well-deserved rest, we just have to undo the road traveled, with a 20 kilometer descent and a remaining 40 practically flat back to Malaga. The average cycling route to Ventas de Zafarraya usually takes about 5 hours, that is, if it’s not very windy in the coastal area.