Ingles / Casabermeja
Cycling route Málaga
Casabermeja and Colmenar
A pleasant loop for three to four hours of riding. Long climbs will satisfy the advanced riders, the lack of steepness will not scare beginners, and the beautiful views will delight everyone.
Images and text by Escapada Cycling.
This cycling route to Casabermeja starts with an important recommendation on our part. The route, at a glance, does not have any complication in terms of steep inclines or excessive total elevation. However, that facility when climbing naturally pushes the cyclist to ride even faster than usual and in his quest for reaching Casabermeja, end up bonking half way through. Thus, we recommend carrying 2 water bottles and enough snacks, as well as keeping attention to hydration and supplementation during the first half of the course.
To start with, follow directions in town towards the Jardín Botánico de la Concepción (Botanical Garden), on the northern side of the city. Shortly after you will be on the right direction to connect with the MA-3101, that will take you straight to Casabermeja. At the beginning of the road, there is an old dam (Embalse del Agujero) from 1908, specifically built to avoid the flash flooding affecting Malaga after intensive deforestation in the early twentieth century.
The first, longest uphill has almost 30 kilometers and a few moments to catch your breath. After about an hour, the first prize will be a panorama of the mountains in the east, Sierra Mijas and Sierra de las Nieves. They will help you forget about the stuggles of climbing and immediately reach the first, short downhill to Casabermeja.
Casabermeja, known as the "gateway to Malaga" is the first town on the plateau, next to Colmenar. In both we can find small, local bars, perfect for coffeebreak and filling waterbottles. Local legend has it that exceptionally the water in Casabermeja is not suitable for drinking. Whether it is true or not, but it may be better to fill the water bottles in Colmenar.
If you feel tired or short on water, it is best to seek refuge in a bar in Casabermeja, as the way from Casabermeja to Colmenar lasts for about 10 kilometers.
After a break we return to Montes de Malaga, where a second, shorter uphill awaits, this time with a panorama to the west, to the top of Puerto del Leon. From which we have twenty kilometers of pure fun at the descend, ending in the very center of Malaga.
