Coastal Super Route

This route along the Andalusian coast would be the perfect setting for an exciting road movie: a thrilling journey along back roads with the sea as the main storyline. This story will have to last at least two days. First, setting off from the bay of Almeria, accompanied by the Mediterranean and riding by coves, cliffs and beaches, leaving behind the wake of fishing villages, tourist resorts and the traces of industries that have left their mark on Andalusia’s deepest identity. Then comes the highlight, the Strait of Gibraltar, where the sea becomes an ocean between the Pillars of Hercules. The Atlantic is light, but it also enables you to travel on long beaches, golden sand, attractive waves and wind, one of its great attractions. This route could not have a more resounding or brilliant ending: the three-thousand-year-old city of Cadiz. An exciting motorcycle tour offering hundreds of places to enjoy, a trip that you will never forget.

This long route begins at Almería, beside the Cable Inglés (stop 1), the ore loading dock until the last century that has been declared an Asset of Cultural Interest. You leave the city on the N-340, which since the construction of the A-7 highway has become an attractive detour, a lonely and interesting road, perched on cliffs overlooking the sea.

You will briefly ride on the highway to cross the fields of El Ejido, an impressive sea of plastic that has become Europe’s orchard. At Balanegra and its beach, you return to the coast and, after passing Adra, you ride on roads with barely any traffic, through small villages as yet unspoilt by mass tourism and whose economy is based on agriculture and traditional fishing. It is worth stopping at some of the many vantage points dotted along the route, such as at Mamola (stop 2), which offer splendid views of small coves with turquoise waters. The roads are in good conditions, with many bends and the proper width, although you should take care on some poorly-maintained stretches. In this part of the Mediterranean coast, containing the provinces of Almeria and Granada, you can sample a cuisine based on a variety of seafood, and on abundant vegetables. Sardine skewers, fried fish, dried octopus and Motril shrimps, as well as traditional ‘ollas’ (stews) with Alpujarra roots - such as olla fresca (a black pudding and bean stew), fennel stew and cod stew - and a wide variety of tropical fruits represent just a small sample of this land’s unique culinary art. 

Now on the Costa Tropical, after bypassing Motril and Salobreña, you reach a beautiful, winding stretch that passes through Almuñécar and La Herradura (stop 3), before entering the province of Malaga via the Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo natural area and Nerja (stop 4). Using the N-340, the route visits numerous villages near the coast with deep maritime roots. At certain times of year, there may be traffic congestion, but there is the option of a detour to the nearby A-7 highway, which will allow to make faster, but perhaps more boring, progress.

You are leaving behind the Axarquía, a landscape that mixes the tourist hubbub and very well-preserved natural spots, with the Mediterranean as backdrop. You then take the Malaga bypass to again meet the sea at Benalmádena - or stop (5) for the night in the capital to enjoy its extensive cultural and culinary options. You are now in the heart of the Costa del Sol, where villages follow one after another, forming gated communities, gardens and golf courses. You will need to take care with this two-lane road, which has thousands of on ramps and always has heavy traffic. After passing the interesting tourist towns of Fuengirola, Marbella, San Pedro de Alcántara, Estepona and Manilva, you reach the province of Cadiz and again meet the Mediterranean, which is now much rougher due to the proximity of the Strait of Gibraltar. Arriving at La Línea, the El Higuerón vantage point (stop 6) affords spectacular views of the Rock and the coast of Africa, before continuing the route to the border with Gibraltar.

You then continue to skirt Los Barrios and Algeciras on the N-340, before reaching a very interesting stretch for riding. It crosses the Estrecho natural park through the ports of El Cabrito and El Bujeo, following a spectacular winding road, with heavy traffic a poor road surface. Also, pay attention to the strong wind that is always blowing at this point. The Mirador del Estrecho (stop 7) is a must; it offers a hypnotic view of Africa and the “highway” of ships crossing the Strait. It is not every day that you can see another continent, an evocative image. You will soon reach Tarifa (stop 8), a charming walled town overlooking the sea at the southernmost point of the European continent. Here the Mediterranean ends and the Atlantic begins, displaying the disparity of the colours of their waters and two very different marine worlds.

Now, heading northwest on the Atlantic coast of Cadiz, you will pass magnificent, extensive beaches of golden sand, such as Los Lances and Valdevaqueros. A little further on you can take a detour to Bolonia beach, where the archaeological site of the Roman city of Baelo Claudia looms undaunted over the sea (stop 9). Riding amid wind turbines and fighting bulls, you will reach Zahara de los Atunes, before continuing to Barbate along a stretch of unspoilt Atlantic coast (stop 10). Its ports, known for traditional Almadraba fishing (trapping tuna in nets), is a good starting point to watch cetaceans. On the other hand, the Costa de la Luz in Cadiz invites you to sample its culinary specialties, which is based mainly on the horticultural production of La Janda and its fish. Tuna, in its many forms of preparation - its belly, with onions, larded, etc. -, salted sea bream, mackerel with noodles, potatoes with squid, salted tuna and marinaded dogfish are on an extensive and always generous list. We must not forget the many good wines produced by the Marco de Jerez and the PDO Manzanilla de Sanlúcar.

Filled with satisfaction, you then continue the route through the pine forests of the La Breña natural park and the Barbate marshes on a road with an uneven surface due to the pine trees’ roots. From Los Caños de Meca you can make out the Cape Trafalgar lighthouse, a magical place offering spectacular sunsets. The route then continues along the ever-lively beaches of El Palmar, reaching Conil, whose white silhouette stands out on the horizon. The route resumes by passing next to Chiclana and San Fernando, before reaching the ancient city of Cadiz, next to its bay. Flanked by water on either side of the road, you will reach the ‘tacita de plata’ (stop 11), the end point of this long and fruitful route. 

View of the Rock of Gibraltar from Playa del Castillo, in La Línea de La Concepción. According to mythology, the rock was one of the Pilars of Hercules, which are still represented today on the coats of arms of Spain and Andalusia, and which also feature on the dollar sign. The other pillar, on the African side of the strait, was Mount Jebel Musa. In ancient times, and according to a legend of Greek origin, these two points marked the western limit of the known world.