Serranía de Ronda - Valle del Genal route

On route

The route begins in the magnificent city of Ronda, the capital of 19^th century Romanticism and of the most intrepid adventurers. After leaving the historic town, you can take the signposted detour to admire the Tagus from below. The descent is very steep and the cobblestones may be slippery when wet. Be careful, but the panoramic view is worth it. Leaving behind the famous Serranía vineyards, whose wines have been awarded Protected Designation of Origin status, you leave Ronda on the A-397 towards San Pedro de Alcántara, the favourite road for motorcyclists in the area. At weekends you will encounter hundreds of motorbikes, of all styles, riding up and down to the coast. Naked, custom, gran turismo, trails and sports bikes will greet you as you pass. Take care with the heavy traffic and watch your speed...The asphalt is in perfect condition and the route is spectacular, wide and meandering, with views of the peaks of the Sierra de las Nieves National Park and the deep ravines in the Serranía de Ronda and the Genal Valley, the next destination.

On the MA-7300 road, which leads to Pujerra, you will have to change how you ride. There is a continuous, narrow and twisting descent, with asphalt in good condition, though depending on the season there may be debris from pine and chestnut tree on the road. After crossing through Igualeja and Pujerra, chestnut-producing hubs that treat you to a magical ‘copper forest,’ thanks to the beautiful colour of their leaves in autumn, you continue downhill until you reach Júzcar, the curious and touristy blue village of Malaga. After stopping at the ‘Mirador del Pueblo Pitufo,’ you continue along the MA-7301, on narrow and winding roads, but with good-quality asphalt, until you reach the entrance to Faraján. At this point you turn off on a steep descent that leads down to the River Genal, where you will begin the most exciting stretch of a route that penetrates the very heart of the mountain range. A lonely and narrow concrete track through a ravine will lead you to Jubrique, ascending steep slopes with man hairpin bends. The views of the landscape, the sensation of solitude and the intense contact with nature are breathtaking on this stretch.

After ascending to Jubrique, you commence a winding descent with good asphalt, until you reach the River Genal again. Next, there is a winding climb, surrounded by holm oaks, chestnut trees and cork oaks, leading you to Algatocín, the legendary home of Princess Algotisa, the daughter of a mythical Moorish king of Ronda. A great place to recharge your batteries! The Serranía’s culinary tradition includes hearty, deep-rooted dishes, such as migas, lamb stew, rabbit and Ronda-style partridge, as well as lighter dishes, such as gazpacho a la serrana (with Serrano ham), Ronda-style trout and chestnut soups. For several decades, the vineyard has been treated with great care, so you should not leave without trying its wines. And in March, you must savour the ‘Hinojá’ of Algatocín, an annual festival where tortillitas de cuchara (Swiss chard and onion fritters) and fennel stew are eaten.

At the Espino pass, take another spectacular road into the Guadiaro valley, a broad, clear descent with good asphalt, which leads to Cañada del Real Tesoro, where you will cross the river. From this point on the A-373, it is uphill all the way to Cortes de La Frontera. The road is now broader and faster. Exercise extreme caution due to the presence of potholes and steps in the asphalt. Following the spectacular course of the River Guadiaro, you leave Benaoján behind to reach the end point of the route, Ronda. On this route, you will note the Gato and La Pileta caves in your logbook.

#tajoronda selfie spot

New Bridge over the Tajo de Ronda. This is one of the most iconic monuments in the historic city of Ronda and perhaps one of the most surprising, a perfect symbiosis of nature and architectural ingenuity. Built between 1751 and 1793, until 1839 it was the highest bridge in the world, at 98 metres.