Bacalao — Benamocarra and Iznate
A quiet loop the locals call 'Bacalao'. It winds through the Axarquía foothills via the villages of Benamocarra and Iznate — among orange trees, olives and vineyards, on lanes where you're more likely to meet a tractor than a car. No big climb, just a pleasant roll through the landscape and a coffee on the square halfway. Ideal for a day when you don't want to rack up the metres but don't just want to hug the coast either. You come back along the relaxed coastal road.
Who it suits
A classic easier day — gentle hills in the Axarquía foothills. A good second day or active recovery for more experienced riders.
Traffic on the route
Water and refuelling
- 40 km · Benamocarra — tabernas on the square
- 55 km · Iznate — shop
Cafés and stops
- Taberna in Benamocarra (Benamocarra) — a classic easy loop with a coffee stop halfway
When your legs give out (bail-out)
- 20 km Cercanías C-1 (Málaga / Rincón) — back along the coast or by bus from Vélez-Málaga
Wind, season and kit
Wind: Watch out for the terral — a föhn-type northerly wind from the sierra, extremely hot and dry. It hits Málaga and the Guadalhorce valley, but often doesn't reach Rincón (10 km east). Terral in the forecast = ride east, or go high and early.
When to set off: Any time — a gentle profile. In the heat, better in the morning.
Season: Best in March–May and September–November. In September the share of muggy days drops from 43% (1 Sept) to 16% (30 Sept) — the end of the month is noticeably more pleasant. Summer is too hot for the inland climbs.
Gearing: 34×30 is plenty.
Tyres: 28 mm.
Watch out for
- ⚠Short village ramps can be surprisingly steep, even though the day as a whole is easy.
Your bike is waiting in Málaga
You ride this route on your own bike, straight from the door — we bring your bike over and store it, you fly in with just a backpack. We'll tell you where to ride for your form, and if something goes wrong, you call and we come and pick you up.
Metrics are calculated from the GPS track. The route has been planned with a routing engine so far — we'll ride it and check it on site (water, surface, traffic), then add the real GPX and photos here. Sources: bike2malaga RB-10.