Picacho – Peguera – Peñón de Berrueco – Rio Hoz Garganta

STAGE 1 – RECREATION AREA EL PICACHO – ARROYO PEGUERA. 42.6 Km. Moderate

This linear route is a perfect way to experience the essence of the Alcornoques Natural Park and to enjoy superb panoramas. You can see deer and vultures among other species and ride through verdant forests of Portuguese Oak and Cork Oak, and pass by streams where the vines climb to the top of the trees.

Commencing in the recreation zone of Picacho, we follow the road the joins Alcalá de los Gazules and Puerto Gáliz . Along a sealed road we ascend for 5 kilometres with some steep ramps, but the effort is rewarded with marvellous views of the nearby peak of Picacha. A gentle descent for ten kilometres allows us to enjoy the views south in which you can see the sea on a clear day.

Another climb takes us to Tajo Sancho where there is an important colony of vultures. We continue the route accompanied by the soft sounds of running water , it curves and bends until we arrive to the lush gallery forest of the Peguera Creek..

STAGE 2 – PEÑON DEL BERRUECO – RIO HOZGARGANTA. 23.7 Km. Moderate

This linear route passes through some of the most well conserved Mediterranean forest in the country. The exceptional beauty of the of the ride, with its numerous examples of cork oak, holm oak, portuguese oak and Andalusian oak, is complemented by the exciting final descent , where you can enjoy the along the banks of the Hozgarganta River which runs year round.

The route commences next to the forest track next opposite the Peñon del Berrueco. We follow this track with a moderate ascent at the beginning. The limestone peaks of the Sierra de Grazalema can be easily seen from the track and soon after the panorama switches to the the highest peaks of the Alcornocales Natural Park.

The first 11km follow the route of the GR-7, the walking track that joins Tarifa and Athens. Afterwards the track divides and we follow the right fork to ride on a long downhill that gets steeper and steeper. The ramps get even steeper which will test out both your bike and your arms!

Throughout the the ride you can enjoy the well-preserved forest of the park. The enormous Portuguese and Andalucian Oaks strive to outshine in size and shape the Cork and Holm Oak.

All in all a magnificent spectacle that ends at the road which joins Jimena de la Frontera and Puerto Gáliz near the the zone known aas Las Canillas and next to the Hozgarganta River where you can cool off in hot weather!

.