Via Verde de la Sierra
Via Verde de la Sierra
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Nicole C
Rota, Spain71 contributions
Nov 2022 • Couples
We started in Puerto Serrano and headed to Olvera. Brought our own bikes but there was a rental shack in Puerto. This was our first long distance bike ride. The distance wasn’t an issue but the incline the last 6 miles was very hard. It took us 6 hours total and bike time was 5 hours and 15 min. If you have never ridden up hill I would suggest starting in Olvera it is much easier. We stayed the night in Olvera and did the ride back in the morning in a little over 3 hours. If you do plan to stay in Olvera you will need to walk a mile up to the town.
Tip: bring good lights for the tunnels some are lit but some aren’t.
Tip: bring good lights for the tunnels some are lit but some aren’t.
Written November 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SueJim126
Sheffield, UK515 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
The Via Verde de la Sierra is an off road cycle route built on an abandoned railway line. It goes from the disused Olvera railway station to the disused Puerto Serrano railway station. A distance of 23 miles (36.5 km) on dirt tracks and tarmac paths and through some beautiful and very peaceful countryside.
A unique thing about the route is that you go through 30 tunnels, some quite short but others quite long. Nearly all are lit but when we went two were not, so you need to take a torch with you. We walked through the unlit tunnels.
The route from Olvera to Puerto Serrano is slightly downhill. So if you are a leisure cyclist or someone who rarely cycles I would definitely recommend you cycle this way. Going the other way from Puerto Serrano to Olvera is much harder.
We are aged 67 & 69 and occasional leisure cyclists it took us 3.5 hours to cover the 23 miles without too much difficulty, plus another hour for stops.
You can hire bikes (child, adult, tandem, electric) at the start of the ride at Olvera Station. We booked them in advance by email: info@sesca.es. We hired two adult bikes cost 12 Euros each for the day.
Some ride to Puerto Serrano and back but that is 46 miles and is for the hard core cyclists. If you just want to go one way from Olvera to Puerto Serrano you can get a taxi with bike trailer to take you back from Puerto Serrano station to Olvera, cost 50 Euros. You can get the taxi numbers from the staff at Olvera Station before you leave. Or your other option is just to cycle part of the way and then turn round and cycle back, remembering that cycling back towards Olvera is harder work.
One thing not to miss on route is the Penon de Zaframagon a natural reserve which is home to one of the largest colonies of Griffon Vultures in Europe with 200 pairs of birds. This is situated about 10 miles (16 km) from Olvera as you go towards Puerto Serrano.
Zaframagon Station has been turned into a visitor centre with a display about the Vultures and a not to be missed live feed from two camera's strategically placed in the area which show the birds in real time gliding (they don’t fly), sitting on the rocks and on their nests.
Unfortunately there is only one member of staff on duty so if she is showing people the live feed there is no one on reception when you enter. But just buy a ticket at the machine, 1 Euro for children, 2 Euros for adults, go through the double doors, browse the displays downstairs in Spanish and English, then walk up the wooden stairs to see more displays and the room where they show the live stream.
There are cafes at Olvera Station, Coripe Station 14 miles (22Km) into the ride and at Puerto Serrano station. Coripe Station closes on a Wednesday.
A unique thing about the route is that you go through 30 tunnels, some quite short but others quite long. Nearly all are lit but when we went two were not, so you need to take a torch with you. We walked through the unlit tunnels.
The route from Olvera to Puerto Serrano is slightly downhill. So if you are a leisure cyclist or someone who rarely cycles I would definitely recommend you cycle this way. Going the other way from Puerto Serrano to Olvera is much harder.
We are aged 67 & 69 and occasional leisure cyclists it took us 3.5 hours to cover the 23 miles without too much difficulty, plus another hour for stops.
You can hire bikes (child, adult, tandem, electric) at the start of the ride at Olvera Station. We booked them in advance by email: info@sesca.es. We hired two adult bikes cost 12 Euros each for the day.
Some ride to Puerto Serrano and back but that is 46 miles and is for the hard core cyclists. If you just want to go one way from Olvera to Puerto Serrano you can get a taxi with bike trailer to take you back from Puerto Serrano station to Olvera, cost 50 Euros. You can get the taxi numbers from the staff at Olvera Station before you leave. Or your other option is just to cycle part of the way and then turn round and cycle back, remembering that cycling back towards Olvera is harder work.
One thing not to miss on route is the Penon de Zaframagon a natural reserve which is home to one of the largest colonies of Griffon Vultures in Europe with 200 pairs of birds. This is situated about 10 miles (16 km) from Olvera as you go towards Puerto Serrano.
Zaframagon Station has been turned into a visitor centre with a display about the Vultures and a not to be missed live feed from two camera's strategically placed in the area which show the birds in real time gliding (they don’t fly), sitting on the rocks and on their nests.
Unfortunately there is only one member of staff on duty so if she is showing people the live feed there is no one on reception when you enter. But just buy a ticket at the machine, 1 Euro for children, 2 Euros for adults, go through the double doors, browse the displays downstairs in Spanish and English, then walk up the wooden stairs to see more displays and the room where they show the live stream.
There are cafes at Olvera Station, Coripe Station 14 miles (22Km) into the ride and at Puerto Serrano station. Coripe Station closes on a Wednesday.
Written June 12, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
amdgriggs
Sheffield, UK1,670 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
The Via Verde is a great trail ride, all 36km of it each way (between Olvera and Puerto Serrano). We followed the good advice of several previous reviewers and started from Puerto Serrano, riding the average 1% uphill gradient to Olvera where we stayed the night and then cycling the gentle downhill back to Puerto Serrano the next day. The surface is mostly gravel and fine for hybrids although most of the few riders we saw were on mountain bikes, with a lot of tarmac the last 5km or so towards Olvera. Be aware that at the moment the last tunnel before Olvera is closed because of a mud slide and landslip, which means a long (2km) ride up a sometimes steep side road into the town of Olvera. If you also book bikes from Olvera station building, or book to stay in the railway-carriage type accommodation they have alongside this, you also then face going down the very steep hill from the town to the station and back up again the next morning. We stayed in the town itself, up on the top of its commanding hill, so the swoop down to the Via Verde track the next morning was a delightful way to start the day. Be aware too that alongside all the lovely views including riding beside the river for several kilometres, the 4 viaducts, the great views, the lookout point from which you can watch griffon vultures and all the rest, that there are a total of 30 tunnels en route (including one now bypassed and another closed, just before the Olvera end), that the longest is around a kilometre long, and that only a minority are illuminated with automatic lighting. The cool in the tunnels was very welcome on a hot day, but you definitely need lights or to be very confident about riding in almost total darkness for a couple of hundred metres at a time. Because of the very wet spring this year and various landslips there'd been a number of limited closures to parts of the Via Verde this year though in practice you can currently ride the whole route apart from the last couple of kilometres into Olvera station - despite the official maps along the route showing several sections as still closed. This official information does mean that no organised groups are cycling the trail at the moment so it's much quieter, and consequently a couple of places are closed en route, notably the birdwatching and ornithology centre and display at Zaframagon (& the associated cafe). The cafe at the midway point at Coripe is still open. You can hire bikes at Olvera or at Puerto Serano, though at the latter there are only a few available and they're basic (no panniers provided, no pumps, no repair kit, and they're not lubricated etc) - all bookable via the Puerto Serrano station building. Overall though this was great fun and we're so pleased to have ridden the Via Verde: we're keen now to ride more of the others across Spain, though this is reputed to be one of the best if not the best.
Written June 20, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonathan
North Yorkshire, UK126 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
We were staying at the free Aire by the restaurant down a steep long minor road from the town of Olvera.
This re-used cycle track is a wonderful way of seeing the landscape - ride it!
You can hire cycles from the bar/ hotel - it's the place with the ex-railway carriage conversions just to the left.
It should be flat but is does slope gradually to the west as you ride.
You will see dozens of Gryphon vultures at a point about 5 miles out. They are an astounding site, their size is not really clear until you see one perched on a rock...my goodness! There is an observatory an info centre along the way, but they were closed (we were there off-season).
At one or two points, especially near the western terminus of the ride, sections of track bed and a bridge are missing, so there is a steep gradient or two. But the glory of the whole thing negates these problems.
We rode both ways, 40 miles, take water and food - there is a tap at the info centre, and there is a bar at the western end. You can get a taxi number from the bike hirers to ferry you back if you only do one way.
If you still need something to do after this, explore Olvera. It has one or two delights....
This re-used cycle track is a wonderful way of seeing the landscape - ride it!
You can hire cycles from the bar/ hotel - it's the place with the ex-railway carriage conversions just to the left.
It should be flat but is does slope gradually to the west as you ride.
You will see dozens of Gryphon vultures at a point about 5 miles out. They are an astounding site, their size is not really clear until you see one perched on a rock...my goodness! There is an observatory an info centre along the way, but they were closed (we were there off-season).
At one or two points, especially near the western terminus of the ride, sections of track bed and a bridge are missing, so there is a steep gradient or two. But the glory of the whole thing negates these problems.
We rode both ways, 40 miles, take water and food - there is a tap at the info centre, and there is a bar at the western end. You can get a taxi number from the bike hirers to ferry you back if you only do one way.
If you still need something to do after this, explore Olvera. It has one or two delights....
Written November 9, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
minnajohannaseppala
Sodankyla, Finland10 contributions
Jul 2018 • Family
On our Costa del Sol holiday we tried to do lots of activities instead of just laying on the beach. One of the best day trips we took was the bike trip Via Verde de la Sierra, from Olvera to Puerto Serrano 36,5km in total. We are a family of 4, our boys are 10 and 5. All of us drove our own bicycles, even our 5-year old managed the whole trip - only the last few kilometers were a bit slow with him as it was really hot.
The route from Olvera to Puerto Serrano was nice steady downhill almost the whole route (although one really steep long hill right at the end of the route), many people drive the route the other way round but for the kids it would have been too much. And in July, maybe also for us adults.
On the way we saw most amazing mountain and countryside scenery and lots of goats. At one particularly beautiful spot we saw about 30 eagles flying around! With luck we also saw big geckoes on the tunnel walls.
On the route we passed through appr. 30 old tunnels, which was nice and cool! 2 of them were not lit, so we walked our bikes through with the light of the phone. Couple of the first tunnels had some storm damage that had not been prepared yet, but otherwise the route was in good condition and very easy to bike on.
On the way we stopped for ice cream and cokes at the Coripe station about 21km in and at the end at Puerto Serrano Station we had some snacks while waiting for the taxi to take us and the bikes back to Olvera.
Bike rental at the Olvera station was cheap (44 euros for us 4), but the adult bikes were not that good. Managed the route though. Children's bikes were just fine. Make sure you test the bikes before starting the journey. The rental shop gave us taxi numbers for the ride back. Once we arrived at Puerto Serrano, we called to book the ride and waited about an hour. Taxi fare for us and the bikes was 45 euros.
Altough web sites say there are over 10 000 visitors a year on this route, on our July adventure we were almost the only ones there.
We really enjoyed the trip!
The route from Olvera to Puerto Serrano was nice steady downhill almost the whole route (although one really steep long hill right at the end of the route), many people drive the route the other way round but for the kids it would have been too much. And in July, maybe also for us adults.
On the way we saw most amazing mountain and countryside scenery and lots of goats. At one particularly beautiful spot we saw about 30 eagles flying around! With luck we also saw big geckoes on the tunnel walls.
On the route we passed through appr. 30 old tunnels, which was nice and cool! 2 of them were not lit, so we walked our bikes through with the light of the phone. Couple of the first tunnels had some storm damage that had not been prepared yet, but otherwise the route was in good condition and very easy to bike on.
On the way we stopped for ice cream and cokes at the Coripe station about 21km in and at the end at Puerto Serrano Station we had some snacks while waiting for the taxi to take us and the bikes back to Olvera.
Bike rental at the Olvera station was cheap (44 euros for us 4), but the adult bikes were not that good. Managed the route though. Children's bikes were just fine. Make sure you test the bikes before starting the journey. The rental shop gave us taxi numbers for the ride back. Once we arrived at Puerto Serrano, we called to book the ride and waited about an hour. Taxi fare for us and the bikes was 45 euros.
Altough web sites say there are over 10 000 visitors a year on this route, on our July adventure we were almost the only ones there.
We really enjoyed the trip!
Written July 9, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter B
Newark-on-Trent, UK361 contributions
Sep 2016 • Couples
The bicycle hire in Olvera is reasonable at €24 for two people with helmets . The whole route is scenic and its 38 km to the end and turn around or about 20 km to the mid station where you can get lunch and a couple of cold beers . The vultures are spectacular to see and the scenery is wonderful . It is uphill returning to Olvera so allow an extra 20 -25 percent time depending on your stamina for the return trip .
Written September 9, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LazyRose
Alberta, Canada1,636 contributions
Sep 2017 • Couples
For some reason, we didn't think we would have time to do the Via Verde, so we didn't budget time for it. We decided to cram it in on the morning we were leaving Olvera, but we opted to just go halfway down and get a cab ride back - because we needed to get our bikes back to the rental shop before siesta started, we didn't want to wait until the bike rental shop reopened to return our bikes because we needed to get on our way too. Another couple wanted to do the same thing, so thankfully we split the cost.
The bikes we rented were in really good condition, but make sure you bring some kind of backpack that you can wear while riding, because the bikes don't have anywhere to stow anything (you will want sunscreen and water, at the very least, and maybe some snacks, not to mention your phone/camera). The trail is very easy and pretty flat, though there is a bit of an incline (not steep, but steady) in some areas. On the day we went, none of the restaurants were open (up to the halfway point), and only one bathroom along the trail was open for use, at the viewpoint for the vultures. So maybe keep that in mind, just in case you were planning to eat somewhere along the way.
I definitely recommend taking time to do this path, even if you just do half of it. I wish we had more time so that we could have biked all the way to the end.
The bikes we rented were in really good condition, but make sure you bring some kind of backpack that you can wear while riding, because the bikes don't have anywhere to stow anything (you will want sunscreen and water, at the very least, and maybe some snacks, not to mention your phone/camera). The trail is very easy and pretty flat, though there is a bit of an incline (not steep, but steady) in some areas. On the day we went, none of the restaurants were open (up to the halfway point), and only one bathroom along the trail was open for use, at the viewpoint for the vultures. So maybe keep that in mind, just in case you were planning to eat somewhere along the way.
I definitely recommend taking time to do this path, even if you just do half of it. I wish we had more time so that we could have biked all the way to the end.
Written April 10, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TIZADAVID
Seville, Spain585 contributions
Mar 2016 • Friends
I have on numerous occasions enjoyed The Via Verde de la Sierra with many visiting friends over the years. After another 36km walk yesterday from Olvera to Puerto Serrano I felt I just had to post a review on what a great facility this is. The facility has been constructed along the line of an unused rail track. You walk/cycle/ride through 30 tunnels, one of which is 1km long and over 3 viaducts. At Olvera, Coripe and Puerto Serrano Station there are restaurants and visitors centres and approximately mid way is the Zamafragon Visitors Centre with a presentation of the Griffin Vultures which nest in the adjacent hillside. There is also a 4D film presentation at Olvera. It is free to visit the facility and on €2 adult €1 child to visit the presentations. Cycles are available to rent at the Stations but I have found the rental offices are only open seasonally and at weekends. There is a nearby equestrian centre at the Olvera Station where horse rental is available and this facility also has a restaurant which overlooks the horse training arena.
It is great to walk the entire via verde of 36km but there is no public transport so you will need to book overnight accommodation , enquired through the Via Verde de la Sierra website. Or as we have arrange a pick up or taxi. A totally recommended experience but please plan your walking so as not to be walking during the extremely hot summer months. As the visitors centres are 3 hrs walk apart ensure you take refreshments.
It is great to walk the entire via verde of 36km but there is no public transport so you will need to book overnight accommodation , enquired through the Via Verde de la Sierra website. Or as we have arrange a pick up or taxi. A totally recommended experience but please plan your walking so as not to be walking during the extremely hot summer months. As the visitors centres are 3 hrs walk apart ensure you take refreshments.
Written March 9, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
petemain
North Berwick, UK114 contributions
Nov 2015
A fascinating bike ride through some remote feeling countryside with surreal tunnels. Well worth a visit.
Written November 22, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SLVMCC
Geneva, Switzerland38 contributions
Dec 2019 • Friends
Very good place to run, from Olvera to Coripe. It’s an old railroad ; free from cars. You can also rent bikes. Spectacular landscapes along the track.
Written December 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hola
¿hay algún problema en hacer la ruta desde Puerto Serrano a Olvera y vuelta, en vez de al revés?
¿cuánto se tardarÃa en hacerla en bici sin niños?
Gracias
Written September 24, 2020
Is there public transport from Cadiz or Sevilla to Olvera or Puerto Serrano? How to get to the Via Verde and back again if you don't have a car?
Written October 14, 2019
How much is bike hire? Isit possible to hire on the day in Olvera or do bikes need to be reserved in advance?
Thanks
Written May 2, 2019
The electrics cost 20 euros for the whole day. Cash only as they do not have any card facility. We called in the day before to reserve ( no deposit needed ) but you could take a chance on the day. The bikes were of a good standard but had no puncture repair kit or pump. We were unlucky and had a puncture on the via verde and rang for assistance just before they went on the lunch break. Very little English spoken.
I’m happy to answer any other questions.
Written May 2, 2019
If we want to do one way biking, starting in Olvera- what is the best way to return to Olvera with bikes without riding it? Is there a bus that we can take back to Olvera and take our bikes with us ?
Written November 10, 2018
I should also say that the bike hire business at Olvera station and Coripe station are not related.
Written November 10, 2018
Miren A
Getxo, Spain
Hola buenas noches si se hace andando hay algún medio de transporte para volver y no tener que hacer ida y vuelta , empezarÃa en Olvera .
Gracias
Written August 8, 2018
Imagino que podrÃan coger un taxi o autobús en Puerto Serrano, pero tengan en cuenta que es una población pequeña y no sé qué disponibilidad habrá. La empresa de autobús que hace la ruta es Comes
Que lo disfruten y vayan bien preparados: agua, comida, protección solar, linterna...
Written August 9, 2018
sofie1212
Mechelen, Belgium
Kunnen we deze fietstocht doen met kinderen van 7 en 10j oud? Haalbaar qua duur en warmte begin juli?
Written June 1, 2018
dónde se alquilan las bicicletas?? en el recorrido se pasa cerca de algún rÃo??
Written May 3, 2018
Gerrit W
Zeeland Province, The Netherlands
Deze via verde is gesloten ,wie weet wanneer deze weer open gaat om te fietsen.
Written April 28, 2018
Is this closed and for how long?
Written April 5, 2018
I was on foot so was walking I saw cyclist. Apparently you can hire bicycles from the station hotel. Maybe enquire at hotel. I see no reason why there would be a problem. Good luck .
Written April 5, 2018
Can I hire a bike when I get there ? Will be first week June
Written March 11, 2018
I’m sorry can’t answer question on bikes. Though I can say it would be good cycle as I did see a lot of cyclists. The main hotel that is the old station house would be able to advise you. Which is situated a little out of Olvera village.
Written March 12, 2018
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