Who hasn't heard of La Rioja? Thanks to its wine, its greatest ambassador, La Rioja is one of the most famous wine regions in Spain. But at Bikefriendly, we know that La Rioja is much more than just wine, which is why we created Tracks del Vino La Rioja, a multi-stage mountain bike route that covers the entire region. It's a spectacular way to experience the hidden gems of one of Spain's most authentic areas. Fancy exploring it by bike?
Bike trip through the land of wine
If, like our friends at Mountainbiker , you've heard wonderful things about La Rioja but have never experienced immersing yourself in this territory, the Tracks del Vino La Rioja cycling trip is a fantastic opportunity for you to discover, one pedal stroke at a time, a land rich in aromas, colors, heritage, gastronomy... and mountain bike routes.
The Tracks del Vino La Rioja multi-stage tour starts and ends in Logroño. However, you can always adapt the stages to your liking.
The concept of Tracks trips: free but always assisted
On the first day, once you're on the trail, you'll meet Jota. He's the Bikefriendly coordinator for the route, so he'll be looking after you throughout your trip and stay. On the first day, he'll give you a thorough presentation of the stages of this cycling trip through La Rioja , covering important details such as where you can refill your water bottles.
At the end of each day, Jota will give you a short telephone briefing about what to expect the next day and will always be on the other end of the line to respond immediately to any issues.
If upon arrival you had the idea that La Rioja is a uniform or monotonous territory, Jota will make you see, even before setting off, how wrong you are in telling yourself everything you will encounter during your trip.
La Rioja Wine Tracks, km by km.
Tracks del Vino La Rioja is a circular route that starts in Logroño and covers the entire autonomous community for 300 km and 7.500 m of accumulated elevation gain.
It's a mountain bike route through La Rioja that we at Bikefriendly designed and manage to be done in about 4 or 5 stages , but if you need to adapt it, don't worry, like all the other multi-stage routes we offer , we can customize it according to your experience on the bike and availability of days.
1st Stage: Logroño – Laguardia
The first stage takes you from Logroño to Laguardia (64 km and 1.690 m of elevation gain). The first few kilometers serve as a warm-up along a section of the Camino de Santiago , but once past the town of Espronceda, the route begins a gradual climb.
The plains at the beginning will give way to forests of oak, beech and pine trees as you enter the lands of La Rioja Alavesa , where you will ride along the northern face of the Sierra de Cantabria and enjoy beautiful views of the Rioja countryside until you reach Laguardia, pedaling among vineyards and wineries.
2nd Stage: Laguardia – Briñas
The second stage of Tracks del Vino La Rioja, Laguardia – Briñas (42km-1170m), will be somewhat easier, starting with a ride on fast tracks through vineyards. The climb to the Puerto de Herrera pass will reward you with beautiful views from the Mirador de La Rioja viewpoint , a spot offering a spectacular panorama of the lands separating La Rioja from the Basque Country.
In this second stage of Tracks del Vino La Rioja you will also enjoy a beautiful descent between roads and trails through a beech forest.
3rd Stage: Briñas – Ezcaray
On the third stage of this cycling trip through La Rioja , Briñas – Ezcaray (69km -1150m), you'll discover the transition between two Riojas. You'll depart from Briñas , in the heart of Rioja Alavesa, and head towards Ezcaray, in the heart of the Sierra de la Demanda mountain range.
In between, almost 70 km with some pretty hard climbs. Of course, if you don't feel like suffering, you can always use one of the variants that we offer when organizing your mountain bike trip in stages through La Rioja.
In some sections of the original route, only experts will be able to climb without setting foot on the ground, but we promise that it will be a short climb. It is only 1 km that starts on a track and ends on a path, but it has a very steep average slope and steps worthy of the best technique. Of course, if you have an electric one and some control... no problems and enjoy.
From there we promise that the route becomes much smoother and that you will enjoy a long and fast descent that will make you forget all the troubles.
4th Stage: Ezcaray – Ezcaray
The fourth stage of Tracks del Vino La Rioja , which is only included if the five-stage route is completed, is the queen stage. It's a circular, high-mountain stage starting and finishing in Ezcaray (60km and 1694m). This stage is completely different from the others, as it takes you to the highest altitudes of the entire route, reaching nearly 2.000m in many places.
The route leaves Ezcaray on the road, passing by the famous Echaurren hotel-restaurant and the Parish Church of Santa María La Mayor. The first few kilometers are gentle, but don't get too comfortable. The climb begins as soon as you leave the asphalt.
The only major climb of the day has over 1.000 meters of accumulated elevation gain and will take you to the summit of Otero , on the border between La Rioja and Castile and León. The climb, which is mostly along a well-maintained track, has some steeper sections but generally maintains a moderate gradient that will allow you to climb it relatively easily and arrive ready to enjoy the tranquility at the top.
The climb
Almost at the summit, you'll pass by Pozo Negro (1.860 meters), the last glacial lake in the entire mountain range, so we recommend taking a detour to visit it. However… try to resist the temptation to swim! These high-mountain ecosystems are very fragile, and swimming can disrupt their delicate balance. Think about the amount of sunscreen and other chemicals we put on our skin every day, and you'll easily understand how much we can pollute such pristine waters.
From the Alto de la Cruz de la Demanda (km 22) to the start of the descent (km 38), the route is a feast for the eyes. You'll be riding at an altitude of around 2.000 meters, pedaling through a constant series of ups and downs that will reward you with breathtaking views. The downside of riding at such high altitudes is the intense sun and lack of shade, so if you arrive during the hottest hours of the day, you need to be careful. There are also no water sources to refill your water bottle, so it's advisable to manage your water supply well during this stage.
The descent
Be careful on the descent towards the Valdezcaray ski resort. You pick up speed quickly on the slopes… and we don't want anyone to have a scare! These routes aren't for racing, but for enjoying a getaway that you've probably been looking forward to for months :).
Don't get too comfortable, the stage isn't over yet. We've got a surprise in store for you and some super fun trails to enjoy like you're in a bike park, with banked turns and wooden walkways.
5th Stage: Ezcaray – Logroño
The fifth and final stage of Tracks del Vino La Rioja, Ezcaray-Logroño (65km-885m), is the grand finale to a spectacular mountain bike route. By this point, you'll have been riding for four days and your legs will be feeling the fatigue. Therefore, as we do on all our Bikefriendly routes, the final stage is shorter and easier than the others so you can get back to the hotel early and enjoy a proper celebratory meal before heading home.
In this stage, the hardness is concentrated in the first 20 km, since leaving Ezcaray you will begin to climb towards the top of the Sierra. Once at the top, all you have to do is drop in and head out the last kilometers of the route along the Camino de Santiago. If you have time and are interested in history, this town preserves the Yuso and Suso monasteries, two architectural jewels that have the honor of being the cradle of the Spanish language.
At this point, we are convinced that you will have realized that La Rioja, in addition to being enjoyed at the table, is an impressive land to enjoy by bicycle on the saddle, soaking up an ancient culture and spectacular roads.
Practical details and tips for making La Rioja Wine Tracks
Route difficulty
Although the route isn't particularly difficult, it's advisable to be used to cycling . The five days of cycling we enjoyed in La Rioja provided plenty of opportunities, though we wouldn't call it a difficult route by any means. It has some challenging sections, with long climbs and a few steep inclines, but overall the paths and tracks are accessible to everyone. Each person's speed and fitness level will determine the difficulty of the route, but we believe any cyclist who rides regularly will be able to complete it without problems.
Recommended time of year
One thing that can influence the difficulty of the route is the time of year you do it. Spring and autumn offer ideal temperatures. The days are long enough to allow you to relax during the hike and still have time afterward for sightseeing, a meal, and taking photos—something that's practically a must on this route.
It's also possible to do it during the coldest winter months , provided there hasn't been heavy snowfall in the Sierra de Ezcaray. In the height of summer , the heat will be intense during the middle of the day, but the rest of the day can be enjoyed without any problems.
What bike should I take?
Without a doubt, as with most of the routes we take, a full-suspension cross-country bike is the best model for this adventure. These bikes are comfortable, pedal beautifully, and are lightweight, allowing us to climb with ease and enjoy the descents.
In some sections, especially in the middle stages of the route, a gravel bike could work wonderfully, though only occasionally. Fast, well-trodden tracks are its natural habitat, so in La Rioja it will feel right at home when we connect La Rioja Alavesa with the mountains of Ezcaray.
Of course, electric bikes will be another great way to enjoy this route, since with good battery management, you can complete all the stages without needing to charge mid-stage. By not overusing the assistance on the easier sections, you'll have plenty of range to reach the end of each stage of the Tracks del Vino La Rioja route, thoroughly enjoying the ride.
Accommodation and luggage
In addition to travel insurance and basic accident insurance , all Bikefriendly multi-stage cycling routes include luggage transfer logistics and booking at the best cyclist accommodations you'll find at the end of each stage.
Hotels that are part of the Bikefriendly Network are hotels that provide special treatment to cyclists , either through specific infrastructure or through services designed to meet the needs of those who travel with their bike.
Most hotels in the Bikefriendly Network will have Bikefriendly Spaces , areas set up for washing and lubricating your bike after your ride, and secure spaces to lock your bike up overnight. If these aren't available, they'll let you take your bike up to your room and will have some basic tools to get it ready for the next day's ride.
Safety for your bike
This way you can sleep soundly knowing your bike is safe and sound. Because while choosing the route is the most important thing when planning a cycling holiday, choosing a good hotel is essential for our beloved companion. We don't spend thousands of euros on the best technology only to leave it sleeping under the open sky.
And don't worry about your luggage. The Bikefriendly team for each route will collect your luggage every morning from the starting hotel so you'll find it when you arrive back at your accommodation at the end of each stage.
La Rioja Wine Tracks: much more than a bike
Wine tastings? Yes please
One of the features of this route is that, in addition to the path itself, there are also activities to enjoy off it. Wine tastings are common in La Rioja, but it's not so common to find them along a cycling route . In this case, we can arrange several tastings at cyclist-friendly wineries that are also part of the Bikefriendly Network. Of course, these tastings are always at the end of each stage to ensure you can safely enjoy the wine and its culture.
All the wineries in the Network are located near the stage ends and concentrated in the central stages of the route, since Logroño is the starting and ending point, Laurel Street will be the best possible finale to this route.
Whether you are a wine expert or not, tastings and visits to wineries are perfect complementary activities to learn more about all the culture and tradition that La Rioja has surrounding wine.
La Rioja, an open-air museum to explore by bike
La Rioja boasts a vast architectural heritage consisting of countless churches, hermitages, and other medieval buildings linked to the Camino de Santiago.
These buildings are world-renowned and well worth stopping to admire. The Yuso and Suso Monasteries in San Millán de la Cogolla, the Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada, and the Parish Church of Santa María la Mayor in Ezcaray are particularly noteworthy, but we mustn't forget the other buildings scattered throughout the region. Together, they form a complex that, beyond the Tracks del Vino La Rioja cycling route, transforms this multi-stage journey into a veritable bike ride through one of Spain's largest open-air museums.
A gastronomic pleasure
On the other hand, when we talk about heritage, we don't always mean buildings and monuments. Gastronomy is also part of heritage, and La Rioja is a prime example . La Rioja boasts many traditional dishes, many of which reflect a past linked to the sea, the Basque Country, and other regions. Potatoes Rioja-style, lamb chops grilled over vine shoots, garlic soup, and cod Rioja-style are just some of the dishes you can enjoy during your stay in the area. Be warned, though, if your goal is to return from this route slimmer, you'll have a tough time on Tracks del Vino La Rioja.
On the other hand, if you'd like to transform your Tracks del Vino La Rioja trip into a luxurious gastronomic experience, let us know so we can reserve a tasting menu dinner for you at El Portal del Echaurren, a two-Michelin-starred restaurant in Ezcaray run by the magnificent chef Francis Paniego. He's also a passionate cyclist, which is why his Hotel Echaurren is part of the Bikefriendly Network.
If you only have a few days but want to meet this chef, experience his creative gastronomic approach and his commitment to promoting cycle tourism in Ezcaray, you also have the option of booking the Bikefriendly getaway at the Hotel Echaurren Relais & Château : three days and two nights to fully enjoy the combination of cycling and gastronomy.
Ezcaray, a must visit
Another highlight of the route is Ezcaray. This beautiful little town surrounded by mountains is one of the most beautiful towns in Spain , and for that reason alone it's worth a visit.
Thanks to its strategic position and its ancient Royal Cloth Factory of Santa Bárbara, Ezcaray was a key point in many of the stories of the Middle Ages and Modern Age, something that has left a dent in its urban planning. Today it is a town that houses an incalculable architectural heritage but is also well known for its restoration.
