There are so many great things to do in Ronda but have you thought about getting on a bike and exploring the countryside on two wheels?
If not, I hope I can convince you in this post to give it a go!
I was cycling with a group organised by Ria from Random Fun Adventures. Ria organises trips and excursions across Southern Spain, Gibraltar, and Morocco with pick up from various points along the Costa del Sol. It’s worth checking out the Random Fun Adventures website if you’re planning a holiday and won’t have access to your own vehicle.
We were supposed to be cycling the Via Verde de la Sierra but, due to the bad weather we’d had in Andalucia at the start of the year, it was still closed for repairs. Not to be deterred Ria found an alternative for us – cycling from Ronda to Setenil de las Bodegas along the Ruta de los Pescadores.
Unlike the Via Verde which is one straight road between villages, this route isn’t quite so straightforward so we had a guide for the day, Lee from White Village Tours, to keep us all on track.
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Route overview
Start: Ronda
Finish: Setenil de las Bodegas
Distance: 15 miles (24 kms)
Time: 3 hours 27 minutes including rest stops
Elevation: A few short climbs and a long descent at the end
Surface: Mostly gravel paths with minimal paved roads
What is the Ruta de los Pescadores?
The Ruta de los Pescadores (officially the Cordel del Camino de los Pescadores on the fingerposts you’ll pass along the way) is an historic livestock trail originally used by fishermen on the Costa del Sol to carry their fresh fish from the coast to the towns and villages of the Serranía de Ronda.
Today it’s a popular trail for hikers and mountain bikers.
Discover the best things to do in Ronda in this post.
Setting off from Ronda
After arriving on the outskirts of Ronda we collected our bikes and helmets and then, after a lap or two around the car park to make sure no adjustments were needed, we were off.
The first part of the ride was on a sealed road with a bit of an incline. I gave it my best shot but in the end it was easier to push my bike to the top of the hill. Not the best start to the day – maybe I should have upgraded to an electric bike after all!
It didn’t take long for the perfect vistas of the Andalucian countryside to open up – rolling farmland backed by the hills of the Serranía de Ronda with eagles soaring overhead – so I was in no rush to hurry along and took my time, stopping regularly to take photos.
Regrouping at the top of the sealed road Lee directed us to the path to the left, waymarked as the Vía Pecuria, where we had our first taste of offroad cycling along gravel paths through oak forests.
If you’re not too busy concentrating on the road you might notice that some of the oak trees have been stripped of their bark partway up the trunk. This is the traditional way of harvesting cork in Andalucia. I live in the Parque Natural de los Alcornocales and, every summer, I see corcheros at work in the forests, manually removing the cork from the trees. These are some photos I took of the process in summer 2025.
Lunch break
After reaching a picnic area we all stopped for a breather and to eat lunch under the trees.
This is the point where the Ruta de los Pescadores and the Camino del Capitán meet and where you’ll find the Pilar de Coco stone trough where, if you’ve run out of water, you can refill your bottle.
Suitably refreshed we were off again cycling past fields of olive trees before cycling a very short way along a main road. The path then dropped back down to the gravel paths where we cycled through more farmland and forested areas.
At one point we had to cross the railway tracks which was a really steep descent and I made the wise choice to walk this section – I do think I’d have come a cropper if I’d ridden down the path!
The railway line that runs along this route is the Algeciras to Bobadilla line, known as Mr Henderson’s Railway. Thanks to the storms at the start of the year there’d been damage to part of the tracks so the line is closed for repairs and is likely to remain closed until 2027 so that improvements can be made at the same time.
I live along this railway line and have used it many times but while it’s closed a bus replacement service is in operation so tickets can still be booked on the RENFE website.
Shortly after crossing the railway line we reached the Puente de la Ventilla which we crossed before cycling parallel to the railway line and the main road passing small fincas and cortijos along the way.
This is a wine producing region so we were surrounded on both sides by vineyards as far as the eye could see before the landscape changed to groves of olive trees stretching into the distance.
Arriving in Setenil de las Bodegas
Reaching Setenil de las Bodegas by bike is a real highlight as, although it’s on a main road, it’s a long descent – perfect for freewheeling and feeling the wind in your hair, as much as your helmet allows at least!
At the bottom of the hill we dropped off our bikes so that we could walk into the town without having to worry about cycling through the narrow streets.
Exploring Setenil de las Bodegas
Setenil de las Bodegas is famous for being a town built into overhanging rocks. The two most famous streets are Calle Cuevas del Sol (Street of the Caves of the Sun) and Calle Cuevas de la Sombra (Street of the Caves of the Shade) which are separated by a small river.
Both streets are lined with shops, bars and restaurants carved into the rock and were busy with tourists checking out the souvenirs or enjoying tapas in the sun.
We only had around 90 minutes in Setenil – not long enough to see all the sights but enough time to wander up and down the two main streets, check out some of the shops, and have a well-deserved beer. In our case it was at Restaurante Maria Tormento on Calle Cuevas del Sol.
Heading back to the coach for our journey home I took a photo of a tiled message on a wall which translates as ‘If you’re just arriving, welcome to Setenil. If you’re leaving, come back soon’. Trust me, I will!
If cycling isn’t your cup of tea, we passed quite a few walkers along the way so you could easily do this route on foot. There are several guide books by Cicerone Press to hiking in Andalucia including ‘Walking in Andalucia’ and ‘Walking the Mountains of Ronda and Grazalema’.
Frequently Asked Questions about cycling from Ronda to Setenil de las Bodegas
How much does it cost?
I booked this trip with Random Fun Adventures which cost €60 and included return coach travel from the Costa del Sol, plus bike and helmet hire. You can check out their website for dates of future trips.
If you’re already in Ronda (or planning a trip), you can book a similar trip through Get Your Guide.
How far is it from Ronda to Setenil de las Bodegas?
The ride is roughly 15 miles (24 kms) in total.
How long does it take to cycle?
It took me around 3.5 hours in total which included a stop for a picnic lunch, plus shorter breaks for photos and for everyone to regroup regularly.
How difficult is the ride?
It’s not a particularly difficult ride and, as it’s mostly off road, there’s only a minimal amount of traffic if you’re not especially confident on the roads. If you’ve got a basic level of fitness you should be ok and there’s always the choice of upgrading to an electric bike to make things easier.
When is the best time to ride?
Spring and autumn are always great times for outdoor activities in Andalucia as it’s warm without being too hot. Summer in inland Andalucia is exceedingly hot while winters can be wet.
Read about why you should visit Andalucia in spring in this post.
What should you take with you?
There are a few items that you should take with you for a comfortable day out.
Padded shorts. While not essential they’re certainly a ‘nice to have’ – when you’re spending over three hours in the saddle every little helps!
Food and drink. There’s nowhere to buy any food along the way so take something to eat along the way. Fruit and energy bars are a good option.
You’ll need to bring plenty of water with you – cycling is thirsty work particularly under the hot Andalucian sun! I love my Chilly’s bottle which keeps water cold for 24 hours and I also use a water bladder with my backpack.
Sunscreen. Even if you’re planning to cycle during the winter months, you can still burn in the Spanish sun so it’s always worth carrying extra sunscreen.
Phone and/or camera. A given for most people – the views along the way are outstanding, and Setenil de las Bodegas is seriously photogenic.
If you’re planning a visit to Andalucia make sure you read this step-by-step guide to planning the perfect trip.
Final thoughts on cycling from Ronda to Setenil de las Bodegas
It may not have been the route that was planned but cycling along quiet country roads with little to no traffic was a great way to spend the day. Ten out of ten would recommend!
I hope this post has convinced you to give cycling a go when you’re in Ronda. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions.
Happy travels!
If you’re planning a trip to Andalucia you might find these resources useful to help you plan your visit and save you money.
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🚅 Book your train travel. Travelling by train is a fantastic way to see the Andalucian countryside and can often work out cheaper than hiring a car. The national railway is RENFE.
🚌 Book bus travel. Omio is a handy website if you’re planning to travel by bus but it’s also good for comparing prices for trains, planes and ferries too.
🏝️ Organise trips and tours. It’s worth booking ahead if you intend to visit any of Andalucia’s most popular attractions. I always use Get Your Guide when I’m planning tours or day trips as they have a wide selection to choose from throughout Andalucia.
💰 Take out travel insurance. Travel insurance is vital and it’s really not worth the risk of taking a trip without it. I buy my insurance through Globelink who have policies to suit whatever type of traveller you are.
📚 Get your travel guides. While blogs (like this one!) can help you plan your trip it’s still useful to have a good travel guide to make sure you don’t miss any of the sights. Lonely Planet and Rough Guides are the two best known.
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