Valencia & the Albufera Nature Reserve

Time to leave the treasures of Valencia behind you, heading out past the museums, monuments and bridges of the famous Turia Gardens and its stunning structures of the City of Arts and Sciences, along the dedicated cycle path towards the beautiful beaches of the Meditarranean coast.

Sandy stretches line the route as you descend into the flatlands of the Albufera Nature Reserve and cast your eyes on the vast watery expanse of the great freshwater lagoon, Laguna de l’Albufera. It’s a true natural paradise for wildlife, renowned as the fertile fishing grounds for local villagers and flocks of heron alike and famed for its amazing sunsets. Stop at the fishing village of El Palmar with its ‘Barracas’ or typical Valencian houses to taste exquisite local dishes or take a boat trip to be transported out across the calm waters into a different world.

Thanks to the flat terrain, continuing on a circular tour is not a difficult temptation to resist. It’s a great way to explore the sheer diversity of one of Spain’s most important wetland areas, but if the super spa facilities and beautiful dune and beach scenes of the Parador El Saler are more tempting still, then so be it!

An optional route extention (14 miles / 22 kms) leads along through green and pleasant farmlands to La Muntanyeta del Sants, where an historic mission house and a church with an elevated position provides an excellent look-out point across the rice paddies and over towards the fine sandy beaches. Carry on coastwards here to El Perellonet, sandwiched between two ‘Gola’ or water outlets and known for its fossil dunes, or make a further optional detour (4 miles / 7 kms) down to Sueca, Albufera’s capital of the rice industry.

However energetic you choose to be, the beauty of the big skies is sure to be breath-taking and where better to watch the sunset than your final destination – right in the nature reserve itself by the dunes and beaches of the Med.

Overnight Parador El Saler.

Miles: 19 – 37 Kms: 30-60

Take time today to explore the lakes, dunes and forest of the Albufera which stretch as far as the seashore as you pedal through the many micro-environments and along the sandy ‘platjas’ back to the bustle of Valencia. Each area of the Albufera has its own unique flora and fauna and brilliant birdlife, so be sure to have the binoculars near the top of the panniers. You’ll find its vast influence in the seasonal local cuisine too, from rabbit and duck to fresh red mullet, snail and crayfish dishes, or even ‘arròs amb fesols i naps’ – a more earthy mix of rice, white beans and turnips. Sounds like a great reason to stop off for a proper lunch today!

Overnight in the historic quarter of Valencia.

Miles: 14 Kms: 23

Depart after breakfast, or take time to enjoy just a little bit more of Valencia. Did you get to wander through the Viveros Gardens and pop in to see those Goyas and El Grecos in the Museum of Fine Arts already?

Extra nights can be booked to allow more time to explore Valencia or the Albufera at your leisure.