As its name indicates, FUENTES del VINO GRAVEL is LA RIOJA PUNTO BIKE´s proposal to travel by bike through LA RIOJA following tracks specifically designed for the "new" cycling modality that is commonly known as gravel.
The territory chosen for the proposal is divided fairly evenly between mountains
- even high mountains - in some areas and vineyards and farmland in others.
The "summary" of the route's geography is as follows: Cameros Range in the stage A, La Demanda Range in stage B, La Demanda Range again, "Riojilla Burgalesa" and Rioja Alta in stage C, Vineyards of the Ebro Basin in the D and Cantabría Range and Montaña & Rioja Alavesa in the E.
As can be seen in the route map located after this text, the basic proposal is for 5 stages. When you want to reduce the proposal to 4 or 3 stages, there are several options.
The 4 stages proposal can be done very simply by eliminating circular stage D, but as it happens to be the central stage that runs through the most "wine-growing" part of La Rioja and that we may not want to eliminate, we offer a second option which eliminates stages A and B and replaces them with a single stage between Logroño and Ezcaray (not visible on the map) which is followed by stages C, D and E.
For the proposal of only 3 stages, the options can be several, but the one offered mostly and that is reflected in the section of rates consists of starting the route with stage A (Cameros Range), continuing with a second stage F between Nájera and Laguardia through the vineyards of the Ebro Basin and finish with stage E (Cantabría Range and Montaña & Rioja Alavesa).
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Standar Option 5 Stages
Distance: 478 km Unevenness: 8.450 m
If we choose Albelda de Iregua instead of Logroño as the start and end point of the route, the figures for the first and last stages vary slightly.
We have shorter route options, and also some more demanding ones.
One of the options that is often good to have on hand is the one we call "IS ENOUGH" It is simply an alternative that is somewhat less harsh and that we may want to use in some of the stages simply to rest a little on one of the days.
The idea is to reduce the harshness without altering the general essence of the proposal.
These are the data:
- Is Enough - Option 5 Stages
Distance: 317 km Unevenness: 5.240 m
If we choose Albelda de Iregua instead of Logroño as the start and end point of the route, the figures for the first and last stages vary slightly.
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Cameros Range
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La Demanda Range
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Riojilla Burgalesa & Rioja Alta
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Ebro River, Basin and Vineyards
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Cantabria Range, and Montaña & Rioja Alavesas
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For the 3-stage option we use this route that directly connects Nájera with Laguardia
Ebro River, Basin and Vineyards
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- Keep in mind -
Pure Gravel
The word "Pure" always raises suspicions in those who intend to assign it. If we include it here, the reason is simply to draw attention and clarify - to avoid misunderstandings - the criteria that we have used when designing our bike tracks labeled as gravel.
We have run away from the idea of gravel = unpaved road. If the objective were exclusively unpaved routes -including easy paths in the term- we believe that it is more comfortable, fun and functional to use the traditional trekking bikes, or even, the light MTB Trail bikes if we wanted to print a character sportier to the activity.
Our Pure Gravel proposals do not avoid roads, especially if they are quiet and with little traffic. Our objective is to combine them, in the best possible way, with sections of tracks and paths -usually easy to pedal- and generate unpublished tracks and, so to speak; "not suitable" for other types of bicycles with which pedaling would be heavy, boring, and ineffective.
In summary; In our Pure Gravel concept, sport prevails over tourism, we jump without prior notice from unpaved sections to paved roads and vice versa without at any time believing that this alters the character of the route. And - when posible - we use unpaved sections to climb up, and paved ones to go down.
If you are looking for routes that prioritize unpaved sections and avoid paved roads as much as possible, look for them in our TREK & SLOW BIKE section.
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To get an idea about FUENTES del VINO GRAVEL and about the scenes you can find if you decide to meet it, click and browse below in any of these tabs.
Hole in the clouds over Nalda.
Caves carved into the rock. Murillo de Río Leza, km 24 of the stage.
Vineyards Los Valles -of Bodegas 200 monges - under the peaks of the Cameros Range. Today's track territory.
Cameros Gate - La Rioja “National Park”
Torrecilla en Cameros, Mountain village in the PLUS option of stage A.
From the old "Reyno de Viguera" today's stage softens
Autumn colors in the Iregua Valley.
We cross the Iregua Valley at Islallana runbo to Nájera.
Vuelta a España 2021 under Moncalvillo Mountain Pass, sharing kilometers with FUENTES del VINO GRAVEL
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An obligatory stop, Yuso Monastery -San Millán de la Cogolla- World Heritage Site.
Starting point of the longest Mountain pass in La Rioja, 22 kilometers and 1,250 meters of unevenness.
Artaza Mountain pass intermediate point during the ascent to 3 Cruces.
From the Artaza pass we enter the upper part of the mountain range, the slope "calms down" a bit, although the wind may appear.
The highest point (2,003 meters above sea level) of FUENTES del VINO GRAVEL is a vaguely defined "simple moment" on the track below the summit of La Cuculla, the main summit of the Sierra de La Demanda. When the bike begins to roll effortlessly, we have already crossed it. A little further down will appear 3 Cruces, the hill that geographically gives identity to the mountain pass.
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Sunrise in Ezcaray and ascent to Pradilla Mountain pass, which leads to the province of Burgos.
Morning scenes in the Burgos slope of La Demanda Range
Long sections among crops in the Riojilla burgalesa
Demanding ramps during the ascent to Pulpito de La Rioja, the Cellorigo viewpoint, one of the few heights of a certain entity in the standard version of today's stage.
The last kilometers of the day pass under the gaze of the Obarenes Mountains. At its feet, among the vineyards of Muga wineries, the city of Haro emerges, the Capital of Rioja.
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Chozo on the road with the Cantabria Range closing the picture.
A stop among the vineyards of the Marqués de Riscal wineries in Elciego.
Carravalseca dry lagoon in Laguardia, we enter the Rioja Alavesa again.
Harvest days in the Rioja Alavesa, around Labastida.
A rest to recharge energy among the vineyards of the Ebro Basin.
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Fast roads on the slopes of the Cantabria Range, we enter La Rioja Alavesa.
The last kilometers of the day take us back into the hearth of La Rioja.
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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IF YOU WANT TO CYCLE THE ROUTE
The proposal of LA RIOJA PUNTO BIKE for FUENTES del VINO GRAVEL is roughly a Self Guided Route Pack in which the Accommodations, the Tracks & Map-Sketch -one for each stage- of the route, and the Transport of Luggage from hotel to hotel are included.
5 Stages / 5 Nights
677 €
Price per person for groups of 6 or more people
739 €
Price per person for groups of 5 people
706 €
Price per person for groups of 4 people
814 €
Price per person for groups of 3 people
788 €
Price per person for groups of 2 people
Single room supplement: + 254 €
When the group consists of an even number of people, an even number of applications will also be necessary to access this supplement.
4 Stages / 4 Nights
Logroño - Ezcaray
Ezcaray - Laguardia
Circular Laguardia
Laguardia - Logroño
586 €
Price per person for groups of 6 or more people
639 €
Price per person for groups of 5 people
614 €
Price per person for groups of 4 people
706 €
Price per person for groups of 3 people
696 €
Price per person for groups of 2 people
Single room supplement: + 206 €
When the group consists of an even number of people, an even number of applications will also be necessary to access this supplement.
And you can add a Night with Breakfast at the end of the route -in the same hotel where you started it- for 56 € per person in a double room or for 116 € in a single room
3 Stages / 3 Nights
396 €
Price per person for groups of 6 or more people
434 €
Price per person for groups of 5 people
412 €
Price per person for groups of 4 people
475 €
Price per person for groups of 3 people
460 €
Price per person for groups of 2 people
Single room supplement: + 149 €
When the group consists of an even number of people, an even number of applications will also be necessary to access this supplement.
Below we show our usual selection of accommodations for FUENTES del VINO GRAVEL. However, since in LA RIOJA the hotel reservations are usually complicated at certain times of the year - especially during the harvest - the Pack proposal that we finally offer may differ from the one presented here.
"Booking in advance is in this case something more than a commercial trick, it makes the difference between being able or not being able to do the route."
Lodging for stages with start in Logroño
Hotel FG Logroño
We have chosen this hotel located on the banks of the Ebro for our days in Logroño. In addition to its unbeatable location, their quality is unquestionable, we are talking about a four star service "camouflaged" in one of three.
To the usual services of a hotel of these features we add that we have free access to the relaxation of the hotel zone, which consists of a jacuzzi, sauna and gym.
Our PUNTO BIKE in LOGROÑO, is set in the Hotel GRAN VÍA, the best choice in town if we need to blend lodge and BIKE.
We are talking about a 4-star establishment well sited in the center of the town and strongly involved in a large part of the sports and gastronomic activities linked to LOGROÑO.
Lodging for stages with start in Albelda de Iregua La Casa del Cofrade
Our PUNTO BIKE in Albelda de Iregua is - we dare to affirm it - a four star hotel "camouflaged" in one of two. Located in the same place as the Vinícola Real Wineries to which it belongs, it allows us access from its facilities to the calados -caves- dug in the rock of the mountain on which it is attached, and in which the renowned wines of 200 Monges as well as other elements of historical value that will make us immediately perceive that we are in a special place. Something more even than a Winery + a Hotel.
If to all this we add the link and the total dump with everything that sounds like cycling, the choice could not be more obvious. Sports activity here becomes almost an excuse to live this part of the global experience of FUENTES del VINO.
Lodging for stages with start in Nájera
Duques de Nájera Hotel
Lodging for stages with start in Ezcaray
Depending on availability, we will stay at one of the following hotels.
Palacio Azcárate
Lodging for stages with start in Laguardia
- WINE OIL SPA Hotel Villa de Laguardia -
The base of LA RIOJA PUNTO BIKE in Laguardia is a 4 stars hotel located among vineyards, with a delightful spa (1.000 m2). Connected to the hotel is the WINE THEMED CENTER VILLA LUCÍA a place for tasting and degustations.
End of route: We will finish the route at the same hotel where we started it. It will also be the place where you will have received our luggage at the last stage of the route.
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INCLUDED
1 night of accommodation with breakfast
Corresponds to the 1st night as usually the groups prefer to choose themselves where to dine during the arrival trip to the destination
The rest of the nights accommodation in half board
2 or 3 nights, depending of the choosen Pack. By default, night is not included at the end of the last stage.
Transport of luggage between hotels
1 bag or package per person
Tracks of the route in GPX format for mobile phones or GPS devices
Warn us if you prefer them in another format
Explanatory printed map-sketch of the different route options for each stage
One per stage
Shower and luggage reception at the end of the last stage despite you don’t spend the night at the finalising point of the route
Presentation of the route and delivery of information in hand the day of the arrival of the group to the hotel or the morning of the next day when groups are of 6 or more people
NOT INCLUDED
Beers or other consumptions outside the proposed menus in the dinners or during the stay in hotels
Meals in restaurants at the time of the noon, unless it has been agreed previously to replace dinner with meals
Any kind of sports material, helmets, shoes, etc.
Mechanical Assistance during the activity
If possible, we will try to help you in case of a breakdown, but in many situations this help can be very limited due to lack of specific spare parts or other circumstances. The cost of the service if it can be done is € 18 per hour + € 0.40 per kilometer.
Anything not expressly indicated in the offer
All the proposals presented on this website are sold through Pirineos PUNTO BIKE
Travel Agency registered in the Tourism Registry of Navarra with registration code: CI. NA-128
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If you have doubths, do not hesitate and use some of the buttons below, we respond quickly.