Via Verde Ojos Negros - Bike tour: 5 stages

Information about the trip: Via Verde Ojos Negros - Bike tour: 5 stages

Cycle from the ancient iron mines of Ojos Negros in Aragón to the city of Valencia, near the Mediterranean Sea.

From the small town of Santa Eulalia, you will begin your tour through the longest greenway in Spain. From Teruel, a UNESCO World Heritage city, you will start the descent towards the Mediterranean Sea going through The Sarrión high plateau and Palancia's Valley, Jerica and Segorbe.
Finally, you will arrive at Sagunto and Puerto de Sagunto, the endpoint of the ancient railway at the Mediterranean Sea.
This beautiful journey is interrupted by many tunnels and viaducts. From Sagunto, an ancient Roman city destroyed by Hannibal and his African elephants, you will arrive at Valencia along the old Roman road Via Xurra, currently a greenway and bike path.

Valencia, the former Renaissance capital of the Kingdom of Valencia, welcomes you with the stunning City of Arts and Sciences, designed by one of the greatest minds of Valencia, the architect Santiago Calatrava.

Travel itinerary (Summary)

DAY 1: Arrival to Valencia
DAY 2: Stage 1, Ojos Negros, Cella 49,09 km 2/5
DAY 3: Stage 2, Cella, Puebla de Valverde 50,14 km 3/5
DAY 4: Stage 3, Puebla de Valverde, Jérica 72,70 km 2/5
DAY 5: Stage 4, Jérica, Puerto de Sagunto 55,54 km 2/5
DAY 6: Stage 5, Puerto de Sagunto, Valencia 34,82 km 1/5
DAY 7: Return

Travel itinerary (Detailed)

ProgramDAY
1

Arrival to Valencia

After your arrival at Valencia, you will be transferred to Jérica.
Overnight in Teruel.
ProgramDAY
2

Stage 1, from Ojos Negros to Cella

Distance : 49,09 km Difficulty : 2/5

Breakfast. Transfer to the Mining District of Ojos Negros in southern Aragón. Arrival at the Mining District, delivery of the travel guide, maps, route descriptions, documentation and picnic.
The route follows two old railway paths. We will pass through the small villages of the Sierra Menera alongside the abandoned mining railway: Villar del Salz, Peracense with its spectacular castle, and Almohaja, beginning a descent towards the Jiloca Valley to Santa Eulalia. In this town, the repared part of the Ojos Negros Greenway begins, the largest in Spain, which will take us from the Aragonese steppe to the Mediterranean coast.
From Santa Eulalia, we will reach Cella, with its unique Fountain and magnificent Archpriestal Church.
Transfer and accommodation in Cella or Albarracín.
ProgramDAY
3

Stage 2, from Cella to Puebla de Valverde

Distance : 50,14 km Difficulty : 3/5

Breakfast and picnic delivery. We return to the Greenway and head towards Teruel. The exit from the Greenway towards the capital is indicated on the map, we can do a self-guided brief visit to the Mudejar Capital: Twin Towers, Lovers' Mausoleum, Mudejar Cathedral, Viaduct.
We return to the Greenway, and we will be ascending to the Puerto de Escandón, the highest point of the Greenway at 1220 meters above sea level.
The ascent is one of the most interesting parts of the Greenway with its two tunnels, five masonry viaducts, and its unique Mediterranean oak landscape. We begin the descent from the mountain pass towards Puebla de Valverde, reaching the old booth from where we will access Puebla de Valverde.
Accommodation in Puebla de Valverde.
ProgramDAY
4

Stage 3, from Puebla de Valverde to Jérica

Distance : 72,70 km Difficulty : 2/5

Breakfast and picnic delivery. It is the longest stage, but it is mostly a gentle descent that will take us from the 1,100 meters of Puebla down to 500 meters in Jérica. The route leads us through the so-called Altiplano de Sarrión, an almost untouched area with a valuable agricultural landscape: holm oaks, junipers and oaks. Sarrión is the world capital of Black Truffle, having achieved a leading position in the production of this precious product.
From Sarrión, we reach Albentosa, where we will pass through the spectacular Albentosa Tunnel and Viaduct, the latter being the largest along the entire route, spanning the Albentosa River. From Albentosa, we return to the plateau heading towards Barracas, enter the Valencian Community, and reach the Palancar Area.
After passing the impressive Alto Palancia Wind Farm, we begin the descent towards Jérica, passing through the Ragudo Tunnels, the Fuensanta Viaduct, and the town of Caudiel.
A few kilometres further down, we will arrive at our small rural hotel in Jérica, where we will spend the night.
ProgramDAY
5

Stage 4, from Jérica to Puerto de Sagunto

Distance : 55,54 km Difficulty : 2/5

Breakfast and picnic delivery. Arrival in Jérica after passing through the Jérica tunnels. We pass through the urban center with caution; we can visit its beautiful old town, Mudejar Tower, Archpriestal Church, the riverside area of Vuelta de la Hoz, or the ruins of its Castle-Fortress.
We continue in the direction of Sagunto, passing by the Regajo Reservoir and the Martinete tunnels. After passing Navajas, we proceed with caution through Altura's town centre. It is recommended to visit the old 14th-century Val de Christ Charterhouse. We continue the journey, leaving behind Segorbe with its cathedral and walls, passing through Soneja, Algar, and Algimia, where the repared part of the route ends. Then, we will reach Sagunto with its impressive Castle, a true encyclopedia of the history of Spain. It highlights its Roman Theater and Medieval Square. From Sagunto, following the Palancia River, we will reach the Puerto de Sagunto.
Accommodation in Puerto de Sagunto, by the Mediterranean Sea.
ProgramDAY
6

Stage 5, from Puerto de Sagunto to Valencia

Distance : 34,82 km Difficulty : 1/5

Breakfast and picnic delivery. We pass by the Factoria, the former workshops of the mining railway, the endpoint in Puerto de Sagunto. We head south towards Sagunto to reach Camí de Lliria. From here, we will arrive in Puçol, where we will take the Vía Xurra. The Vía Xurra follows the path of the ancient Vía Augusta that connected Rome to Cádiz and upon which the Aragon Railway was built, which was dismantled in 1968.
Following the Vía Xurra, we will pass by the Cartuja of Puzol and the magnificent Monastery of El Puig de Santa María. It's recommended to take a break to visit it.
Arrival in Valencia. From the seaside walk, we will reach the Ciutat de les Arts, and from there, following the old course of the Turia River, we will reach the hotel.
Accommodation in Valencia.
ProgramDAY
7

Return

After breakfast, you will depart for your onward travels.

Included

6 nights accommodation in handpicked hotels and inns and in Valencia at 3-stars hotel.
6 breakfasts and 5 picnic lunches.
Trekking bicycles equipped with rear racks, front bags, and helmets.
Travel documents.
Travel insurance.
Luggage transfer between stages.
Transfer in from Valencia to Teruel.
Transfer from Teruel to Ojos Negros.
Telephone assistance (English-speaking)