Participate in the Bicycle Tourism Program and Stay at Spanish Paradores (Hotels) Along The Way

There are many ways you can travel through a country you want to visit. If you are a cyclist, you can sign up for a tour with a bicycle travel company, stay at a particular location and ride the roads nearby, or you can load up your bike with camping gear and explore that way.

If you, for instance, yearn to explore Spain by bicycle outside of what most tourists do, you could participate in the “Cycle Tourism Program” and stay at Paradores (a state-owned luxury hotel “usually located in a converted historic building such as a monastery or castle…“

What is the Paradores Cycle Tourism Program

It’s definitely an understatement to say that cycling as a sport and activity is huge in Europe. And paradores are everywhere throughout Spain, hotels built in historic areas. The owners of these establishments joined forces to give visitors to the country a reason to stay at them through the activity of cycling between each location via its Cycle Tourism Program.

Each parador does more than just letting cyclists keep their bikes in their rooms at the end of the day, although that is an option. Here’s a list of those services, which are supposedly available at the 26 paradores that are part of the program.

• Dedicated area for cyclists to keep their bikes
• A workshop area for repairs and adjustments
• Routes designed by the paradores
• Bicycle rental services if you decide not to bring or ship your bike
• A place where you can give your bike a nice washing at the end of the day

Self-Guided Costs On The Road Between Paradores

With so many paradores throughout Spain, a bicyclist could ride the length of the country in two weeks. While specific information isn’t available on the Paradores website, it looks like the roads a cyclist would take between the hotels are paved paths, although there are sure to be actual roads cyclists will need to jump on at certain points.

Cyclists who choose to cycle between the paradores can expect to pay around 160 euros ($174.00) per night. These stays usually include breakfast and, perhaps, other amenities in addition to the historic location itself that hosts amazing scenic views.

While most participants choose to ride between the paradores on their own, if you are the type of cyclist that feels more comfortable as part of a structured program, some companies have 3 to 7 night trips.

Last Thoughts

If you are seeking out a unique way to explore a European country via bicycle, then choosing to ride between the Spanish Paradores seems like an excellent way to do that. European roads are usually experience less traffic and the paradores are relatively close together.

Why sit on a tour bus, buy a train ticket, or rent a car to see Spain when the option to cycle across it is so supported? You’ll see and experience things most tourists won’t see while indulging in a healthy activity with a low-to-zero carbon footprint. This choice becomes easy to make when so many of Spain’s hotels, restaurants, and historic sites welcome your participation.