Spring 2018
Spain Ride
Spend six days cycling through Southern California’s beautiful desert landscapes
About the Ride
Ride in the Catalan Pyrenees, explore medieval villages, climb Mare de Déu del Mont and soak up vistas of the whole region
Join the interest list for next time!
Barcelona, Spain
Continue to Peralada & the wine-making Alt Empordà region. Explore the stunning coastline from El Port de la Selva to Banyuls sur Mer. Finish in the medieval city, Girona, the cycling mecca of Europe. Join us for this spectacular bike ride to explore the cultural history of this region and learn about new sustainability initiatives.
Event Details
Positive Planet Impact
Full Event Story
Discover the heart of Catalunya (that’s Catalonia in its official language, Catalan). Catalonia holds 360 miles along the Mediterranean coast and the soaring Pyrenees form its border with France. It is home to Romanesque art, medieval mountain monasteries, Art Nouveau masterpieces, and Roman ruins. Its natural landscape varies from high mountain peaks to a coastline dotted with ancient fishing villages. Catalonia is a culturally-rich destination with a distinctive language and folklore, and heritage dating back to the late 8th century. Today, 30% of the natural land falls under some measure of protection here, and you can visit 18 natural parks, including one national park. Experience true Catalunya with us–sample local delicacies, stay in historical towns and villages, and ride the road less traveled!
This is a special Climate Ride Funders Trip and the proceeds directly support Climate Ride’s work (no beneficiary selection for this event). Your fundraising will benefit the programs and efforts of Climate Ride including our community scholarships for young sustainability leaders. You are helping us grow the organization to become an advocacy powerhouse that engages people in the world of active environmental philanthropy and sustainable solutions.
We have daily cycling mileages to suit all types of cyclists. This is a fully-supported ride which means you can focus on pedaling and making connections with your new friends while we take care of everything from overnight details, meals, snacks, luggage transport, and more.
Photo Gallery
Itinerary Overview
Itinerary subject to change, your Ride Guide will include full details.
Arrival Day 20-30km optional warm-up ride
At 12 pm, we’ll meet at Arrive Barcelona Sants train station and the shuttle to Ribes de Freser. After a warm welcome from our guide team and a light lunch, we’ll get our bikes set up and head out on a short warm-up ride along the Vall de Nuria.
Bike 98 km | Elevation Gain: 1600 mt
Today’s ride is headed south on a false flat towards Col de Jou, turn left on the junction at the bottom and continue your descent towards Camprodon. Climb to the village of Rocabruna & descend to Beget for lunch. Climb out of Beget, descend to Oix and tackle the final climb of the day. On the other side soak up the views of Castellfollit de Roca and take in rolling road to our next destination: Besalú, a gorgeous village in the Garrotxa area. On arrival take a walk around town (take your camera with you!)
Bike 72 km | Elevation Gain: 1500 mt
Ride north-east to the gateway of the Pyrenees & the stunning climb to Mare de Déu del Mont. Enjoy rolling lanes on the way out and views of the climb getting closer and closer. The climb is 18 km up to an elevation of 1,123 m. It starts gently and ramps up as you reach the summit – pace yourself, take your time & enjoy the views! The descent leads through the town of Figueres (home of the Salvador Dali theatre museum) & to the vineyards of the Alt Empordà region.
Bike 95 km | Elevation Gain: 1900 mt
This is surely one of the most beautiful rides of the tour. Start the day heading east towards the Mediterranean. You will encounter the first challenge after 10 km in the shape of the climb to the monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes. Descend towards Port de la Selva & the sparkling blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Continue north into France & take a left at Banyuls-sur-Mer to the second and final climb of the day. The Col du Banyuls starts as a small lane winding through vineyards before kicking up to the French-Spanish border. The route was used by refugees escaping Spain into France during the Civil War & is marked with a monument at the top. A rollercoaster descent brings us back to Peralada.
Bike 83 km | Elevation Gain: 940 mt
Head south towards Sant Marti d’Empuries for a coffee stop with a view before winding your way across the Baix Empordà. Medieval villages are on the menu again & we’ll stop for lunch in the gorgeous plaça at Monells. The last challenge of the tour is the infamous climb to Els Àngels. Ride all the way to the monastery & enjoy your first views of the city of Girona. A 10 km descent remains into the heart of the old town.
Departure Day
The tour finishes in Girona city centre. The last hotel is a 5 min walk from Girona train station. We can arrange transfers to Barcelona or Girona Airport on demand.
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FAQs and More Info
Arriving & Departing (Important Information)
Arriving
We will pick up riders at Barcelona Sants train station on Day 1.
Departing
We will help arrange train and airport transfers at the conclusion of the ride.
Accommodations & Meals
This is an all-hotel trip. A single supplement is available if you prefer your own room and there is availability at the hotels (the single supplement fee is 699 Euro for the entire trip). Otherwise, we will try to pair with another cyclist in our group. However, we cannot guarantee that we can pair you with another cyclist.
All meals and snacks are included once we arrive, excluding alcohol and incidentals. Please see what is included and not included below.
What is included? Not included?
Included:
Accommodations and meals
Expert guides and route support
Not Included:
All air tickets with airport taxes
Bike. You can bring your own bike or you can rent a bike:
–Road Bike (you can rent from our local outfitter).
–E-Bike, helmet. There is limited availability.
Alcoholic drinks and other beverages during meals outside tour inclusion
Any optional tour
Tips for guide, driver, hotels’ porters (in your ride guide we will indicate recommended tips)
What are the travel documents/passports required for traveling to Spain?
You will need a valid U.S. or E.U.passport (valid for at least 3 months or you can be denied entry). If you are a passport holder from another country please check your country’s regulations.
Please check your ride guide and any emails that we send you regarding Covid protocols for entering and exiting Spain.
Is my U.S. medical insurance valid while traveling outside the U.S.? Can I get travel insurance?
Many domestic health insurance companies do not provide coverage outside of the United States, and, before leaving for the event travelers should speak with their healthcare providers to determine if they will be covered. Several private insurance companies offer short-term Travel/Medical insurance. Check out Allianz Travel Insurance, World Nomads, or other comparable companies.
We highly recommend travel insurance. Remember, travel insurance can only cover expenses you have paid for (flights, additional hotels, etc). It cannot cover your fundraising. Be sure to read the fine print on the travel insurance that you buy. Some companies are not covering Covid related issues.
Here are useful links from one travel insurance provider.
World Nomads policies on Coronavirus: https://www.worldnomads.com/usa/help/insurance/recent-events/coronavirus-faqs
World Nomads ‘what is covered’ with Travel insurance: https://www.worldnomads.com/usa/travel-insurance/whats-covered/cancellation
Can I use my U.S. debit or credit card?
Yes, credit cards and debit cards are accepted. There are ATM machines in larger cities. When we are in smaller villages you may want local currency to purchase incidentals.
Fundraising Beneficiaries
This is a special Climate Ride Funders Trip and the proceeds directly support Climate Ride’s work. Your fundraising will benefit the programs and efforts of Climate Ride including our community scholarships for young climate leaders. You are helping us grow the organization to become an advocacy powerhouse that engages people in the world of active environmental philanthropy and sustainable solutions. Because of this, you cannot change your beneficiary selection after registering. All donations are tax-deductible.
Fundraising and Transfer Deadlines | Important Dates
Fundraising Deadlines:
$500 to be raised by: 2/20/2024
$2,250 to be raised by: 4/19/2024
Transfer Deadline: 5/13/2024
$4,500 to be raise by 5/23/2024
Transfer Deadline: There are no transfers for this event. Donations are non-refundable.
Note: If you’d like to register after or near a fundraising deadline, don’t worry, we’re here to help you get up to speed!
More Questions?
Be sure to review our general FAQ and policies or contact us!