Getting to Your Iberocycle Trip

Travel to Spain is now more affordable than even. You can use the form to search from literally thousands of sources for the best values on flights, hotels, and (if you plan to extend your trip) cars.

Perhaps the best way to shop for and compare flights, hotels and car rentals is Kayak.com. Simply enter your trip requirements in the form.

Getting There

The proliferation of budget air travel operators means that Spain is now more accessible than ever.

Travellers on the routes of Asturias and Cantabria and also the Rioja route generally arrive at Santander or Bilbao Airport where they are met by our pick up service. Some companies fly directly to Santander or Bilbao from the UK and other European airports.

It is often possible to take connecting flights through Spanish airports such as Madrid or Barcelona or through other European cities. This is particularly true for US customers. Our nearest airport is Santander connecting with Madrid and Barcelona, although flights are not so frequent. RyanAir has now opened a new route from London, Stansted to Santander Airport, actually closer to our starting point in Santillana del Mar.

The most convenient airport for the Andalusia trips is Malaga or possibly Granada.

You may like to extend your holiday with a mini-cruise. Brittany Ferries runs a service from the UK to Santander and P & O Ferries sail from the UK to Bilbao.

Please note that we do not get involved with travel arrangements as we feel that the customer will get the best possible deal either by searching the Internet or asking the local travel agent to check all possibilities. We will be glad to lend a helping hand.

By Air

There is now a great variety of airline companies offering flights to Spain - many at very reasonable prices. For the IberoWalk Picos de Europa route, cycling routes around Northern Spain and also the Rioja / Ebro Route, the nearest airport is Santander. Santander is now connected directly to the UK with RyanAir. Here is a list of airlines serving Iberocycle departure cities. Use the search box at the top of the page to find the best rates.

Bilbao Airport also has a selection of international flights and we will gladly transport passengers to and from the airport which is just a 75 minute drive from the start of the cycling route and around 140 minutes from our walking route. One of the most popular options is EasyJet with direct flights to Bilbao from Stansted. EasyJet also links to Aberdeen, Belfast, Edinburgh, East Midlands, Glasgow, Inverness, Liverpool & Newcastle.

By Ferry

Another alternative for these routes is a mini-cruise on the ferry. P & O run a service from Portsmouth to Bilbao which takes 36 hours. Brittany Ferries sail from Plymouth to Santander. The new ferry being brought into service in 2004 will do the crossing in 19 hours. Again, we will pick you up from the Santander or Bilbao ferryports.

For cyclists on the Andalusia Routes, the most convenient airport is that of Málaga where again cyclists will be transported at the beginning and end of the tour. Other nearby airports include Jerez and Gibraltar.

Many companies do not fly directly to Bilbao or Málaga. However, it is often possible to catch a connecting flight in another Spanish or indeed European city. This means that it is worth having a good look around. some cyclists have arrived by courtesy of companies such as Lufthansa or Swissair with connections in other European cities. Visitors from outside Europe would probably fly to Madrid or Barcelona and then transfer to the national airports of Santander, Bilbao or Málaga.

You may even like to extend your stay with a couple of days in another location such as Madrid or if you are on the Andalusia Route to visit Granada, Córdoba or Seville. Spain has an extensive bus and train network for travelling within the country and we will be only too glad to help you book tickets and check timetables.

Most companies will allow you to transport your own bicycle - check with individual companies for their policy on this. The following table should give you a good idea of what is on offer. Click on the logos to connect directly to the companies. Don't forget your local travel agent who may be able to give you a good deal.

Trains & Buses

If you are travelling within Spain, there is an excellent network of road transport. The Spanish Intercity train service is called Renfe. The local train service along the coast of the Basque Country, Cantabria & Asturias is called FEVE. The major coach companies, depending on where you are travelling, are Alsa and Continental Auto. (Click on the names for websites.) Please contact us if you wish us to help with booking. If you need any further help or advice please do not hesitate to contact us - info@iberocycle.com or info@iberowalk.com .