La Manga and Portman Bay – Road Cycling Route

Murcia Bike Hire - La Manga Club Bike Hire - Bike Hire La Manga - Hotel Principe Felipe

La Manga and Portman Bay – Road Cycling Route

Murcia Bike Hire have taken the opportunity to capture some of the things we take for granted and are now sharing our cycling experiences in our new MBH Blog.

Our normal service would have been to chat with our customers whilst delivering/ setting up our bikes, whilst sharing routes and advice about the area. Our new normal is to proactively share our routes and experience, allowing you to get a greater feeling for the area before you arrive through our blog posts and social media.

Murcia Bike Hire - Los Alcazares - Mar Menor
Murcia Bike Hire – Los Alcazares – Bike Hire – Mar Menor Bike Hire

The following blog offers some inspiration to one of our favourite routes in the La Manga area of the Murcia region. This route is available from our GPX download section in the MBH Shop – Categories. So why not add this to your checkout basket when booking one of our Cervélo or Focus carbon road bikes online.

La Manga Club, Portman & La Union

Starting from Los Alcazares from the 4 star Hotel 525 one of our suggested hotels from our tailored cycling holidays. We Ride out of Los Alcazares on the N332 and then take a left turn onto the RM-F54 and ride though the villages of El Carmoli, Los Urrutias, Punta Brava, Estrella De Mar and Los Nietos. This is a great stretch of road along the shores of the Mar Menor lagoon with some awesome views that will stay in the cycling memory bank for years to come. Any of the aforementioned villages offer the opportunity to stop and make your way to the waters edge or find a bar for a coffee or other refreshment, after all it’s not a race.

After los Nietos the road leads to a roundabout with the option to head towards Los Belones and La Manga Club or again venture towards the coast to the beautiful bay of Mar De Cristal. Here you will find a scenic promenade and a number of bars, restaurants and chiringuito where you can refuel and sample some local tapas or sushi.

El Secreto Lounge Restaurante – A La Carte and Sushi Bar
https://www.elsecretolounge.com/

I am sure you will agree that the route so far offers something more than just a coastal ride, and honestly this is one of my favourite routes to ride with family, friends and customers new and old.

Murcia Bike Hire Guided Rides- Mar De Cristal - GPX Route Download
Murcia Bike Hire Guided Rides- Mar De Cristal – GPX Route Download

The next part of our journey takes us onto the RM 314 through the stunning La Manga Club Golf resort. We have many clients staying here in the Los Lomas Village, El Rancho, La Quinta and Hotel Principe Felipe.

Murcia Bike Hire - La Manga Club Bike Hire - Bike Hire La Manga - Hotel Principe Felipe
Murcia Bike Hire – La Manga Club Bike Hire – Bike Hire La Manga – Hotel Principe Felipe

Once you reach the La Manga Club entrance you are around 24 km into your ride, this will now start to change in elevation as you climb towards the summit with view across the mediterranean coastline and down into Portman Bay.   

Murcia Bike Hire - Green Mile Summit - Portman/ La Manga Club
Murcia Bike Hire – Green Mile Summit – Portman/ La Manga Club

At the summit whilst catching your breath and enjoying the views, this is a great opportunity to maybe take a few scenic pictures and selfies. After a few moments it’s back to the guided ride, and checking “how you are feeling?” and discussing the route ahead to gauge how you’d like to proceed, to ensure this is an enjoyable experience.

Murcia Bike Hire Guided Ride - Portman Bay - GPX Route Download
Murcia Bike Hire Guided Ride – Portman Bay – GPX Route Download

Many people enjoy the short climb but some prefer to return back down the hill through La Manga to the flatter Mar Menor coastline. Maybe the idea of a visit to the Sushi bar or chiringuito is more appealing than aching legs!

Murcia Bike Hire - Portman Beach - GPX Route
Murcia Bike Hire – Green Mile Summit – Portman/ La Manga Club

Portman village and beach are a short descent down the hill, know locally as the “Green Mile”. The route again offers the gift of choice to stop and enjoy fresh fish and local tapas by the beach or to ride through the village and climb to La Union.

If you decide that Portman beach and lighthouse would be a great place to stop on your ride, then this is a great choice too. This offers the added benefit of light refreshments and then maybe a return to La Manga via the “Green Mile”, you will not be disappointed!

Murcia Bike Hire - Portman to La Union - GPX Routes
Murcia Bike Hire – Portman to La Union – GPX Routes

The full route offers more great views of the coast and glimpses of the La Union mines, but as we start to ascend I find many cyclist don’t like to stop. It’s completely up to you, especially if you’re chasing a strava segment or personal best, but my advice is to forget that and enjoy the views of this beautiful mediterranean coastline.

Murcia Bike Hire - Mar Menor - Los Alcazares
Murcia Bike Hire – Mar Menor – Los Alcazares

Having completed one of the most popular routes in the Mar Menor area, regularly used by both locals and visiting cyclists, we make our way back into Los Alcazares and offer the opportunity to unwind at a beach bar.

Murcia Bike Hire - Guided Rides/ Routes
What better way to end a ride than with a few beers at a local beach bar.

This is a great ride for all and is often one of the first routes that our visiting cyclists experience when choosing our tailored cycling holiday package and starting there stay at the Hotel 525 in Los Alcazares.

Check out some of our other blog posts, review our website cycling holidays section or contact us to discuss possible options.

We look forward to sharing our cycling journey with you on the roads of the Murcia region soon!