Some of the best biking in Spain is found in the Rías Altas. Much of south and central Spain is too hot for biking, but here temperatures are generally cool, and an interesting vista unfolds at every turn. The tourist office at Viveiro, Av. Ramón Canosa s/n (tel. 98-256-08-79; www.viveiro.es), can give you a map and some suggested routes. The office is open Monday to Saturday 11am to 2pm and 4:30 to 7:30pm; July to August it's also open Sunday from noon to 2pm.
From Viveiro, the most scenic route is to the west, along the C-642 to El Ferrol on the sea. A particularly dramatic stretch awaits you if you head north along a secondary road when you come to the junction with the little town of Mera. Signs point north to another little town, Carino, opening onto views of Cabo Ortegal. To the east is a sheltered body of water, Ría de Santa María, and to the west the Atlantic Ocean. From Viveiro you can also go inland, heading south along Rte. 640, and following the signs to the hamlet of Oral. Or you can take the coastal road east from Viveiro, signposted RIBADEO. Ribadeo is too built up to interest most cyclists but, depending on your stamina, you can cycle to the seaside villages of San Ciprian, Burella, and Foz.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
