Madrid–Valencia–Madrid: A Weekend of Motorbikes, Sun and Sea

Good morning! Rise and shine, everyone! Gear up and get ready for a day of bikes, culture, and gastronomy — the full Toro Biker experience! Today, we’re blending two or three of Valencia’s most “classic” motorcycle routes into one epic ride. So zip up your jacket, put on your helmet and gloves, and let’s roll. We’ll head straight out from the hotel, skipping Valencia’s unbearable city traffic. First, we’ll warm up on the highway before diving into winding roads that cut through fields, mountains, rivers, trees, hillsides, and villages frozen in time. Our breakfast stop will be in Eslida, a true biker hotspot where, every weekend, riders from all over Valencia gather to enjoy one of the most spectacular stretches of road you can ride. Breakfast here is a ritual: peanuts, salads, olives, and a champion-sized sandwich, all served with the warmth and friendliness that Señora Paquita left as her legacy. And then… the crown jewel: what I call “the best cremaet in the entire world.” This local masterpiece blends coffee, honey from nearby hives, and flambéed rum, finished with coffee beans and lemon peel. You won’t believe something this good fits into a single coffee cup, but it does. From Eslida, we’ll ride on, sharing the road with plenty of cyclists, so keep your eyes sharp. Then we’ll take a spectacular detour skirting a cork oak forest. Whether freshly “peeled” or still in bark, these trees are a feast for the eyes. The road is a bit narrow, but absolutely worth it. Around midday, we’ll reach El Palmar, but not by the usual way… I’ve got a little surprise route planned for you. I’m not telling — you’ll see! El Palmar is the birthplace of authentic Valencian paella. And no, there’s no way you’re coming to Valencia without tasting it. We’ll feast on fresh salads made with Perelló tomatoes (tomatoes that taste like real tomatoes!), all i pebre, and of course the famous “arroz del señoret.” We’ll order both so you can try them, and I’ll tell you the story behind them over a cold beer. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water… With our stomachs full, we’ll ride back toward Valencia through the Albufera, a stunning natural park and one of Spain’s most important coastal lagoons, home to a wide range of birds and aquatic wildlife. This is where we’ll take one of those frame-worthy photos. The ride back will be easygoing because the plan is to be at the hotel around 5 PM, freshen up quickly, and head out by 6 with plenty of time to enjoy the day’s cultural activity: our visit to the Oceanogràfic. This is Europe’s largest aquarium — over 110,000 m², 42 million liters of water, 500 species, and 45,000 marine creatures. Its iconic water-lily-shaped building (designed by Félix Candela) is one of Valencia’s architectural landmarks. Inside, you’ll explore recreated habitats from the Mediterranean, the Arctic, the Antarctic, the oceans, and wetlands. And unlike most visitors, we’ll go backstage for a guided tour that reveals the inner workings of this giant aquarium. Cool, right? And since we’ll already be there… how about dinner in the underwater restaurant? That’s the cherry on top. The tasting menu here is a culinary dream — trust the chef’s creations, and you can’t go wrong. By the time we leave, you’ll be able to say you’ve had dinner surrounded by sharks. With that sense of adventure still buzzing in our veins, we’ll head back to the hotel for a well-earned night’s rest. If we feel like grabbing a drink before heading to bed, we’ll just decide that on the fly — sound good? Good night!

Good morning! We wake up on the last day of this adventure, recharged from a good night’s rest. After breakfast, we get ready to wrap up this journey with a route that flips the script on everything we’ve ridden so far. We’ll start off easy, of course, but it won’t take long before the ride picks up intensity, leading us to Dos Aguas — hometown of MotoGP rider Héctor Barberá. When you ride the mountain passes in and out of this village, you’ll understand exactly where his passion for motorcycles was born. After our morning stop for a proper biker breakfast, we’ll keep riding toward our lunch destination. This time, though, the route gradually eases up — swapping tight, twisty mountain curves for smoother, more relaxed national roads that will carry us to Casas Ibáñez or Villamalea, depending on how long we linger over lunch. No rush — this day is all about enjoying the ride. After savoring one last meal on the road, we’ll aim for Madrid along scenic secondary roads. If time starts slipping away, we’ll always have the option of jumping on the A-3 highway — though honestly, I doubt we’ll need it. Still, it’s my job to keep everything running smoothly so that you can focus on what really matters: enjoying every single moment from start to finish. And I truly hope you do. Once we reach Madrid, we’ll head back to our starting point, take our final group photo, and say our goodbyes. But of course, it’s not a real goodbye. We’ll keep in touch through the WhatsApp group we’ll set up to share photos, laughs, and memories that will last forever. Until next time! And this isn’t just a figure of speech — if you’re up for another round, we can mix it up with brand-new routes and experiences between Madrid and Valencia. There are plenty waiting for us!