Overview
A four day, self-guided cycling tour in Catalonia, focusing on Delta de l’Ebre Natural Park, translated as Ebro Delta Natural Park, which is the region’s largest and most important wetland. This makes for idyllic cycling trails, starting in the historic and handsome town of Tortosa and finishing in the coastal village of La Ràpita. From the former you follow trails along the Ebro River, overlooked by Els Ports massif. You pack a lot more into this Ebro Delta Natural Park Short Break, from coasts to canalside paths, lagoons to luscious rice fields, as well as some superb birding at Encanyissada Lagoon. This is quite different to the landscapes of other Catalonia bike tours, and we think that exploring it by traditional or e-bike is a very liberating way to do so.
- Ebro Delta
- Towns of Tortosa, Amposta, Deltebre and La Ràpita
- Birdwatching at Encanyissada Lagoon
- Platja dels Eucaliptus
- Via Verda del Carrilet de la Cava
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Tortosa
Arrive in the historic town of Tortosa, on the banks of Ebro River and framed by the foothills of Els Ports massif. The town’s layered history is reflected in its medieval, renaissance and modernist architecture, from the hilltop castle to the cathedral and the old Jewish quarter. Depending on your arrival time, explore the riverside promenade or visit one of the town’s traditional bakeries to try pastissets, typical local pastries filled with sweet pumpkin or almond, before settling in for the night. Your bikes are delivered to the hotel by the end of the day.
- Accommodation: Hotel SB Corona Tortosa or similar in Tortosa
Day 2: Tortosa – Amposta – Deltebre | 30km
Cycle south from Tortosa following the Via Verda del Carrilet de la Cava as it runs alongside the Ebro River, passing fields of artichokes, citrus trees and rice. The route follows quiet country roads and canalside paths towards the coast. Arrive at Amposta, which is known for its modernist architecture and riverfront promenade. Continue downstream to Deltebre, a town surrounded by rice fields, which is a favourite with nature photographers and birdwatchers.
- Cycling for the day: 30km, ↑30m ↓40m
- Accommodation: Delta Hotel or similar in Deltebre
Day 3: Deltebre – La Ràpita | 39km
Follow quiet backroads through the southern delta, passing wooden observation towers and fishing huts beside shallow lagoons. Stop at Platja dels Eucaliptus, a wide, beach backed by dunes and marshes, a popular habitat for flamingos and herons. Continue along the edge of Tancada and Encanyissada Lagoons before arriving at La Ràpita (also known as Sant Carles de la Ràpita), a lively fishing port with a backdrop of the Serra de Montsià, with a selection of seafood restaurants to celebrate the end of this short break.
- Cycling for the day: 39km, ↑50m ↓50m
- Accommodation: Hotel Juanito Platja or similar in La Ràpita
Day 4: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned hotels and B&Bs. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view sample hotels
- Hotel SB Corona Tortosa (Tortosa)
- Delta Hotel (Deltebre)
- Hotel Juanito Platja (La Ràpita)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide you with the exact accommodation details upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available en route, lunches and snacks can either be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from some hotels the night before. Dinner is available from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This trip is rated easy and is ideal for beginners and families or groups of mixed ages and abilities. It consists of two cycling days of 30km and 39km and minimal accumulated elevation. The routes follow flat terrain and most parts are on unpaved gravel roads or trails. Read more about difficulty grades
We will provide detailed route notes and maps (in digital format) and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from March to November. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your trip on any date within the season. Different seasons offer different experiences, for example, autumn and winter are ideal for birdwatching while summer is better for enjoying beach activities.
We recommend visiting Ebro Delta in spring (March to May) or autumn (September to November). These months offer ideal weather for hiking, cycling and birdwatching, while avoiding the intense summer heat and peak mosquito season.
The climate in this region of Catalonia is Mediterranean, characterised by hot, dry summers and mild winters. The most comfortable conditions for cycling are typically found in spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October), when temperatures are moderate. During summer, particularly in July and certainly August, daytime highs often exceed 30C, so it’s advisable to begin rides early in the day to avoid the peak heat.
To find out more about when to go, take a look at our blogs, Best time to go to Catalonia and Best time to go to Spain.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour is Reus Airport (REU). The alternative airport is Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN).
By train or bus
- If you are able to travel to Spain without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail, with a railway station in Tortosa, which is 5mins by taxi (or 20mins on foot) to the hotel where the tour begins, and 20mins by taxi from La Ràpita, where the tour ends. For more details, see the national rail operator Renfe or use the Omio planner above.
- From Reus Airport take a taxi to either Tarragona train station (20mins) or to Vila-seca train station (11mins) to take the R16 train to Tortosa (1h 18mins from Tarragona, 1h 10mins from Vila-seca) – the same train line serves both stations.
- From Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, take the R2N train to Barcelona Sants (20mins) and the R16 train to Tortosa (2h 40mins).
- From La Ràpita there is a Hife bus to Tortosa bus station (45mins), which is next to Tortosa train station. In addition, from La Ràpita there is a direct Hife bus to Barcelona Airport. Tickets to the airport need to be purchased online from Hife
- Private transfers to and from Barcelona or Reus airports and the hotels in Tortosa or La Ràpita can be arranged on request.
Inclusions
Included
- 3 nights accommodation
- 3 breakfasts
- Daily luggage transfers (one piece per person, max 15kg)
- Digital Tour materials: detailed roadbook including maps (digital format), a navigation app for smartphones, GPS tracks. Please note that no printed documents will be provided on-site.
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- International flights and land transfers
- Lunches and dinners, drinks and snacks
- Tourist tax
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Optional bike insurance if available
- Additional travel-related changes in the programme due to bad weather
- Entrance fees for attractions including wineries and museums
- Personal expenses
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Bike rental
- Extra nights
Bike rental
Choose from mountain bike rental or e-bike rental. All bikes come with helmet, flat pedals, multi-tool, extra inner tube, hand pump, tyre levers, one bottle cage holder and one complimentary bottle. Bike rental includes a phone holder; however, to ensure a correct fit for your device, it is highly recommended that you bring a spare one specific to your device, as this will be crucial for your tour.
CANNONDALE Scalpel HT CRB 4
- Model: MTB with front suspension 100mm
- Frame: Carbon frame
- Brakes: hydraulic disc brakes
- Transmission: Shimano XT with 12-speed system
- Wheel/tyre: 29-inch tyres
CANNONDALE MOTERRA 4 + 2026
- Model: E-bike MTB with front suspension 150mm and Bosch engine
- Frame: Aluminum frame
- Brakes: hydraulic disc brakes
- Bosch Performance Line CX motor and a battery up to 800 Wh
- Wheel/tyre: 29-inch tyres
Sample pictures shown above, please note that the exact models may differ depending on availability, but the standard will be the same. Note that the standard rental only includes basic flat pedals. Travellers can request different pedals upon booking, although it may carry a small supplement depending on days, pedal type and number of bikes.
Spain’s legal requirement for personal information
Please note: in December 2024, the Spanish government introduced a new law making it a legal obligation for all visitors to Spain to share personal details with their accommodations and car rental companies. Consequently, as we book your accommodation for you, we are obliged to pass these on to our local partners on the ground. After booking your holiday, we will send you a form to complete requesting all the legally-required information, including: name, nationality, gender, passport number, DOB, address, phone numbers and email address. This applies to all travellers aged 14 and over. If you are travelling with people under 14 years old, you need to declare your relationship to them. We apologise for any inconvenience. For more information, see here.
