3 July 2026
Motorbike Route from Granada to the Gorafe Desert: Road Route via Quentar, La Peza and Back via Iznalloz
Andalusia is a paradise for motorcycle travellers, and this circular route from Granada to the Gorafe Desert is one of the most complete and spectacular you can ride in a single day. A combination of mountain roads, quiet surfaced back roads, surreal desert landscapes and breathtaking viewpoints. The whole route is on tarmac, so any road or adventure bike will do. With Tropical Riders' hire bikes you ride on tarmac only: the insurance does not cover unsurfaced tracks.
General Itinerary
- Start: Granada
- Stage 1: Granada → Quentar → La Peza
- Stage 2: La Peza → Guadix → Gorafe (surfaced loop through the desert)
- Highlights: Mirador del Fin del Mundo, Badlands, Palaeontological Centre
- Stage 3 (return): Gorafe → Darro → Iznalloz → Granada
Total distance: approx. 220 km
Estimated duration: 6 to 8 hours (depending on stops and pace)
Difficulty: Medium (because of the distance and the mountain roads)
Stage 1: Setting Off from Granada – Heading for the Sierra
We leave Granada early in the morning, with the air still cool and the mountains waiting for us to the east. We head towards Quentar on a narrow but perfectly surfaced secondary road, with good grip and a really fun layout of gentle bends and views of the Embalse de Canales.
Recommended stops:
- Mirador de Quéntar: excellent for photos and views of the reservoir
- Embalse de La Peza: small but charming, perfect for refuelling or grabbing a coffee before dropping down towards the Guadix basin
Stage 2: Into the Gorafe Desert – The Wild Heart of Granada
From La Peza we follow a surfaced secondary road to Guadix and from there head north on the road to Gorafe, a narrow, quiet ribbon of tarmac that leads into the Badlands de Gorafe, a moon-like landscape eroded by millennia of wind and water.
Surfaced loop inside the desert:
- Road from Gorafe to Villanueva de las Torres and Alicún (narrow tarmac with little traffic, watch out for gravel in the bends)
- Mirador del Fin del Mundo: one of the most spectacular in Europe
- Mirador del Desierto de Gorafe: 360° of pure wonder
- Gorafe Dolmens Area: if you like history, this is a must
⚠️ Tip: This is not an area for speeding. It is a route to savour slowly. The views change every few kilometres. Bring water and sun protection, and respect the speed limits on these narrow roads.
🧭 Useful coordinates
- Mirador del Fin del Mundo: [37.5549° N, 3.0206° W]
- Gorafe dolmens area: [37.5495° N, 3.0618° W]
- Start of the surfaced loop: [37.5098° N, 3.0511° W]
🛣️ Stage 3: Return via Darro and Iznalloz
After completing the desert loop and returning to the village of Gorafe, we take a secondary road towards Darro. Here the route becomes smoother, with long straights, gentle hills and the agricultural landscape typical of northern Granada.
We pass through Iznalloz, where you can stop for a more substantial meal. The food here is generous: migas, cordero segureño lamb and, of course, tapas.
From Iznalloz we take the A-92, which takes us straight back to Granada in less than 40 minutes.
- Gorafe's lunar landscapes
- Motorbike at the Mirador del Fin del Mundo
- Twisty road between Quentar and La Peza
- Panoramic view from Iznalloz
🛠️ Technical Recommendations
- Type of bike: any road or adventure bike; the whole route is surfaced
- Tyres: road tyres in good condition; the narrow desert roads can have gravel on them, especially after rain
- Fuel: leave La Peza with a full tank
- Gear: sun protection, goggles, light rain jacket, basic tools
- Best time of year: spring and autumn; avoid the height of summer or very rainy days
🧭 Why choose this route?
- The perfect mix of mountain roads and desert roads
- Unspoilt nature, dramatic landscapes and very little traffic
- Cultural sites: dolmens, viewpoints, villages steeped in history
- Ideal for practising and improving your mountain-road riding: linked bends, crests and changing surfaces
🔗 More on motorbike routes around Granada
Discover other routes like this one at Tropical Riders – Motorbike Routes
Interested in an organised tour or motorbike hire? Visit Tropical Riders and discover everything we offer.
✌️ Conclusion: Freedom, Bends and Adrenaline
This route from Granada to the Gorafe Desert is more than a motorbike ride. It is a journey through some of the most extreme and beautiful landscapes in Spain, perfect for those looking for real adventure, unique landscapes and thrills on two wheels.
Whether you come alone, as a couple or in a group, this ride has all the ingredients to become one of those stories you will tell again and again.
Ready to leave the city behind?
