With Brexit and COVID 19 it feels like we have been hit by the perfect storm! We know that organising an overseas road cycling holiday is rather more challenging than before but with a little foresight and preparation your arrival into Spain will be pretty straight forward albeit perhaps a little slower than pre COVID times. Needless to say we are still here, open for business and looking forward to riding with our many clients from the UK and around the globe once again. Come and join us in Andalucia for a sun kissed road cycling holiday on quiet roads, through breathtaking landscapes and stunning scenery.
First of all let us address the ‘Brexit Issue’ and then we will update you on the current rules for travelling to Spain re COVID19.
1. BREXIT
Spain has long been a popular holiday destination for UK tourists with around 18 million Brits packing their suitcases and heading to Spain each year (before COVID that is)! A whopping 13 million heading to Andalucia and the Costa del Sol. So the burning question after Brexit is…..
Can I still travel to Spain after Brexit? Will I need a visa to travel to Spain after Brexit?
Yes you can still travel to Spain after Brexit. The majority of UK citizens will not need a visa to travel to Spain. Spain still permits visa-free access to British visitors for up to 3 months for tourism and business purposes. UK citizens can spend 90 days in every 180 days in Spain, which is more than enough for your average holidaymaker!!
You can still hire a car with a UK driving license, nothing has changed there.
Please remember when coming through the airport that you’ll now need to go into the Non EU line, if there is one!
2. COVID19
Face masks, entry rules, travel restrictions and what to expect in Andalucia, here you can find everything you need to know before setting out on your cycling holiday to Spain.
Face Masks & COVID Mitigation Actions
Face masks do not have to be worn outdoors if a distance of 1.5 meters can be observed. However, it is mandatory to carry a face mask at all times so that it can be put on in situations where social distancing cannot be maintained. As with many countries you are required to wear a mask in shops at all times and upon entering cafes/bars/restaurants until you are seated at a table (masks are to be used if you go to the toilet of approach the bar). Of course whilst riding we do not have to wear face masks, but it is best to bring one on a ride so that when we stop for a coffee you can enter the bar to use the toilets/pay the bill. It is also mandatory to wear masks if you are having an airport transfer from us or in a taxi, bus or on a train.
Restrictions within Spain
Currently there are no travel restrictions in place and we are free to travel between all the Provinces of Spain. During your road cycling holiday we will ride in the 3 provinces of Malaga, Cadiz and Sevilla, we can do this unhindered and without any special/specific documentation. Bars/cafes/restaurants are open as per normal as are places of interest, museums, shops and supermarkets.
Requirements for entering Spain if you are travelling from outside the EU/EEA
Britons will be obliged to present a negative PCR test or be fully vaccinated to enter Spain.
Wherever you are travelling from, all passengers arriving in Spain, including children under 12, must fill in a health control form before they start their journey, you can do this through the website www.spth.gob.es or on the Spain Travel Health App.
When you have filled it in, you will get a QR code which must be presented both when boarding and when arriving in Spain. If you are arriving from a country/territory considered not to be a risk, you will get a FAST CONTROL QR code which will speed up the formalities when you arrive in Spain.
If you are travelling from a country on the list of low-incidence countries outside the high-risk area, you can travel without the need for diagnostic tests or vaccination or immunity certificates.
If you are travelling from a country on the list of high-risk list (please check before you travel), people travelling for tourism will be allowed to enter if they have a vaccination certificate issued by the competent authorities of the country of origin at least 14 days after the date of the last dose required to complete the course of vaccination. Accepted vaccines are those authorised by the World Health Organisation or the European Medicines Agency.
Children and young people between 12 and 18 years of age must also present this vaccination certificate. Only children under 12 years of age are not required to show a health certificate of any kind.
Upon arrival there will be a health security check at the first point of entry, which will include at least taking your temperature, checking your documents, and a visual assessment of your state of health.
Requirements for entering Spain if you are travelling from an EU/EEA country
Wherever you are travelling from, all passengers arriving in Spain, including children under 12, must fill in a health control form before they start their journey, you can do this through the website www.spth.gob.es or on the Spain Travel Health App.
When you have filled it in, you will get a QR code which must be presented both when boarding and when arriving in Spain.
If you are arriving from EU/EEA areas not included on the list of high-risk countries/areas you will not be asked to provide any diagnostic test, vaccination certificate or immunity test.
If you are an EU citizen and you are arriving from an EU risk country/area you must have the EU COVID Digital Certificate, which should be uploaded to the SpTH application when you fill in the form. This certificate serves as accreditation for one of these three statements:
You have been vaccinated against COVID-19. The vaccination certificate must be issued by the competent authorities in the country of origin, at least 14 days after the date the final dose of the full vaccination course was administered. Accepted vaccines are those authorised by the European Medicines Agency or those that have completed the World Health Organisation’s emergency use listing procedure.
You have had a negative test result. The diagnostic certificate must be a negative PCR or similar test (NAAT-type test) issued less than 72 hours prior to arrival in Spain, or a negative antigen test included on the European Commission list of accepted tests, issued less than 48 hours before arriving in Spain.
You have recovered from COVID-19. The recovery certificate must be issued by the competent authority or by a medical service at least 11 days after the first positive NAAT-type diagnostic test (PCR, TMA, LAMP, or similar) with a positive result. The certificate will no longer be valid 180 days after the date the test sample was taken.
With the EU COVID Digital Certificate you will obtain a FAST CONTROL QR that will speed up the procedures upon your arrival in Spain, avoiding waiting and additional control checks.
Children under 12 years of age are not required to present these certificates.
Upon arrival there will be a health security check at the first point of entry, which will include at least taking your temperature, checking your documents, and a visual assessment of your state of health.
Travelling Home
If you need to have a PCR or antigen test before you travel home then there is a clinic in Ronda that does these, we will happily take you to get the tests done, no appointment is required, tho whole process takes about 5 minutes and the results are sent to your mobile phone the following day.
3. Road Cycling in Spain
Once you have arrived the cycling hasn’t changed one bit. The roads are quiet (even quieter than normal who would think that was possible), the scenery is still stunning and the locals are as welcoming as ever before. There are still plenty of ride options from undulating lake side roads to Cat 1 climbs and everything in between. It is hillier here than in most locations with every 50km that you ride there will be 1000meters of elevation. Our usual itinerary would involve riding through many ‘Pueblos Blancos’ (White Villages) and we would also stop for refreshments during the ride sometimes it’s second breakfast, usually a coffee and cake and occasionally something more substantial depending on the group!
Our accommodation, is and always has been self catering townhouses or villas with pools. This helps our riders feel safe and secure off the bike as you are not in a large, perhaps crowded hotel. Please ask for further information or if you have any special requests re accommodation options.
It is easy to adhere to Social Distancing rules on a bike, as mentioned before we need to carry a face mask to enter bars/cafes but we do not need to wear them whilst cycling. There are no restrictions on ride group sizes, however, we like to keep these relatively small during these uncertain times. If you prefer not to ride in a group we are happy to provide GPS files and you can self guide. Contact us for more information.
