Some Stats

Here are some facts and figures about MontañasVacías:

  • Age of the project: The project was launched in December 2018, making it in its fifth full season.
  • Project cost: The project was developed on a no-budget, not-for-profit basis. It has no sponsors or support from any administration.
  • People involved: The whole project has been developed and maintained by one person: Ernesto Pastor, as a hobby or experiment to show that something with these characteristics could have a positive impact on the area and inspire conservation values in visitors and locals.
  • Number of visits to the website: 250000 per year on average.
  • Number of visitors to the route: At the moment it’s impossible to know exactly, but around 1000 riders per year.
  • Average stay: It goes from 3 to 15 days. On average, 7-8 days per person.
  • Estimated economic impact on the area, per year: Taking into account that more than half of the visitors stay in hotels/hostels, and of the rest do not always spend the night outdoors, it has been estimated that the annual economic impact on the area exceeds 550000 € per year.
  • Social Networks:
    • Instagram: 18700 followers
    • Facebook: 4200 followers
    • Private Facebook group for riders: 3600 members
  • MV-Points: To date, the visitors themselves have collaborated with donations for the creation and maintenance of 6 assistance points along the route, known as MV-Points. They have spare parts and tools, and are located in accommodation, bars and shops that have shown their support from day one. This network has inspired 10 other businesses to set up their own assistance points which they maintain themselves.
  • New opportunities: The route has encouraged for the creation of new businesses in the area, such as a travel bike and equipment rental in Teruel, with specialised travel workshop, the reopening of a rural bar closed for more than 20 years, or the adaptation of rural accommodations for use by passing travellers.
  • Inspiration: MontañasVacías has inspired and collaborated in setting up similar projects in other parts of Spain, such as: Montsec Bikepacking, Al-Ballut, Rodera.cc, Ibérica Norte, Cabañas y Estacas, Cicloturismo Navarra, GranGuanche, Maipey Canarias Bikepacking, or Caminos De Frontera. It also collaborates with similar projects in France, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Switzerland, Chile and Mexico.