Let Andalucia surprise you during this self-guided walking holiday in Spain. You’ll be walking through a landscape of green hills, white villages, and large nature reserves. On your walks you’ll come past orchards of oranges and olive trees. And Andalucia’s snowcapped mountain ranges with spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea are the perfect backdrop for exploring this part of Spain.
Andalucia is one of the warmest regions of Europe. It has a temperate, Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters with irregular rainfall. The area where you’ll be walking offers varied terrain, wonderful views of the sea and Andalucia’s mountains, as well as a variety of flora and fauna.
This is a self-guided walking holiday, but your hosts will pick you up from Malaga Airport in Southern Spain and take you to/from the start/finish of each day’s walk.
Accommodation in Andalucia in Spain
Your holiday accommodation consists of charming, reformed Moorish houses. You’ll be staying in Torrox, a pretty mountain village east of Malaga in southern Spain.
The old Spanish houses where you are staying during this walking holiday have been beautifully restored. They are well equipped, so you can enjoy your stay with all the comfort of modern conveniences in a pleasant traditional Spanish setting.
All the houses have terraces with wonderful views over the village, the mountains in the background or the Mediterranean Sea. They are within eight minutes drive of the beach to which a regular bus service operates.
The village also has a really lovely square with a range of bars and restaurants where you can lunch or dine. The surrounding countryside is a paradise for walkers.
There is a generous breakfast welcome pack in your house at the start of your holiday (breakfast to be taken on a self-catering basis). On walking days you’ll get a packed lunch, which consist of sandwiches with a choice of fillings, a box of salad, biscuits and fresh orange juice.
At the start of this self-guided walking holiday you’ll receive an information pack. Next to information on all the walks, this also has details of local restaurants and bars.
Walking in Andalucia in Spain
On arrival, your hosts will take you on a guided orientation walk round the village. They will show you the location of restaurants and bars, banks (including those with cash dispensers), post offices, the tourist information centre, telephone kiosks, the police station, a 24-hour emergency clinic, pharmacies and internet cafes.
Your holiday information pack includes a compass, walk descriptions, walking maps with a map holder, and guidebooks where appropriate.
As part of this walking holiday there is free transport to/from the start/finish of each day’s walk. You’ll also get to use a Spanish mobile phone to enable you to keep in contact in case of emergencies.
When booking this self-guided walking holiday to Andalucia, you will be asked about your walking requirements. It’s possible, for example, to arrange a less strenuous walking programme if you would like. Each walking itinerary is tailor-made to your wishes.
Andalucia walking holiday itinerary
Below is an example of what the programme of a self-guided walking holiday to Andalucia could look like. Please note this is just a sample itinerary. Whether you prefer relaxed strolls or challenging walks, you can indicate this when you book your walking holiday. The holiday provider will consult closely with you to organise a walking itinerary that exactly meets your needs. Because this is a self-guided walking holiday, it can start on any date, depending on your flight.
Day 1 – Your local guides will meet you at Malaga Airport in Southern Spain and transfer you to the village of Torrox Pueblo. Settle in with a stroll around local village and discussion of your walking itinerary.
Day 2 – Walking around Competa to Acebuchal – A walk of about 4 hours, commencing with a climb via a dry stream bed to Puerta Collado, a mountain pass at almost one kilometre, with incredible panoramic views. The track descends via a remote but welcoming hotel down into the valley, and eventually crosses the river. From here you walk up gently to the until-recently deserted village of Acebuchal. This village has now been almost completely restored, mostly by Antonio, who also owns and operates the only bar/restaurant in the village. The menu is not extensive, but you will find delicious Spanish meals containing local produce (including game) at reasonable prices.
Day 3 – Maro & Canyons – This exhilarating walk of around 5 hours starts in the picturesque seaside village of Maro. Within 5 minutes of the village the path enters a narrow canyon where you’ll be walking between lush vegetation mixed with trees. After an hour or so the path climbs steeply through sweetly smelling Rosemary, Thyme, Lemon Thyme, Lavender and Gorse to a ruined farmhouse. There are few more memorable picnic sites than the threshing circle, with stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea and Andalucia’s mountains behind. You walk down through pine forest, followed by a second canyon lined with Eucalyptus trees.
Day 4 – Rio de la Miel (Spanish for ‘The river of honey’) – From the river itself the walking track climbs steeply through olive and almond groves to the ridge’s summit. From up here views along the rocky coastline to the east open up. At the highest point of this walk you’ll find a lovely shaded olive grove for a perfect lunch break. Shortly afterwards the views to the north and east become even more spectacular, with the high peaks of the Sierra Nevada, the Contraviesas and the Alpujarras all visible on a clear day. You descend through the tiny settlement of El Nacimiento (‘the source’, referring to the spring from whence flows the Rio de la Miel). The valley is very fertile and you’ll find yourself walking past avocado, mango, walnut, almond, fig, banana and many other trees along the way.
Day 5 – Rest Day – Enjoy a well-earned rest from the previous days’ walking. Relax on the beach or take a trip to the stunning city of Malaga (only 45 minutes by bus). Malaga is one of Spain’s biggest cities and has a lot to offer. Enjoy the new Picasso Museum, the Alcazaba, a stroll round the old town and maybe some shopping.
Day 6 – Walking from Frigiliana to Cruz Pinto – A relatively short but nonetheless testing walk starting from the pretty white mountain village of Frigiliana. The track follows the River Higueron upstream, passing a water deposit (which offers a refreshing dip on a hot day!). You climb to the summit of the ridge via a steep winding path where you can take time to enjoy the views unfolding to the north as you stop to rest. After enjoying the vista over the high peaks to the east, the path follows the line of the ridge through a pine forest. From the end of the ridge you can see the goal of today’s walk: Cruz Pinto, with Nerja and the Mediterranean beyond. You’ll be walking down to a ruined farmhouse, then climbing steeply to the peak of Cruz Pinto, which is topped by a shrine with a story.
Day 7 – Cortijo Imam – A challenging walk through wild Spanish countryside. You’ll be walking to a remote ruin in the most spectacular location imaginable. Today’s self-guided walk starts with a steep descent into the Rio Chillar valley. The path winds along this beautiful mountain stream through lush vegetation. As the path leaves the stream and starts to ascend you can already see the ruin away in the distance. From the ruin the views back down the valley to the sea are superb, as are the impressive cliffs of El Nido del Buitre.
Day 8 – End of your self-guided walking holiday. Transfer to Malaga Airport by your hosts.
For questions or more information about this walking holiday, please contact the holiday provider directly, through the contact form below.
Dates and Availability
This self-guided walking holiday in Spain can start on any day, subject to accommodation availability. Please contact the holiday provider, through the contact form below, for more information.