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What are you more of, beach or mountain? This is the question we have heard the most in our lives when it comes to choosing where to spend our well-deserved holidays. But, did you know that there are hiking trails in Malaga that have nothing to envy to other better known routes in Spain?
This is the fantasy of many travellers and only Malaga can make it come true.
In the province you have the great alternative of enjoying the beach and the mountains, as there are many areas available where you can enjoy a morning hiking, exercise and have the privilege of wonderful sea views that will surely leave you open-mouthed.
If you want to know where to spend an excellent day outdoors while enjoying the charms of the Costa del Sol, we present you the 6 best natural places in Malaga to enjoy with the family.
Sierra Crestellina is known for being one of the best natural spots in Malaga. It is located in the municipality of Casares, very close to Cadiz, and owes its name to the orography of its peaks in the form of ridges.
It is 900 metres high and makes it possible to see Gibraltar and a large part of the Strait of Gibraltar, a marvellous sight! We must not forget to visit the wonderful village of Casares, the beautiful town square and its famous fountain of Carlos III.
This mountain range is composed of greyish limestone rock, and Sierra Crestellina was declared a Natural Site on the same date as the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, 18 July 1989.
The site is home to endangered species of flora. Among them are cork oaks, gall oaks, holm oaks, pines, junipers and kermes oaks. As for fauna, we can also find different species of birds such as griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus), Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus), Bonelli’s eagles (Aquila fasciata), peregrine falcons and eagle owls.
One of the hiking routes links the Puerto de las Viñas with the mountain refuge in the area. From its viewpoint we can observe the incredible views of the western area of the province up to beyond the province of Cádiz, as well as the Gibraltar countryside.
A perfect place to stay would be the refuge on the mountain, as the price is around 30 euros a night. A perfect plan!
The famous ̈Caminito del Rey ̈ is well known for rising like a limestone wall from the Guadalhorce river. This gorge of Jurassic dolomites is one of the most special places in the province for its geomorphological value.
This natural spot in Malaga has hanging footbridges that allow us to walk a distance of 3 km at a height of more than 300 metres. Its safety measures are optimal to live a fantastic experience without fear, since the Junta de Andalucía has renovated it so that you do not run any danger.
The flora of the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes is made up of several endemic species. The most characteristic are the black juniper, holm oaks, Mediterranean scrub and Aleppo pine forests.
As for its fauna, we can highlight several species of birds of prey such as the peregrine falcon, the eagle owl and the Bonelli’s eagle. In the high limestone areas of the gorge we can see the mountain goat, the golden eagle or the griffon vulture; also the white-capped blackbird or the swift. In the adjacent lands we can also see the grey heron or the dipper.
Did you know that the Dolmens of Antequera were built here during the Neolithic period? Another of the best natural sites in Malaga is El Torcal de Antequera, which sits on the now extinct Tethys Sea; in fact, there are still visible some ammonites or marine fossils that may be 200 million years old. Don’t you think it’s the perfect excuse to visit it?
It is located in the central area of the province of Malaga, between Antequera and Villanueva de la Concepción. It covers an area of 2,180 hectares, and has fauna including griffon vultures and other species such as eagle owls, little owls, kestrels, black and black-eared wheatears, red-billed choughs and other smaller birds.
There are two routes through the area: Green and Yellow, which will start from the Visitor Centre at the entrance to the site, but also the one that starts at the car park opposite the road and links Antequera with Villanueva de la Concepción.
Without a doubt an ideal place to enjoy hiking and history!
Located in the east of Malaga and bordering with Granada, we find the Maro-Cerro Gordo Cliffs, one of the most unique places on the Costa del Sol, as it is characterised by being the only one on the coast.
It has one of the most beautiful and hidden beaches in the province of Malaga thanks to its biodiversity.
This natural site has a surface area of 1,913 hectares (384 hectares of land and 1,529 hectares of sea). The incredible cliffs of Maro are 75 metres high, with a row of coves stretching from Sierra de Almijara in Almuñécar to Nerja, in Málaga. There are also endemic endemic species such as the Malaga evergreen evergreen and the white rosemary, as well as the Balearic boxwood and the hawthorn.
If you like snorkelling, you will be able to enjoy it to the maximum here, as you will be able to move around corals, anemones, molluscs and a large amount of marine life.
There is also a population of orange coral, which is considered an endangered species.
There are also local companies located in the area that can take you to visit caves such as the Cajilla and Genoveses caves.
A unique and fun experience!
Located in the southwest of the Serranía de Ronda and with 1,236 hectares. Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja is a place known by many scientists as it is one of the enclaves with the highest concentration of ultrabasic rocks called peridotites, which are associated with alpujarrides units of the Internal Zones of the Betic Cordilleras.
This orography is of high scientific value due to the geochemistry of these volcanic soils, which favour the proliferation of one of the most characteristic ecosystems of Andalusia.
In its flora we can see the resin pine, the juniper, the strawberry tree and the cork oak. As for the fauna, the most characteristic species are the golden eagle, the peregrine falcon and the eagle owl, as well as other smaller birds such as the crossbill, the wheatear and the Alpine accentor.
It is a perfect place for hiking, as one of its routes starts from the road that passes through the natural site, crossing through an extensive forest of Spanish firs, until it reaches the square known as the Plaza de García Lorca.
There is also another route through the area to reach the top of the sierra or Pico de los Reales. It has a distance of 1,450 metres above sea level and we can enjoy some incredible views of the area.
Arriving at the end of our favourite route we find the mouth of the Guadalhorce River, a perfect natural spot where to do our hiking route located in Malaga city.
The extension of this natural spot is smaller compared to the previous ones; it has only 67 hectares of surface. The main characteristic of this lagoon is that it is a breeding and nesting ground for more than 250 species of birds.
Among its fauna we can find species such as booted eagles and fish eagles, herons, flamingos, squids, white-headed duck, the European pochard, the vulture, the cormorant or the beautiful black stork.
Moreover, the access to this fantastic natural spot is through the Gran Senda de Málaga, which makes this place perfect for birdwatching enthusiasts and even for visiting it with the little ones of the family.
We are convinced that you will enjoy any of these areas whether you are travelling alone or with your family. Now you have no excuse to enjoy the beach and the mountains at the same time, what could be better? Let us know what new destinations you would like to explore in Malaga.
