The charming village of Grazalema is our starting point for this hiking week. We spend all four nights in a nice little hotel right in the village, very close to the village square (not from village to village as with Bandoleros). The location of the village is not only perfect as a starting point, but also really very pretty, at 812 metres above sea level, surrounded by mountains and forests, with narrow streets, typical Andalusian houses, small squares, shops selling local specialities such as the Payoyo goat's cheese that is famous for this area, wines from Ronda, and much more.

The nature reserve around Grazalema is known for the beauty of its landscape, from dramatic rock faces and gorges, high mountains with distant views as far as the Strait of Gbraltar, the Ronda Mountains and, on clear days, the Sierra Nevada. Grazalema is also home to an astonishing wealth of flora and fauna, making it a favourite destination for nature lovers, botanists, biologists and photographers. Over 34 different species of orchids, one of the world's only four pine forests, the Iberian ibex, a multitude of vultures and eagles, to name just a few examples.

Day 1

Journey from the Costa del Sol to Grazalema

Pick-up

8:30 Estepona

9:00 Marbella 

An easy walk to get started

Benamahoma -El Bosque - Río Majaceite

After dropping off our luggage at the hotel, we drive to our starting point, the small mountain village of Benamahoma. We start our hiking week with an easy hike. From Benamahoma to El Bosque and back. Depending on the time of arrival, we can get in the mood for the laid-back life of the Andalusian mountain villages with tapas in one of the two restaurants in the village square. Our route leads along the river Majete, this beautiful, easy to follow and shady path is also very popular with the locals and offers a perfect end to our first day.

Difficulty level

 easy - 12 km - 3-4  hours 

Elevations

 ↑↓ 320m

 

Day 2

The two summit tour -El Reloj and Simancón

Although the number of kilometres is no greater than on the previous day, the differences in altitude to be overcome, and above all the condition of the path, make this day our most difficult tour of the week. The views over the entire Grazalema mountain range, the Serranía de Ronda, the surrounding villages and lakes are indescribably beautiful. It's a mountain hike that requires a certain amount of stamina and endurance, but as we don't organise a race and set off early enough to take our time, it's definitely doable. This tour is very varied, we start directly in the village, via a forest path up to the Llanos del Endrinal (highland of the sloes), and even in the upper part, the karstic mountains, along the rugged, rocky paths to the two peaks, we find a variety of flowers, from orchids to peonies. We are also likely to encounter the Iberian ibex that are native to the area.

Difficulty level

 high- 12 km - 7 hours (the high level of difficulty is due to the nature of the trail)

Elevations

 ↑↓ 835m

 

Day 3

Garganta Verde - The green gorge - Zahara de la Sierra

From Grazalema, we drive over an impressive pass road and stop at the highest point to walk up to a viewpoint. We hike down to an impressive gorge, surrounded by breathtaking scenery and surprisingly lush green vegetation at the bottom of the gorge. It is one of the most extraordinary places in Andalusia, simply spectacular! From the first viewpoint, which we reach shortly after the start of our route, we can see the impressive "Garganta Verde", the Green Gorge. We hike a little further up to the Cambronero hill, which is usually circled by a colony of griffon vultures, and then walk down to the Bocaleones stream in the gorge with views of the Cornicabra hill and the Arroyo de los Volcanes stream. The lush vegetation, which looks like a tropical jungle, is also impressive; once in the gorge, we continue on to the beautiful "Cueva de la Ermita" cave with its towering vertical walls, through which almost no light penetrates.

After the hike, we visit the picturesque village of Zahara de la Sierra by the reservoir and walk up to the castle before returning to Grazalema

Difficulty level

 medium  7,4 km, 4 hours

Elevations  

↑↓450m 

 

 Day 4

Puerto del Boyar - Gothic Arch - Coargazal Tunnel - Benaocaz

We make the most of the day and set off straight after breakfast. Our route today takes us along stony paths up into a rugged rocky landscape typical of the Grazalema Mountains, with the most bizarre formations. From Puerto del Boyar to the source of the Guadalete River, up into the mountains with marvellous views over mountain peaks, villages, reservoirs and wide valleys. A few detours to the "Arco Gótico" and the Coargazal rock tunnel make this route even more varied and exciting than it already is. Our route ends after Tapas in Benaocaz, with the SUR-walks bus back to Grazalema

Difficulty level

 medium/high - 7 hours, 9,8 km

Elevations

↑650m -↓414m

 

 Day 5

Around Grazalema

Grazalema - Ermita del Calvario - Peñón de la Asamblea - Embalse del Fresnillo

We say goodbye to Grazalema with a beautiful circular walk around the village, with wonderful views, up to the Fresnillo reservoir, which supplies the water for Grazalema, and the most striking rock above the village. Before we set off on our return journey, we can enjoy some tapas in the beautiful village square in front of the church.

Difficulty level

easy- 6 km - 3  hours 

Elevations

 ↑↓ 237m

 On the way back we make a short detour via Montejaque and go down to a spectacular dam with a very strange history...

 

What you should definitely take with you

• Day rucksack
• Water bottles (you can drink the tap water in the mountain villages without any problems)
• Rain gear and warm clothing, the weather can change at any time in the mountains, especially in spring
• Mountain boots and mountain shoes
• Sun protection
• Clothing and toiletries for 4 nights in the hotel and five days of hiking

Please only bring the essentials, we are travelling in the SUR-walks Ford Transit, the boot has no space for large items of luggage!

Prices

Double room: 740€

Single room: 820€

Included

Pick up between Manilva, Estepona and Marbella, transport, hotel accommodation, breakfast, dinner, guide and insurance

Not included

Additional meals, drinks