Inntravel - walking holidays across Europe | Skip to main page content | Skip to site map
Inntravel - specialist walking, cycling, riding and winter holidays across Europe
 
 

Home > Holidays > Walking > Andalucia

White Towns & Rugged Mountains of Andalucia Walk

Andalucia

<empty>Andalucia, in southernmost Spain, is a vibrant region. It was here that some of the country's most distinctive traditions – flamenco, tapas and bullfighting – originated. Besides its beaches and dazzling sunshine, the region is famed for its pueblos blancos – whitewashed villages built on hillsides – and, of course, its sherry and other fortified wines.

The walk

The White Towns & Rugged Mountains Walk is a grade 2-3 walk, one of the more challenging of our selection. Starting in Zahara de la Sierra, a small village crowned by a castle, the route takes you from village to village through the beautiful Grazalema Natural Park, passing through Grazalema itself (surprisingly the town with the highest annual rainfall in Spain), and ending in Benaoján or Ronda, depending on whether you choose the seven or nine-night version. The days are generally full (up to 8 hours' walking) with daily ascents and descents. However, the wonderful views of the stark and dramatic Andalucian landscapes make it a very rewarding holiday. The hotels along the route are all built in typical Andalucian style and their restaurants serve regional dishes in which tomatoes, peppers, rice, calamares (squid), meats and grilled fish feature widely.

Grazalema biosphere reserveThe Grazalema Natural Park

This area of limestone mountains, gullies and caves was declared a Biosphere Reserve by Unesco in 1977 in recognition of its unique fauna and flora. It shelters at least 136 species of bird and 40 species of mammal, plus Spain's best pinsapo grove. Some of these fir trees are 300 years old. Among the birds you may see are golden, griffon and Bonelli's eagles, Egyptian vultures and osprey. Mammals found in the park include chamois, mongooses and roebuck.

Ronda

RondaThe bustling town of Ronda is probably the most famous of the pueblos blancos. Its setting is spectacular, the houses perched on the edges of a 130-metre-deep ravine, which effectively cuts the town in two. During the Spanish Civil War, many people were thrown to their death from the bridge that dramatically spans the gorge. The old Moorish quarter (La Ciudad) is the most interesting part of the town, with many elegant mansions among the maze of narrow streets. Also of interest are the Arab baths and the bullring, one of the earliest in Spain.

For a less demanding walk, try the Andalucia's Tranquil Heartland Walk, which explores the valleys south of Ronda which are cloaked in cork-oak woods and dotted with yet more authentic pueblos blancos.

< To the top of this page

< Walking Index