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Walking the Aracena Sierra

Timeless villages & far-reaching views
Glorious countryside | Wander through olive groves, chestnut forests, and cork oak woods.
Traditional villages | Stay in some of Spain’s prettiest pueblos blancos.
Superb produce | Dine on Spain’s finest jamón, produced from pure-bred Ibérico pigs.
Comfort and local cuisine | In a variety of characterful accommodation.
Diverse routes | Forest paths, panoramic ridges, and riverside walks.
What is included
  • 7 nights
  • 1 dinner
    2 picnics
    7 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • route notes
  • GPS navigation
  • taxi from/to Seville airport
  • Walking the Aracena Sierra
    Timeless villages & far-reaching views
  • The village of Alájar
  • Salmorejo, a local speciality
  • Views over the embalse
  • The peña viewpoint above Alájar
  • The hamlet of Linares
  • Arriving into Aracena
  • Typical country lanes
  • Exploring Aracena's castle
  • Looking south from Almonaster
  • Rolling hills of the sierra
What is included
  • 7 nights
  • 1 dinner
    2 picnics
    7 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • route notes
  • GPS navigation
  • taxi from/to Seville airport

Holiday information

A walking holiday in the Aracena Sierra

Follow ancient trails between timelessly pretty villages to discover the Aracena Sierra: a landscape that is unspoiled, tranquil, and as bounteous as it is beautiful.

In this quiet corner of northwest Andalucia, black pigs roam free in cork oak and chestnut forests, while, nestled in the valleys, some of Spain’s most picturesque villages entice with their ornate architecture and antiquated way of life. Above the maze of cobbled streets, the ruins of castles and a mosque provide striking reminders of the centuries of conflict played out in this former border country.


Leading you across the Sierra from west to east, from historic Almonaster to tiny Alájar to vibrant Aracena, this rewarding walking holiday unveils all that is special about the region. Immerse yourself in its glorious countryside and breathtaking views, embrace traditional Andalucian life in the pretty village plazas, and dine on Spain’s finest Jamón Ibérico. In Aracena, don’t miss the Gruta de las Maravillas – a hidden fantasy world of limestone grottoes and subterranean lakes.

Visit in spring and early summer for woodlands and olive groves rampant with wildflowers, or in autumn as hundreds of varieties of wild mushrooms throng the forest floor, and wild boar and venison grace local menus. Whenever you travel, be sure to take your time: this Sierra deserves to be savoured.



Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 13 14 17 19 23 29 33 33 28 22 16 14
    mm 68 62 50 56 42 19 4 5 24 72 81 93
  • Arrival in Almonaster la Real
    Night 1: at Hotel Luz Almonaster (the first of 2 nights here).
    As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of walking.
    La Mezquita de Almonaster above the town
  • Around Almonaster: 12km, 4.5hrs; ascent/descent 530m
    After a panoramic stroll to Almonaster’s emblematic, hill-top mezquita (mosque), you head into the tranquil cork oak forests that surround the village. You pass through small hamlets and across a little-used railway line before ascending to viewpoints which afford far-reaching vistas across the hills and villages of the Sierra. Descending back towards Almonaster, your route takes in a balcony-style path with superb mezquita views.
  • Almonaster to Alájar: 15km, 6hrs; ascent 680m/descent 520m
    Following a cobbled path out of Almonaster, past the ruins of an 18th-century flour mill, you’re soon ascending on an undulating trail through fern-filled forests. As you progress, views open up across villages tucked into the hillsides, and to the town of Jabugo, centre of excellence for Jamón Ibérico. Paths lined by profusions of wildflowers, including wild peonies in April, accompany your descent to the village of Alájar, where you stay for three nights at the Posada de San Marcos.
    Almonaster to Alájar, descending to Santa Ana la Real 
  • Choice of routes around Alájar: 7.5-14.5km

    We provide notes for three excellent and varied routes around Alájar. These can be mixed and matched with olive-oil tasting, ham carving, and/or a guided walk – all provided by your hosts (pay locally).

    La Peña circuit: 10km, 4.5hrs; ascent/descent 555m
    Ascend to the pilgrim site of La Peña de Arias Montano where pleasant gardens, spring waters, and the Church of Our Lady of the Angels surround a superb viewpoint over Alájar. Your route continues uphill through ancient chestnut forests filled with birdsong and grazed by black pigs, with occasional widescreen vistas showcasing the Natural Park as you begin to descend back towards La Peña. Before returning to Alájar, there’s the option to take a short but steep ascent to another stunning viewpoint (add 1.5km).

    Los Molinos circuit: 14.5km, 5.5hrs; ascent/descent 335m
    This delightful, gentle route follows the course of the Alájar river, staying directly alongside its bank and passing the remains of flour mills which once used the power of the water to grind millstones. The real joy of this route lies in its tranquillity, and in the flora which lines your path.

    Los Madroñeros circuit: 7.5km, 3hrs; ascent/descent 270m
    A pretty trail to the tiny hamlet of Madroñeros via a quiet and scenic lane and across wooded slopes. Once all but abandoned, Los Madroñeros is being reclaimed as a weekend retreat for second homeowners. The return path to Alájar ascends on a small path from which views open out across the southwest Sierra.

    Los Molinos Circuit, cork oak and wildflowers
  • Aracena Sierra to Linares de la Sierra: 12km, 5.5hrs; ascent 555m/descent 320m
    Moving on from Alájar, you follow the dappled and undulating Linares de Sierra trail which takes you through the pretty village of the same name. Set in a picturesque location, Linares is remarkable for its impressive lavaderos (traditional, open-air laundry basins) and stone mosaic doormats. Your onward route winds through olive groves, cork forests, and farmland before reaching the first houses of Aracena. Arriving at the bustling Plaza de la Gruta de las Maravillas and the entrance to Aracena’s amazing caves – which have featured in several movies, including Journey to the Centre of the Earth – you may choose to visit these (pay locally) before continuing to your hotel, Convento Aracena Spa, where you spend your final two nights.
    Alájar to Aracena, signposts
  • Around Aracena: 12km, 4.5hrs; ascent/descent 300m
    You have a second chance today to visit Aracena’s remarkable caves before following an easy and mainly level route towards the hamlet of Corteconcepción. On the way, you make a brief ascent to a superb viewpoint which looks across the Embalse de Aracena – a vast body of water lying at the foot of an old quarry – as well as all the way to the city of Badajoz and into Portugal. Visit the church in Corteconcepción for another pretty plaza with big views, and perhaps pause for lunch here before returning to Aracena along a beautiful path lined by olive groves and awash with flowers. On your return to the town, you may wish to visit the Jamón Museum (pay locally).
    Embalse de Aracena and Corteconcepción from Mirador la Rejoya

Accommodation

Elegance and authenticity characterise your accommodation – which ranges from a beautifully restored village house to a 17th-century former convent.
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
Currency converter

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  • 7 nights: 01 February 2026 - 30 June 2026, 01 September 2026 - 30 November 2026, 01 February 2027 - 30 June 2027 & 01 September 2027 - 30 November 2027

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price *
    1 - 30 Sep 2026 From £1131
    1 - 31 Oct 2026 From £1046
    1 - 23 Nov 2026 From £1001
    1 - 31 Mar 2027 From £1051
    1 - 30 Apr 2027 From £1081
    1 - 31 May 2027 From £1096
    1 - 23 Jun 2027 From £1106
    1 - 26 Sep 2027 From £1116
    27 - 30 Sep 2027 From £1096
    1 - 31 Oct 2027 From £1071
    1 - 23 Nov 2027 From £1021

    * Final price is subject to change due to the customisable nature of our holidays and is dependent on accommodation availability for the dates selected. We will contact you to confirm the final price. Single supplements are applicable on many of our holidays. Please contact us for full details.

    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Unless otherwise stated, connecting travel by rail or bus tends to be from the city centre station, rather than from its airport, and connections between the two should be paid for locally.

    Where a price range is given, the price you pay depends on your date of travel.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Seville

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    bus Seville Plaza de Armas to Almonaster la Real (2h20) pay locally 1400 Mon-Fri
    taxi to hotel (1h45) included flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    taxi to Seville airport (1h15) included flexible
    bus Aracena to Seville (Plaza de Armas) (1h25) pay locally 1200 (2230 Sat & Sun)
Reviews

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We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

Please note: any reference to maps in customer reviews is now out of date – we no longer provide these. For information on this, please see our FAQs page.


 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • Yes, prior to going on holiday you will be able to download GPX tracks so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. It’s entirely up to you whether or not you use them – our detailed, step-by-step route notes remain the principal means of guiding you from A to B – but we provide them as a secondary means of navigation for additional reassurance when walking.
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). More information on flights >
  • Absolutely! We are experts in tailored rail travel. Making use of sleeper trains or stopovers in cities along the route, we can get you from London to virtually anywhere in mainland Europe. We can even make arrangements to Mallorca, Sicily and Norway with a combination of ferries and rail. Please contact us to discuss your plans.
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can incur a five or six-figure bill.

    Many insurers offer travel insurance (you can find details on our insurance page of a policy that you may like to consider if you are a UK resident), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    When you purchase a policy, be sure to check that it covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Spain, but not a visa (please note, however, that a new travel authorisation system is being introduced). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • (Castilian) Spanish is one of several official languages; Catalan, Basque and Gallego have equal status in Catalonia, the Basque Country and Galicia, respectively. The currency is the Euro. Spanish time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.

    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.
  • You are the best judge of your child’s/children’s capabilities. We are happy to take bookings for families of older children/teenagers if they walk regularly, love the outdoors and are comfortable with the distances and ascent/descent involved. Please note that the bedrooms at most of the accommodation we use will normally only sleep a maximum of 3 people, and sometimes only 2.
Walking the Aracena Sierra
7 nights
Walking the Aracena Sierra
7 nights
Hotel-to-hotel walking
Grade: Easy-to-moderate
Last fetch time is : 9/15/2026 12:13:43 PM

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