Walking in the Aracena Sierra

Choice of routes: 7.5km to 12.5km

Choice of routes: 7.5km to 12.5km

The region’s gently rolling hills are a paradise for walkers, with no shortage of easy paths through chestnut forests, cork-oak woods, farmland and peaceful river valleys. As you walk, you will get glimpses of Spanish rural life – men leading donkeys laden with vegetables and shiny chestnuts, shepherds herding goats, and farmers tending the black-footed, free-range pigs which feast at leisure on acorns.

La Peña de Arias Montano: 10km, 4hrs; longer option: 11.5km, 5hrs; ascent/descent 410m
Starting and finishing in Alájar, this route ascends to the cliff-top shrine of Peña de Arias Montano, which commands a grand bird’s-eye view of Alájar and the sierra beyond. There is an optional extension along an ancient muleteers' path to another higher viewpoint, offering further wonderful views.

Los Madroñeros circuit: 7.5km, 3hrs; ascent/descent 260m
This is another pretty walk direct from Alájar, and is shorter than the first, exploring the cultivated area to the south-east of the town, the banks of the River Antezuela and the previously abandoned hamlet of Los Madroñeros.

Linares de la Sierra circuit: 10km, 4hrs; ascent/descent 425m
Heading eastwards, you make your way to picturesque Linares de la Sierra, then loop back on a more northerly path to Alájar.

Alájar to Aracena: 12km, 5hrs; ascent 450m/descent 350m
This linear walk leads through beautiful scenery and the delightful village of Linares de la Sierra to Aracena, which you can explore before returning to Alájar by bus (pay locally).

Aracena circuit: 12.5km, 4.5hrs; ascent/descent 300m
Starting and ending in Aracena, just a short drive away, this easy route leads via the village of Corteconcepción, an ideal spot for lunch.
Sightseeing in the Aracena Sierra

Caves & timeless villages

Caves & timeless villages

In addition to being fantastic walking country, this area has much more to offer, in terms of its gastronomy, natural wonders and rich architectural heritage.

Aracena & the Cave of Wonders
The region’s main town boasts a Museum of Open-Air Sculpture (the works are displayed in several streets), a Knights Templar church, a ruined castle, a labyrinth of medieval streets and the intriguing Museo del Jamón y del Cerdo Ibérico – a museum devoted to the local ham industry. The town’s main attraction, however, is the Gruta de las Maravillas – the so-called ‘Cave of Wonders’ owing to its twelve caverns, subterranean lakes and extraordinary stalactites and stalagmites.

Traditional villages
Other villages worthy of a visit include well-preserved Linares de la Sierra (look out for the houses’ marble ‘doormats’ built into the pavements); Galaroza, an attractive hill-top village crowned by the ruins of a castle; Jabugo, centre of the local ham industry where you can buy some for picnics; picturesque Almonaster la Real, home to a bullring and Spain’s oldest mihrab in the 9th-century mosque; Cortagena, complete with a 16th-century castle and an Art Nouveau casino; and the medieval walled town of Aroche.
Seville

Discover this scintillating city

Discover this scintillating city

Just a 90-minute drive or bus ride away is Seville, the city that encapsulates the essence of southern Spain. You can stroll along the narrow streets of the Barrio de Santa Cruz, the former Jewish quarter; ascend to the top of the Giralda, an ancient minaret; and visit the Alcázar palace, built by Pedro the Cruel in 1366. (Alternatively, you can add on a city break here, to give you more time to explore.)
New Year's Eve

Mark the occasion with a celebratory meal

Mark the occasion with a celebratory meal

The highlight of the break is, of course, New Year’s Eve, when we include a gastronomic celebratory meal in the hotel dining room. This is a quiet, relaxed affair, with the emphasis on traditional, regional dishes. Afterwards, relax before a warming fire with a nightcap or wander down to the village square to share your customary uvas de la suerte (12 ‘lucky grapes’ eaten with each chime of the bell at midnight) with the villagers.

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.

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Prices (£ per person based on 2 sharing)

Walk price

4 nights: 28 December 2019 - 04 January 2020

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

Starting	Price	Single room
28 - 31 Dec 2019	£445	£115
3rd & 4th person discount	-£35
Single traveller supplement	£35

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

Price includes: 4 days' category B car hire (eg VW Polo (255, 255, 255) or similar with manual transmission)

Driving times to/from the hotel: Seville 1h45, Faro 2h30, Jerez 2h15
Please note a supplement applies if you are flying into Faro - please contact us for details.

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.

Room upgrades & extra nights

Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

Posada de San Marcos, Alájar (B&B)	Double room	Single room
28 Dec - 04 Jan 2020	£68	£94

Flight options

RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
Seville, Faro, Jerez

Travelling from the UK

Travelling from outside the UK

If you are flying from outside Europe, you may need to fly to an airport not listed. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

Outward route	Airline
Aberdeen - Faro	Ryanair, TUI

Outward route	Airline
Belfast Intl. - Faro	easyJet, TUI

Outward route	Airline
Birmingham - Faro	Flybe, jet2, Ryanair, TUI

Outward route	Airline
Bournemouth - Faro	Ryanair

Outward route	Airline
Bristol - Faro	easyJet, Ryanair, TUI
Bristol - Seville	easyJet, Ryanair

Outward route	Airline
Cardiff - Faro	Flybe, TUI

Outward route	Airline
Doncaster Sheffield - Faro	Flybe, TUI

Outward route	Airline
Nottingham East Midlands - Faro	jet2, Ryanair, TUI
Nottingham East Midlands - Seville	Ryanair

Outward route	Airline
Edinburgh - Faro	jet2, Ryanair
Edinburgh - Seville	easyJet, Ryanair

Outward route	Airline
Exeter - Faro	Flybe

Outward route	Airline
Glasgow - Faro	easyJet, jet2, TUI

Outward route	Airline
Glasgow Prestwick - Faro	Ryanair

Outward route	Airline
Inverness - Seville (via Amsterdam Schiphol)	KLM

Outward route	Airline
Leeds Bradford - Faro	jet2, Ryanair
Leeds Bradford - Seville (via Amsterdam Schiphol)	KLM

Outward route	Airline
Liverpool - Faro	easyJet, Ryanair

Outward route	Airline
London City - Faro	British Airways

Outward route	Airline
Gatwick - Faro	British Airways, easyJet, Norwegian, TUI
Gatwick - Faro (via Lisbon)	TAP Air Portugal
Gatwick - Jerez	easyJet
Gatwick - Seville	British Airways, easyJet

Outward route	Airline
Heathrow - Faro	British Airways, TAP Air Portugal
Heathrow - Faro (via Lisbon)	TAP Air Portugal
Heathrow - Seville (via Madrid)	Iberia

Outward route	Airline
Luton - Faro	easyJet, TUI
Luton - Seville	easyJet

Outward route	Airline
London Southend - Faro	easyJet

Outward route	Airline
Stansted - Faro	British Airways, jet2, Ryanair
Stansted - Jerez	Ryanair
Stansted - Seville	Ryanair

Outward route	Airline
Manchester - Faro	easyJet, jet2, Ryanair, TUI
Manchester - Jerez	easyJet
Manchester - Seville	Ryanair

Outward route	Airline
Newcastle - Faro	easyJet, jet2, Ryanair, TUI

Outward route	Airline
Newquay - Faro	Ryanair

Outward route	Airline
Norwich - Faro	Flybe

Outward route	Airline
Southampton - Faro	Flybe

Travelling from outside the UK

If you are flying from outside Europe, you may need to fly to an airport not listed. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you. We charge £30 per person for our flight booking service (£50 for India and Nepal). Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

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 >

Mr M Halsall

Kendal

29 December 2018

Holiday was just what we wanted and we actually met some old friends there. Although driving and parking in the village was very difficult.
Mr J Marsh

Altrincham

28 December 2018

This holiday could not have been more delightful. The countryside is really beautiful and unspoilt, as are the villages. We were very lucky with our weather, and had some heavenly walking. Angel and Lucy were charming hosts, and the Posada was very comfortable. And everywhere we ate delicious Spanish regional cooking at a much lower price than we would have paid to eat out in England.
Mr R Henderson

Harrogate

30 December 2017

We had four great days. We were very lucky with the weather: four days of blue skies and no wind. Could have taken shorts instead of our winter gear. The two local restaurants we went to were both good, but The Mill was very cold despite having a large open fire and patio heaters. This area is famed for its ham and pork; both were wonderful. The walking was good but some clue of what the difficulty might have been would, for some people, have been helpful. We would certainly think of going again and would recommend both the Posada and that area of Spain to others. Lucy and Angel were great and obviously passionate about their project.

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.

How do self-guided walking holidays work?

We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from hotel to hotel, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. If/when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation, meaning that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.

For more detailed information, see our walking holidays in Europe page.
Can I book my flights through Inntravel, and what’s the advantage of doing this?

We can book a wide range of airlines and routes from the UK. 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. For Europe and Morocco, there’s a £30 booking fee per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). For India and Nepal, the booking fee is £50 per person. More information on flights >
Can you book travel arrangements for customers from outside the UK?

We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted 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 >
I’m travelling alone. Is there anything I need to know?

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).
How do I make a booking?

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.
Do I need travel insurance?

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 cost tens of thousands of pounds.

You don’t have to buy our policy (if you live outside Europe you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK and EU residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.
Do I need a visa or anything health-related for Spain?

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 (if you are travelling after 31 October 2019, see the Brexit question below for more information). 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 can be found through the following NHS link: www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/advice/ You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). UK citizens should also obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) by applying at a Post Office or at www.ehic.org.uk. The EHIC allows reciprocal health care but should not be seen as a substitute for travel insurance. EHICs may cease to be valid in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
What else do I need to know about travelling to Spain?

(Castilian) Spanish is one of several official languages; in Catalonia, for example, Catalan has equal status. The currency is the Euro. Spanish time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
How does Brexit affect travel to Europe?

Even in the event of a no-deal Brexit, it’s been confirmed that flights will continue as normal and that you won’t need a visa to go on holiday (the limit on stays is 90 days). What you will need if there’s no deal is a passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of your arrival (extra months added because you renewed your passport early do not count) and adequate travel insurance to cover you for accidents and illness in case reciprocal health deals are suspended. If you are driving while on holiday, you will probably need an International Driving Permit (plus a Green Card if you are taking your own car to Europe). More information >
Where can I find general travel advice?

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) 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.
Is this holiday suitable for children?

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.

Mr M Halsall

Kendal

29 December 2018

Holiday was just what we wanted and we actually met some old friends there. Although driving and parking in the village was very difficult.

Mr J Marsh

Altrincham

28 December 2018

This holiday could not have been more delightful. The countryside is really beautiful and unspoilt, as are the villages. We were very lucky with our weather, and had some heavenly walking. Angel and Lucy were charming hosts, and the Posada was very comfortable. And everywhere we ate delicious Spanish regional cooking at a much lower price than we would have paid to eat out in England.

Mr R Henderson

Harrogate

30 December 2017

We had four great days. We were very lucky with the weather: four days of blue skies and no wind. Could have taken shorts instead of our winter gear. The two local restaurants we went to were both good, but The Mill was very cold despite having a large open fire and patio heaters. This area is famed for its ham and pork; both were wonderful. The walking was good but some clue of what the difficulty might have been would, for some people, have been helpful. We would certainly think of going again and would recommend both the Posada and that area of Spain to others. Lucy and Angel were great and obviously passionate about their project.

Miss L McFadzean

Wolverhampton

28 December 2017

Lucy and Angel made us feel very welcome and have a wonderful little get-away-from-it-all hotel. Fantastic weather and winter sun walking - couldn't recommend it more for a short break.

Mr K Honnor

Cambridge

29 December 2016

A delightful holiday - a gem of a location with superb accommodation , wonderful hosts, mouth- watering cuisine, and excellent company.

Mr K Walsh

Bishop's Stortford

We had an excellent holiday, at a lovely hotel in a small and picturesque village. Angel and Lucy (and Sophie) were the perfect hosts, producing high quality service and food with style and panache (and making it all look very easy - which it clearly wouldn't have been). We were very lucky with the weather (warm and sunny for all four days) and the walking was spectacular - though it would still have been great even if it had been cooler or even wet! New Year's eve was particularly special, with sherry tasting, ham carving and grapes at midnight! Thanks to all for looking after us so well and it would be disappointing if we are not able to arrange a return trip at some point in the future!

Stephen A, London

Excellent New Year's break in delightful surroundings with excellent hosts in Angel and Lucy. Lucy's picnics, ordered the previous evening, were by far the best we have experienced on any Inntravel holiday, and put to shame the offerings of other larger establishments. Beware, the weather was bitterly cold in the mornings and late afternoon.

Mrs S Summers

East Grinstead

26 December 2016

Highlights for us were the Wonderful friendly family hosts Angel, Lucy & their lovely daughter Sophia who really go out of their way to look after you. Hotel is in a beautiful location With the most amazing walking on the doorstep. All meals prepared by Lucy were superb & in particular on New Years eve where we were able to experience the delights of watching Angel carve a leg of ham, & to eat it whilst whilst tasting 3 different types of sherry & hearing about them to be topped off with a superb 4 course meal & all seeing in the NY together. Packed lunches provided on request by Lucy were also a real treat. Room comfortable with hot showers. Honesty bar a great idea especially as you can make tea & coffee also. A wonderful trip where despite it being winter, the weather was fantastic.

	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

New Year in the Aracena Sierra

Holiday information

A New Year break in the Aracena Sierra

Walking & more

Accommodation

Bedrooms

Extend your stay

FAQs

	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

	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

	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