Discover the nature and the mountains

Most people who visit the Costa del Sol spend their holidays on the beach, or by the pool, but hiking in Marbella and Benahavis is a wonderful way to discover the Spanish nature and to get some exercise.

Hiking routes in Benahavis, Marbella and Estepona

There are several nice hiking routes close to Quartiers Marbella Apartments. Some of them are quite easy to walk and suitable for families with children,
others are more difficult and require some hiking experience.

Hiking route Las Angosturas and the River Guadalmina in Benahavis

This is an easy hiking route with the spectacular scenery of narrow mountain passes and the river. The River Guadalmina flows across Benahavís towards the shore of the Mediterranean sea.

The route starts at the river pond, “Charco de las Mozas”, right outside Benahavis centre. It is a popular place for locals to go for a swim. From there you walk downstream the river Guadalmina until you reach the river pond “Charca de Los Tubos”. The route takes approximately 2 -3 hours and you will have to swim across the river several times. It is a one-way route as its almost impossible to walk the way upstreams. 

Hiking route along the river Padrón in Estepona

On this easy hiking route, you can follow the river until it reaches the coast. It is suitable for families as the most part goes downhill. The route takes 3 hours, but the distance is not very long. The route is very popular among the locals. To get there take the  A-7 highway exit to Escuela de Arte Ecuestre de la Costa del Sol just before Kempinski Hotel. 

La Concha Peak – Marbella

The mountain peak that is in the background on most pictures you see from Marbella is called ”La Concha”. The mountain is called ”Sierra Blanca”, the white mountain, and it belongs to the mountain range Sierra de las Nieves. These mountains are the reason why the microclimate in Marbella is considered to be the very best in all Europe, with mild winters and cool summers, that is if you compare with the rest of southern Spain where the summer temperatures are much higher. The hiking routes are not very easy, but still very popular. You can start from Marbella, from Juanar in Ojen or from Istan.

Refugio and Cruz de Juanar in Ojen – Hiking Costa del Sol

This route offers the best views you can imagine off the coast. It goes uphill and might not be the best choice if you bring children. The hiking route starts at the Hotel Refugio de Juanar that is located in the mountains behind Marbella. From the centre of Marbella, there is a 10 miles drive to get there. The route takes around 3,5 hours and the walking distance is 5 miles. There is an alternative route that is much easier and suitable for children. It also starts at the Refugio de Juanar leading trough forest and olive plantations to a panoramic viewpoint. 

El Torcal de Antequera – Hiking in a spectacular karst landscape

El Torcal de Antequera is a limestone rock environment more than 200 million years old, which originated from the accumulation and deposition of marine sediments sensitive to erosion, wind, snow and rain. It has been moulded by nature for several hundred million years. There are many different routes and paths, suitable for everyone. 

The drive from Quartiers Marbella Apartments to El Torcal in Antequera is slight over 70 miles and takes more than 1,5 hours, but the experience is worth it. The natural park offers free and guides visits. http://www.torcaldeantequera.com/en/  

El Caminito del Rey – Desfiladero de los Gaitanes Natural Park

Do you want to visit one of the most spectacular places in southern Spain? Until 2015 El Caminito del Rey was considered one of the most dangerous in the world. Today it is completely safe to visit, but still, it is an exciting challenge to walk along the 300-meter high mountain wall with scaring deep gorges under your feet. https://www.quartiersmarbella.com/excursions/el-caminito-del-rey/

Are you ready for a hike on Costa del Sol?