Trekking and hiking in southern
Spain
Travel
Articles
With its mostly sunny weather,
the south of Spain is an ideal location for a holiday spent trekking and
hiking. Whether close to the beaches, or inland in the pretty countryside,
there are many opportunities to be had.
Before starting out, make
sure you have the correct clothing and comfortable walking shoes. Always
carry sufficient water to refresh yourself along the way, along with a
snack or two to get the energy levels up again.
The following are suggestions
for the best areas for hiking
and trekking in the south of Spain, at various levels of difficulty.
1. Caminito del Rey, El Chorro,
near Ardales, Malaga
Photo by Viajes con flow/Wikimedia
The Caminito
del Rey (The King's Little Path) was previously one of the most dangerous
hikes in the world. This was due to the sheer cliff-side drops and the
fact that whole chunks of the path were missing and there were few guide
rails to hang onto. In fact, it was closed for some time after several
people died – although some brave souls did still sneak in and attempt
it.
That has all changed after
the Junta de Andalucia performed major renovations to the route. The pathways
are fixed and handrails, stairs and bridges have been added for safety.
The caminito is around 7.7 km (just under five miles) in length and usually
takes about four hours to complete. If anyone has a fear of heights, however,
they might find the hike trying.
Of interest to note, the
Caminito del Rey was first created to allow workers access to a dam they
were building at El Chorro Falls. The dam was completed in 1905 and in
1921 King Alfonso XIII crossed the pathway to inaugurate the dam, hence
it received the royal title.
2. The Mulhacén, Sierra
Nevada
Situated in the Sierra Nevada
mountain range, close to the city of Granada stands the Mulhacén.
The mountain stands 3,479 meters (37,448 feet) in height and is the highest
peak on the Iberian Peninsula. Due to icy and snowy conditions in the winter
months, this hike is best done during the summer months and normally can
be completed in one day. The image below was taken in winter and shows
the mountain as viewed from Veleta's peak.
Photo Ismcuacor/Wikimedia
A number of trails exist
to reach the peak of the mountain, ranging in levels of difficulty. The
most difficult route is via the northern face and is best suited to experienced
mountaineers. However, the most popular, and easiest, route is up the southern
face, which only takes two hours from the Mirador de Trevélez (Trevélez
Lookout) in the Alpujarras. Whichever route you take, the views are astounding.
Of course another benefit of this trek is the chance to visit the fascinating
Moorish
buildings of Granada while you are in the area!
3. La Ruta del Salto del Cabrero,
Grazalema Natural Park
Located in the Grazalema Natural
Park in the Sierra de Cádiz mountain range, the Salto del Cabrero
route, which translates roughly in English to the "jump of the goatherd,"
is set in one of the greenest areas of Andalucia. With its verdant valleys
and rocky peaks, it is a truly beautiful landscape in which to hike.
Photo Arturoborrero/Wikimedia
The Salto de Cádiz
route is 3.3 km (2 miles) in length, there and back, and normally takes
just over two hours to complete. Bird lovers will appreciate the vultures
swooping over the area, looking for food.
Photo by Arturoborrero/Wikimedia
Enjoy these rewarding trekking
opportunities in the south of Spain. These, and many more hiking trails
are available in the region.
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