Andalusia – from Ronda to Gibraltar

1 novembeR: FLIGTH TO MALAGA AND TRANSFER TO Ronda

Meeting at the airport, departure for Malaga and then we take a bus to Ronda, a splendid town among the oldest in Spain, perched on a 100m deep gorge. We arrive in the early afternoon, we have a few hours to wander the streets of the historic center. Then dinner and overnight stay.

2 november: Ronda – Montejaque

After breakfast, we say goodbye to Ronda and descend into the valley along the Via Serrana, a side path of the Camino de Santiago that will take us to the magnificent mountain village of Montejaque. We walk on hillsides amidst olive groves, vegetable gardens and small sheep and other livestock farms. The stage is not too long but very pleasant, the arrival in Montejaque is spectacular! Hotel accommodation, dinner and overnight stay.
12,4km, 4h walking time, height difference up/down +397/-450m

3 november: Montejaque – Cortes de la Frontera

Breakfast. Today the trail climbs gently to the Libar Plain, under imposing cliffs where vultures find a home and dozens circle silently in the sky. We then continue along a long, fairly flat stretch of immense cultivated fields, cow farms, then a short climb takes us to a solitary saddle under the Sierra de los Pinos and from here begins the descent to the village of Cortes de la Frontera.
Dinner at the hotel and overnight stay.
19,9km, 6h walking time, height difference up/down +584/-641m

4 november: Cortes de la Frontera – El Colmenar

Breakfast. A magnificent stage that begins by descending into the valley towards the village of Cañada del Real Tesoro, we then continue on dirt tracks inside fields and farms, and then continue along a coast of a rugged valley where the Guadiaro torrent flows below. We descend sharply until we reach the level of the river that we cross on a bridge that takes us to the other bank. We are inside the Canyon de las Buitreras, we climb steeply up the slope and when we reach the top a wonderful landscape opens up: the canyon widens slightly, hundreds of vultures circle above us and descending again towards the river we arrive at El Colmenar, a tiny but charming village that will welcome us tonight! Dinner at the hotel and overnight stay.
16km, 5h30min walking time, height difference up/down +403/-770m

5 november: El Colmenar – Jimena de la Frontera

Breakfast. Today’s stage begins uphill on green hills with wide views. Then we gradually descend in altitude and we see the Mediterranean Sea and the Rock of Gibraltar on the horizon, our final destination! We continue through beautiful agricultural plots, we pass through a lively town (San Pablo de Buceite) where we can stop for a beer! We finish with the last kilometers to Jimena de La Frontera, a beautiful “Pueblo Blanco” perched on a steep mountain ridge. We stay in a wonderful B&B run by only women! Dinner in a restaurant and overnight stay.
19,3km, 6h15min walking time, height difference up/down +450m/-579m

6 november: Jimena de la Frontera – Castellar Viejo de la Frontera

After breakfast we set off on this long stage, which is almost all flat except for the last stretch that takes us to Castellar Viejo. We follow the dirt road along the railway line, which cuts through huge cotton fields. Castellar Viejo de la Frontera is a small and picturesque medieval village located on a hill, overlooking the agricultural plain on one side and an artificial lake on the other. We sleep in the castle that today is transformed into a modern hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
21,2km, 5h45min walking time, height difference up/down +250m/-117m

7 november: Castellar Viejo de la Frontera – San Roque – La Linea de la Conception

Breakfast. We leave our castle and go down to the village of Castellar Nuevo. From here we take sandy paths inside a wonderful forest of maritime pines. It is a beautiful stretch, solitary and meditative. Leaving this enchanted forest, we continue towards San Roque, now the Rock of Gibraltar is ever closer, you can see the port of Algeciras and the sea… In San Roque, an urban center of 30,000 inhabitants we make a beer stop that marks the end of our walks. In the late afternoon we take the bus that takes us to La Linea de la Conception, a town on the border with Gibraltar. Arrival at the hotel, dinner in a typical restaurant and overnight stay.
21,2km, 6h45min walking time, height difference up/down +383m/-549m

8 november: gibraltar rock!

Breakfast. Our hotel is 400m from the border with Gibraltar, which is still a UK territory and you will therefore have to go through customs and a PASSPORT is required to enter this small stretch of land. We then enter a new “nation” and take the bus to the departure of the famous cable car that takes us to the top of the rock of Gibraltar. A friendly colony of macaques lives here, funny and clever animals (watch out for your backpacks, they have learned to open the zips and rummage around looking for food!). A pedestrian path takes us to the top of this incredible cliff that drops vertically into the sea. The view is simply breathtaking, just 13km from the sea you can see the coasts of Morocco with the Rif Mountains, the entire Gulf of Algeciras and the confluence of the Mediterranean with the Atlantic Sea. There is a glass Skywalk built on the void, there are several military posts with cannons from the English Royal Naval Army. We also visit St. Michael’s Cave, an incredible wonder of nature with gigantic stalagmites. We walk down from the Rock to the town, and stroll along Main Street, Gibraltar’s shopping and entertainment road that takes us to the border, and back to our hotel in Spain!
Dinner in a restaurant on the seafront, overnight stay.
IMPORTANT: entry and visit to Gibraltar is only possible for those in possession of a passport (ID card NOT accepted).
If someone does not have one, they can skip the visit and have a free day at La Linea de la Conception.

9 november: transfer to Malaga airport and flight back home

Early in the morning a private bus takes us to Malaga airport. Check-in and take off for Milan (or your other destination). End of tour.

trekking guide: Marco Carletto

Note: Excursions may be modified due to bad weather or other unforeseen events.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL:

Challenging. The walk involves average distances of 17-20km with average differences in altitude of 400/500m uphill/downhill. It does not present any technical difficulty, however a bit of endurance and ability to walk long hours is required. Not suitable for beginners or those with low physical condition. You walk on average 5-6 hours a day including stops.

GROUP SIZE:

Max. 15 participants

PATH DESCRIPTION:

You walk on forest paths and dirt or country roads. In some stages there are also long stretches on asphalt (with limited or almost no traffic).

REquiRED HIKING GEAR:

Trekking boots with profiled soles, preferably ankle-high. 25-30 lt size backpack, suitable clothing with hiking pants (NO JEANS!) and technical shirts, they must be able to dry quickly.
Before departure you will receive a list of what to bring.

ClimaTE:

Ideal for hiking with pleasant and relatively warm days, highs between +18C°-20C°. Quite cool mornings and evenings. Bring some warm clothing (fleece or long-sleeved sweater, windbreaker). Possible showers or seasonal thunderstorms.