WALKING IN RONDA
A walk on the wild side in the Ronda Mountains...
Walking the trails of the Ronda mountains (aka Serrania de Ronda), in the south of Spain, can be wild and exhilarating. There are huge areas of seemily unspoilt countryside, along quiet, barron roads.
Hiking The Alto Genal Valley
Hotel Los Castaños is located in the small mountain village of Cartajima in the middle of the little-known Alto Genal valley. It is one of the few remaining pristine hiking areas in the south of Spain. You won’t find it on most maps but it is a natural spectacle!
The area around Hotel Los Castaños is called the Alto Genal valley, a paradise for walkers. Quiet trails connect seven tiny pueblos blancos and we provide detailed walking notes. Our guests seldom encounter another person on the trails.
Walking Around Cartajima
Cartajima is 17 km from Ronda, Andalucia and we have devised a great walk around the town and in the streets of this ancient and fascinating town.
We also have routes in the Sierra de la Nieves, one of Spain’s least known but most spectacular natural parks. It has amazingly diverse flora and fauna, dramatic changes of landscape, stunning views down to the Mediterranean, and intriguing Civil War ruins. Also, should it interest you, some of the deepest caves in the world.
Details of Our Hikes
Most of our hikes are circular, involve descents and ascents totalling between 200 and 700 metres. Some start from the hotel door, others involve a short drive. They vary from two to six hours, easy to moderate in difficulty. They are self-guided and we offer a collection service should it be needed. We also offer guided walking holidays. For the most part the walks are on tracks and defined footpaths.
We provide detailed, up-to-date notes for the following walks:
- A Little Loop – 30 minutes
- Cartajima to Juzcar – 1 hour each way
- Cartajima to Parauta – 1 hour 15 mins each way
- Cartajima to Pujerra – 1 hour 30 mins each way
- Cartajima to Parauta to Igualeja to Cartajima – 16 km, 5 hours roughly
- Cartajima to Pujerra to Juzcar to Cartajima – 16 km, 5 hours roughly
- Los Riscos – From the car park 1 hour 30 mins
- A wander around Ronda – 3 hours
- Over the mountain to Ronda – 12 km, 4-5 hours
- Sierra de las Nieves – 4 hours walking. 40 min drive each way
- Caminito del Rey (reservation required) – 1 hour 15 min drive each way, 3 hours walking.
When is the best time to walk the Serrania de Ronda?
Actually any time except for July and August when it might be a bit hot for most people. Every season offers different wonders: Spring brings wild flowers and migrating birds; early summer, the chestnuts flower and a musky scent fills the air; in Autumn the sweet chestnut trees (los castaños) go through a spectacular palette of red and gold. And winter walking in the Ronda area can be marvellous, not too cold and often with brilliant skies when you can see as far as Africa and the Rif mountains of Morocco.
“…holiday packed with interest, suitably challenging walks and superb scenery, and underpinned with a sustaining support system of excellent quality and friendly delivery.”John Pickering, UK
