Walking

Taking a well earned rest from hiking in the mountains © Michelle Chaplow
Taking a well earned rest from hiking in the mountains near Grazalema

Walking in Andalucia

The landscapes of rural Andalucía are breathtaking and one of the best ways to appreciate their diversity and beauty is on foot. However it is sometimes hard to determine exactly where a path is located and if there is a public right of way. There are designated footpaths, as well as those inside the national and natural parks, however it can be disconcerting to find yourself suddenly in a field and surrounded by bulls or wandering though an area which has apparently been designated for hunting purposes. Private hunting land occurs throughout Andalucía, usually marked by little diagonal black-and-white signs, often near ‘Coto privada’ or ‘Coto de caza’ (hunting) signs, but if there’s a marked path (and you’re not hunting illegally), you are generally allowed to use it.

Most tourist leaflets for walks look exciting but lack enough detail to follow a trail confidently. The same applies to roadside signboards and maps. Websites such as Wikilocks are a good source of  downloadable waypoints. 

If you're interested in staying in areas which are ideal for hiking, trekking and designated walking routes, or just finding your own path, consult our walking hotels page.

Mount Mulhacen

Read our concise guide to walking the highest mountain in mainland Spain, Mt. Mulhacen. There are a number of different routes up the mountain, from a challenging walk to a more technical climb. Take a look at our Mt. Mulhacen Guide.

The Senda Litoral de Malaga (Malaga Coastal Path) is a projected 160 km path following the entire coast of Malaga province from Manilva to Nerja. Once completed, this long-distance path will be a… More →

The Caminito del Rey is a cliff-side path hanging 100m above the waters of the river Guadalhorce reservoir, as it runs through the famous beauty spot; El Chorro Gorge, near the villages of El… More →

Nearly a fifth of Andalucia is protected, the largest proportion of an autonomous region in Spain, reflecting the unspoilt nature of its countryside and the high ecological importance of its… More →

The Gran Senda de Malaga (Great Malaga path) is a long distance footpath that encircles the entire province of Malaga. It has been given the footpath number GR-249 and is divided into 35 stages… More →

The Vía de La Plata is an ancient commercial and pilgrimage path that crosses the west of Spain from north to south, connecting Mérida to Astorga. An extended form begins further south in Seville… More →

The Camino Mozárabe de Santiago is marked footpath route which serves as way for walkers of pilgrims from parts of Andalucia (other than Sevilla) to join the Via de la Plata or Ruta de la Plata at… More →

Spain´s Vías Verdes (railway paths) are one of Andalucia´s lesser known rural attractions and a great way to discover the countryside off the sometimes well-beaten track. In the 1960s the Spanish… More →

Andalucia is covered with what are known as Vías Pecuarias. They are a network of paths or trails that have been used in prior times traditionally to transport livestock to and from pastureland… More →

Walking is one of the very best ways to discover this beautiful region of Southern Spain, Andalucia. The late Guy Hunter-Watts offerd us a selection of his favourite walks in Andalucia. They are… More →

The letters GR stand for "Gran Recorrido" (Long Journey). The GR7 is the footpath through Andalucia, which forms part of the European Route No. 4. The route is made up of itineraries, which are… More →

Day Hike in Marbella

Day Hike in Marbella
Day Hike in Marbella

Discover Andalusia’s beautiful nature, the hidden Hinterland, deep valleys, green hills and forests, flowers and wildlife, amazing rock formations, spectacular views over the southern coast and over to Africa. You learn about the history of the region as we walk through the white villages, visit Moorish castles, roman ruins, prehistorical caves... Only by walking you get to know the "real Andalusia". We walk in very small groups of maximum 8 walkers plus your personal guide, it is like walking in a friends group. At the end of the walk we generally have some tapas in a village bar on the square (not included) and enjoy watching the laid back life of the villagers.

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Walking Guide by Towns

Walking guide books by Guy Hunter Watts

Buy walking guide books by Guy Hunter Watts

"Walking in Andalucia" by Guy Hunter Watts

Cicerone Walking in Andalucía is a 260 page full colour guide to some of the very best walks in southern Spain, taking the walker on 34 routes - all starting and most finishing in beautiful villages - in the Natural Parks of Grazalema, La Alpujarra, Cazorla, Los Alcornocales, Aracena, and La Axarquia. Many of the full and half day walks are virtually unknown even though they are a short drive from the Costa del Sol. Even though more and more people are beginning to walk Spain's southern sierras, most of the routes remain blissfully undiscovered. Guy says, 'If you decide to head for the hills with my guide you can be sure of two things: you will be walking through areas of great natural beauty and you will meet with other walkers.'  
Buy a printed or eBook copy online direct from publishers Walking in Andalucia.

 

"Coastal walks in Andalucia" by Guy Hunter Watts

Coastal walks  in Andalucia 45 great coastal walks close to Andalucia's Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. Discover the best hiking trails close to Vejer, Caños de Meca, Conil, Tarifa, Bolonia, Gibraltar, Casares, Estepona, Marbella, Istán, Mijas, Benalmádena, Alhaurín, Cómpeta, Fuengirola, Nerja, Maro and Almuñecar. Talk to most people about the coast of Andalucía and they’ll picture the small swathe of seaboard that runs from Torremolinos to Estepona, the heartland of what is commonly sold as the Costa del Sol. First associations are of crowded beaches, busy coastal roads and blocks of holiday apartments. Few amongst them will conjure up visions of the mighty chain of mountains, the tail end of the Sierra Subbética, which rises up a few kilometres back from the sea. Nor do they tend to evoke the wilder beaches of the Costa de la Luz or the footpaths that run just a few metres from the Atlantic surf.
Buy a printed or eBook copy online direct from publishers Coastal Walks in Andalucia.

 

"The Andalucian coast to coast walk " by Guy Hunter Watts

coast to coast walk A stunning 21 day, 435 kilometre trail that links the Mediterranean with the Atlantic. The walk passes through six of Andalucia's Natural Parks and protected areas via its most beautiful mountain villages. Far more than a long walk, this on-foot odyssey can lead you to the heart of southern Spain's magnificent sierras and on a life-changing journey of discovery. One of the best things about the simple act of walking is the sense of reconnecting with Nature and the Big Wide World. We've been moving around on two feet for a very long time yet still, in the simple act of putting one foot in front of the next and moving across landscape, it seems that we reassert our identity. Day to day worries fall into insignificance, or rather true significance, when we get out into the mountains and walking is about a lot more than taking exercise.
Buy a printed or eBook copy online direct from publishers The Andalucian Coast-to-coast Walk.

 

"Walking the Mountains of Ronda and Grazalema" by Guy Hunter Watts

Cicerone The dramatically situated town of Ronda can make a great base for a walking holiday in the mountains of Andalucía, as can any one of the picturesque 'pueblos blancos' (white villages) that nestle among the surrounding hills. This guidebook presents 32 mainly circular walks in the Ronda region, covering the town and its environs, the Natural Parks of La Sierra de Grazalema and La Sierra de las Nieves (both UNESCO biosphere reserves), and the Genal and Guadiaro Valleys. Clear route description is illustrated with mapping, and the route summary table and 'at a glance' information boxes make it easy to choose the right walk.
Buy a printed or eBook copy online direct from publishers Walking the Mountains of Ronda and Grazalema.