The Splendor of Southern Spain: Highlights and Secret Treasures of Andalucia

The Trip

Explore the full splendor of sunny, southern Spain in this adventure through Andalucía. White-washed hilltop villages, magnificent Moorish architecture, limestone canyons, and sparkling seas await you. Immerse yourself in local culture with tapas, paella, olive mills, and a spectacular flamenco show.

We'll head into the rolling hills in our medium-sized bus with our native Spanish guide to traverse the varied and breathtaking landscapes that line this region of southernmost Spain. Rich in history, dating back to its Muslim-ruled era in the 8th century, “Al-Andalus” is packed with secret treasures.

At the start of our trip, the Caminito del Rey (The King’s Little Path) is a spectacular and unique trail -- its walkways are built along the side of steep canyon walls (with railings), suspended 330 feet above the river below. A hike in the La Alpujarra region, on the south slopes of the Sierra Nevada, will take us through charming white villages, while the Moclin trail will delight with its waterfalls, faint prehistoric drawings, and stunning suspension bridge across the canyon.

Other highlights include famous UNESCO World Heritage sites that recognize the resplendent centuries-old Moorish architecture: Seville (Alcázar), Córdoba (Mezquite), and Granada (Alhambra).

We've planned our stay to coincide with Córdoba's annual "Fiesta of the Patios," which UNESCO has inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The city's residents decorate their home patios (inner courtyards) with arrays of plants and flowers (and sometimes dancers and musicians) and open them to visitors.

The magnificent coastal region will be highlighted when we see the ancient port city of Cadiz, the cliffs of La Breña, and the glistening Bolonia beach with the ancient Roman ruins of Baleo Claudio along its border. We'll even visit one of the handful of olive mills that make olive oil in the traditional way dating back centuries.

Day 1: Málaga 

We meet in the late afternoon for a mandatory meeting. No other activities or meals are scheduled for today. Overnight accommodations in Málaga are being provided tonight.

Day 2: Caminito del Rey to Ronda area

After an early breakfast, we depart Málaga for the unique and spectacular Caminito del Rey aerial trail, which was re-built in 2015. The trail consists of walkways suspended 300 feet above the ground, which are attached to the sheer cliff face of Gaitanejo Canyon (there are railings on the drop-off side). Lunch will follow, in the first of our trip’s white villages, Setenil de las Bodegas, famous for its dwellings built into rock overhangs. A short drive will take us into Ronda where will have time for a stroll together through town before dinner at our historic and spectacularly situated accommodation at the Parador, our home for two nights. 

Meals included: B/L/D.

Hiking: 5 miles + town; Elevation change: +400 feet.

Day 3: Ronda and Cueva de la Pileta

After breakfast we will walk out from our hotel and descend into the dramatic El Tajo gorge to the Tajo de Ronda y Molinos de Batán loop hiking trail. A highlight of this trail is the arched Puente Nuevo bridge, which spans the 390-foot-deep canyon and took 34 years to build, beginning in 1759. We drive to the Cueva de la Pileta (Cave of the Pool), and have a picnic lunch, before our guided tour of the cave and its Paleolithic paintings dating from 20,000 years BC to 4,000 years BC. We will then return to our hotel in Ronda, where there will be free time to explore the town before we head off to dinner at a local restaurant.

Meals included: B/L/D.

Hiking: 5 miles + town; Elevation change: +/- 800 feet.

Day 4: Grazalema and Vejer de la Frontera

A tour of an historic olive mill, built and owned by the same family since 1755, is our first stop after breakfast. This is one of a handful of Spanish olive mills that manufactures olive oil in the centuries-old traditional way. After our tour, we will hike the Puerto de las Paloma in Parque Natural Sierra de Grazalema, a spectacular panoramic loop offering nearly 360-degree vistas of the surrounding towns and olive groves.

On to have lunch in the village of Grazalema, famed for its whitewashed homes and cobbled streets -- but we get there by exiting our bus in the last mile into town so we can better savor the sights on foot. This afternoon our destination is one of Spain’s most beautiful white villages, Vejer de la Frontera, our home for the next three nights. On the way, we have a short visit in Arcos de la Frontera, another of the picturesque small white villages of the Andulucían hillside that is situated atop a rocky limestone ridge. Dinner will be a special Moroccan-style meal in the Moorish courtyard of our small hotel, set among group of buildings from the 10th to the 16th centuries, evoking the exotic feel of Morocco itself.

Meals included: B/L/D.

Hiking: 3.5 miles + village walks; Elevation change: +160 feet/-160 feet.

Day 5: Cadiz and Vejer de la Frontera

Today we visit the nearby ancient port city of Cadiz. Founded in 1100 B.C. by Phoenician sailors, it one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Western Europe. In the 16th century it was a bustling port used as a base for exploration and trade; today it is the home of the Spanish Navy. Our visit will include a walking tour of the city, including the 18th-century cathedral, which combines baroque, rococo, and neo-classical designs; and a visit to the famous fish market, with a large section of tapas-type stalls surrounding it, where many wonderful lunch options are available. There will be some free time in Cadiz to explore its historic plazas and streets, before we head back to Vejer and have dinner together at a local restaurant.

Meals included: B/D. (Lunch is on your own.)

Hiking: Walking tour of city; Elevation change: n/a.

Day 6: Coastal day, Roman ruins – Vejer de la Frontera

After breakfast, we begin the day with a coastal walk in a pine forest, along the 300-foot-high La Breña cliffs within the Barbate Coastal Natural Park. One of the highlights here will be the Tajo Watchtower, built in 1585, one of many such picturesque towers along the coast.

A drive along the coast will take us to Bolonia beach and Baelol Claudia, a prosperous ancient Roman fishing village (dating back to the 2nd centure BC) and trade link across the Straits of Gibraltar. After lunch at one of the small seaside restaurants next to the ruins on Bolonia beach, there will be time to enjoy this stunning seascape on your own. You can walk along the large expanse of sandy coastline to the east, hike up the large sand dune at the western end, or swim in the sea -- or just relax, enjoy the view, and listen to the waves. After returning to Vejer later in the afternoon, dinner is on your own with many wonderful choices right outside our hotel around the old historic plaza.

Meals included: B/L. (Dinner is on your own.)

Hiking: 3 miles (plus optional along beach); Elevation change: slight.

Day 7: Travel to Seville 

After breakfast we say goodbye to Vejer as we head inland to the famous town of Seville, the capital of Andalucía, for two nights. En route we will stop for a short walk through the marshes of Brazo del Este, on the edge of Doñana National Park. This region been named a Special Protection Area of Birds (ZEPA) in 2002 due to its importance to aquatic birds such as egrets, herons, ducks, and many other types of birds, including the purple swamp hen (possibly the most abundant population in Europe).

After lunch in Seville, we go on a walking tour of the city, then enjoy some time relaxing before venturing out together for a tapas dinner.

Meals included: B/L/D.

Hiking: 1-2 miles + Seville; Elevation change: slight.

Day 8: Seville

The morning and lunch are at your leisure in Seville before we meet up for guided tours of two UNESCO Word Heritage sites: Seville’s cathedral and the Alcázar of Seville. The cathedral, the third largest church in the world, was built between 1403-1507 -- destroying the site of a 13th century mosque, but retaining its Patio de los Naranjos (the Orange Court) and Giralda tower, which survive today. The cathedral is renowned for holding the massive tomb of Christopher Columbus. The Alcázar was a royal place, built in the 14th century on the site of a Moorish fortress. It is a pre-eminent example of Mudéjar style architecture, with famed majolica and arista tiles. In the early evening we will attend a flamenco show, then enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Meals included: B/D. (Lunch is on your own.)

Hiking: city walking; Elevation change: n/a.

Day 9: Córdoba 

Córdoba -- which has the most UNESCO World Heritage sites (noted below with astericks) of any city in the world -- is our destination today. A guided tour of the Mezquita*, one of the world’s greatest works of Islamic architecture, is one of the highlights of our trip. It's notable for having a cathedral built in the center of it in the 16th century. Lunch will be at a local restaurant and our walking tour of the historic city*, including the old Jewish Quarter, will be enhanced by the annual Festival of Patios*, which celebrates the art of elaborately decorating courtyards (patios) with hundreds of very colorful flowers and plants. This annual event, begun in 1918, was inscribed on UNESCO’s list of intangible Heritage of Humanity since 2012. Patios are open during the day and evening, so dinner and the evening are on your own to wander through the town and visit more patios at your leisure.

Please note the dates of the Festival of Patios can vary each year. We hope to be in Cordoba either during or shortly after the conclusion of this Festival. Regardless, Cordoba has many wonderful, colorful patios on view, especially in Spring.

Meals included: B/L. (Dinner is on your own.)

Hiking: city walking; Elevation change: n/a.

Day 10: Alcalá la Real, hiking the Moclin route and Granada 

After breakfast we say goodbye to Córdoba and head to the town of Alcalá la Real for a tour of the Fortaleza de la Mota, a castle and fort that date back to the 13th-14th centuries. Next is the Moclin route -- we'll just hike the scenic downhill part of this loop trail, taking us into and along the Tajos de la Hoz gorge to find a nice spot to enjoy our packed lunch. Along the way, we might be able to see faint historic rock art. We'll likely be reminded of our Caminito del Rey walk, as we continue onto a short stretch of an aerial walkway with its swaying bridge, built into the side of the gorge. We exit by waterfalls to meet back with our bus for our onward journey to Granada. Arriving in the afternoon, we will explore the Albaicin Arab Quarter and enjoy dinner and sunset together on a traditional patio. 

Meals included: B/L/D.

Hiking: 3 miles; Elevation change: -1,300 feet.

Day 11: Granada to Lanjarón

Our morning will be spent in Granada with a guided visit to the spectacular Moorish Alhambra and Generalife Palaces and gardens, UNESCO World Heritage sites constructed between 1238-1358. Lunch is at your leisure today and there will be some time to explore this city on your own. After we travel to a lovely family-built and -owned traditional hotel, in the town of Lanjarón, for the next two nights. Dinner will be at our hotel.

Meals included: B/D. (Lunch is on your own.)

Hiking: city walking; Elevation change: n/a.

Day 12: Hiking through villages and Lanjarón

This morning our bus takes us to the start of our hike in the Poqueira Gorge, in the Las Alpujarras region of Granada. Our circular route traverses three white villages, starting in Bubión, then heading uphill briefly to reach Capileira, and then heading across the gorge and back over to the village of Pampaneira for lunch. We will have a little time to visit the town before returning to Lanjarón, a picturesque town somewhat off the tourist trail. This will be a great opportunity to wander around a typical Spanish town without too many tourists, and see lots of old and decorative fountains along its streets. Our farewell dinner will be held at our hotel.

Meals included: B/L/D.

Hiking: 4-5 miles; Elevation change: +600 feet/-1,600 feet; Total bus: 1 hour 40 minutes.

Day 13: Travel to Málaga

Alas, today we end our trip together after breakfast. Our bus will take us back to Málaga, offering few drop-off points, including the central downtown area, the main railway station, and the airport. More details will be given by the trip leader at sign up.

Meals: Breakfast only.

Please note: All hiking distance and elevation gains listed are approximations. The itinerary is subject to change if conditions demand.

Getting There

The trip begins and ends in Málaga. Its airport is served by direct flights from New York City area airports, major cities in Spain, and other European cities. The airport is a short distance from the city center and easily accessible via public transport or taxi. 

Spain has an extensive rail system, including high-speed rail. So a direct flight into Madrid from the U.S., then taking a scenic, high-speed train ride to Málaga (2 hours and 45 minutes) is also an option.

Please do not make nonrefundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

We will be staying in a variety of accommodations, including lovely hotels, a historic countryside, a unique hotel with Arabic ambiance, a small boutique, and family-run hotels. Some of our accommodations will have expansive gardens, others intimate courtyards. Lodging is double-occupancy with an en-suite bath for each room. Solo travelers will be provided a roommate unless they request and pay for a single.

The food in southern Spain is delicious, with an emphasis on fish and shellfish, pork and ham, tapas and -- especially in Vejer -- Moorish dishes. Vegetarian meals can be provided on request. Most meals are included as noted on the day-by-day itinerary.

Trip Difficulty

This is a hiking trip for fit people who walk or hike regularly, and is not recommended for those with a fear of heights. There are two hikes that include fixed suspended walkways attached to cliffs, with railings on the drop-off side. They are suspension bridges that can sway when you walk across them.

Many town streets are cobblestone and steep. The day-by-day itinerary gives approximations of hiking distances (excluding walks in cities) and elevation gains and losses.

Equipment and Clothing

No special equipment is necessary for this trip. A detailed packing list will be sent to each participant. This trip does encompass hikes up to approximately 5 miles, so plan to bring good quality, broken-in hiking shoes that are suitable for both hiking and walking around town on cobblestone streets. You do not need heavy-duty hiking boots. Hiking poles are recommended.

References

Books:

• Brenan, Gerald, South of Granada. 1957.

• Menocalm, María Rosa, The Ornament of the World: How Muslims, Jews and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain. 2003.

• Downey, Kirstin, Isabella, The Warrior Queen. 2014. 

• Jacobs, Michael, Between Hopes and Memories: A Spanish Journey. 1994.

• Hemmingway, Ernest, For Whom the Bell Tolls. 1940.

• Pitt-Rivers, Julian, People of the Sierra. 1972.

• Steves, Rick, Snapshot Sevilla, Granada and Andalucia 2022

• Clark, Gregor and Duncan Garwood, Lonely Planet Andalucía 10. Travel Guide.

• Rough Guides, The Rough Guide to Andalucía 2023

Documentaries:

• PBS – “The Ornament of the World” 1hr 55 min (based on book above)

• PBS – “Cities of Light: The Rise and Fall of Islamic Spain”

Conservation

The Sierra Club is an environmentally focused organization, concerned about conservation and sustainability of resources, locally and globally. The National and International Outings Program encourages grassroots involvement and seeks to empower participants toward understanding environmental concerns at home and abroad.

Spain, like many countries, is being particularly hard hit by climate change with soaring temperature, drought, and devastating forest fires; Andalucía is particularly affected. We will discuss these issues along with some regulations Spain is enacting to reduce emissions. Some of this will be very visible, such as the numerous wind farms and solar panels; others may not, such as regulations on non-residential thermostat temperature settings for both A/C and heating.

Some of the areas we will visit will be protected areas. We will discuss these, including the flora and fauna being protected, in more detail.

Evacuation and Travel Insurance

The Sierra Club provides evacuation insurance to all participants on international trips. Since this coverage does not include any trip cancellation or interruption insurance, we suggest you purchase another policy separately to provide coverage for your trip and other travel costs. This policy also does not cover pre-trip and post-trip travel. Please note the evacuation insurance provided does not cover claims resulting from any pre-existing condition that occurs within 60 days of the trip departure. If you have specific questions about this exclusion, please review the insurance brochure. For information on purchasing a separate policy, please see our travel insurance page.