The Sierra de Málaga has always been very rich in gastronomic products and spectacular landscapes. Very crowded on weekends, many Andalusians go to the towns to enjoy a day in contact with nature and local cuisine.
After the creation of the Caminito del Rey as an official Andalusian Tourism route, the nearby towns experienced a flood of tourists, curious outsiders who, attracted by the Caminito, discovered beautiful towns with much to enjoy.
If you plan a one-day visit or a weekend getaway in the Sierra de Málaga, you must take into account the towns that we detail below.
Just 5 km from the Caminito, it is one of the towns that we highly recommend.
The town is known for the beautiful cave of Ardales that can be visited (by appointment), it has a route of 1.5 km. Inside, unique paintings are preserved, representing 56 animals from the Solutrean era, 20,000 years BC, as well as an important Neolithic site. Declared a National Monument in 1931. Its discovery took place in 1821, thanks to a great earthquake that opened an access, the current gateway to the chasm.
How to book your visit:
Cueva de Ardales (Málaga-Spain): A Landmark of Andalusian Prehistory.
It is essential to bring field or sport shoes, with rubber soles (which do not slip).
Price: €5 children between 8 and 12 years old. €15 for all people over 12 years old.
The appointment with the guide is at the Ardales Prehistory Center (Avenida de Málaga nº 1), here the visit begins with the first explanations and the Center is toured, then with your own vehicle you follow the guide until you reach the cavity ( to 4 km).
In the main square, you can enjoy the true cuisine of the Sierra in the Juan Vera Restaurant , dishes such as goat stew, oxtail and grilled meats.
Restaurant Juan Vera
Address: C. Andrade Navarrete, 9, 29550 Ardales, Malaga
Telephone: 952 45 82 49
Other articles:
Find out more about the Caminito del Rey
How to book, how to get there, types of visits, etc.
Our next town is even closer to the Caminito.
As well as Ardales, the town of Álora is located very close to El Chorro, a unique spot in the Sierra de Guadalhorce.
The landscape of the municipality of Álora is characterized by two very different environments. On the one hand, the Guadalhorce Valley, dominated by the Guadalhorce river and on the other, the mountains of the ‘Betic System’. The Guadalhorce Valley is characterized by the cultivation of citrus fruits and Aloreña olives that offer the visitor a spectacular landscape of our nature.
In Álora you can visit the Convent of Nuestra Señora de las Flores, the Castle of Álora or the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación. Located in the Plaza Baja de la Despedía, the church is the third largest in the entire province. Its construction lasted almost a century, between 1600 and 1699.
Local Gastronomy
As in Ardales, it has many lollipop restaurants. Casa Abílio and Asador Don Joaquin are two of the many restaurants in the area that you will love.
Abilio House
Address: Cjon. Padilla, 1, 29500 Alora, Malaga
Telephone: 952 49 83 91
Don Joaquin Grill
Address: A-7077, 29560 Pizarra, Malaga
Telephone: 952 48 46 94
The town that we highlight below is one of those that we also recommend visiting and is close to the Caminito del Rey area.
Located between the towns of Álora and Ardales , the town of Carratraca It stands out for the sulfurous waters with healing properties that emanate in the town and called the attention of the Romans, who left copper and silver coins with effigies of Tiberius, Claudius and Caesar in the site known as “La Glorieta”, and a necropolis. late Roman in Los Maderos, near the Las Cañas stream.
With this, the Carratraca Baths have been created, located in the center of the town and is a reference for health tourism. At the moment it is under restoration.
Local gastronomy. Among the great gastronomic offer, we highlight some typical dishes of the area
There are still many towns to visit near the Caminito del Rey, we end up here!
