Places of interest

ZAHARA - GARGANTA SECA - PUERTO DE LA BREÑA

There is a route which starts from Zahara and it leads to Puerto de la Breña. This route also leads to the exit of Garganta Verde. After crossing the area of vegetable gardens that there are in these places, you will reach the bridge that crosses over the Bocaleones river. From here, the path starts to be inclined and Garganta Seca can be seen on the left. Just enjoy the landscape! This route takes five hours.

Starting point: Zahara
Difficulty level: Fácil

ZAHARA - LA GARGANTA VERDE - ZAHARA

Location
"Ermita de la Garganta" is 5 kilometres away from Puerto de los Acebuches. It is located in CA 531 Zahara-Grazalema. What most appeals to the visitor's eye may be the topography, since the visitor does not expect what they are going to see: An impressive canyon that gets narrower as you get closer and that forms natural walls up to 200 metres of drop. "Ermita de la Garganta" is a grotto carved into the rock where the passage of time and geological phenomena have created stalagmites and stalactites in several tonalities that produce wonderful lights and shadows-effects. From this point and on it is necessary to continue the route by using ropes. This is strictly necessary to cross the vertical walls that you will find until the arrival at the source of the Bocaleones river. The river is located on the opposite side to the starting point.

Artificial works:
At the beginning of the route, we can see the “Pilar”. It was formerly the only water supply for animals and for people who lived nearby. "Pozo del Retamalejo" is approximately 1 km away. From this point we can see the hut located in Puertecillo that was used as a warehouse in order to put carbon and tools inside. Following the access route of the Ermita, we find some steps that have been made by hitting a stone with a chisel (this stone usually hindered the passage to people). After this, we see a handmade handrail used to facilitate the descent.

Route:
High: 435 metres above sea level (Ermita). Length: Zahara (520) - Pto. Acebuches (825) 5 Km. Pto. Acebuches-Garganta 2 Km. Total of distance: 14 Km. Round trip. Views: Cañá Verde, Camilla, Los Pilones, Tarama rilas Cambroneras (vultures nest) Transport: From Zahara to Puerto Acebuches: by car; by bike, by walk, by horse, etc. If you go to the Ermita, you can go by foot.

Duration:
Drop: 1h 15' Ascent: 1h 30'

Difficulty level:
High. Advisable from 7 years and up. Small groups.

Wildlife:
Griffon vultures, weasels, rabbits, common genets, eagles, hawks, foxes, reptiles, badgers, crows, cows, swifts, red-billed choughs, bats, owls, etc..

Flora:
Asphodels, clematis flamula, cornicabra, roman acanthus, candlesticks, phlomis purpurea (matagallo), rue, ferns, grey-leaved cistus, ivy, oleander, esparto, alcanduecas, carob, wild olive, mastic, viburnum tinus, gall oak, olive, sabino (taxodium huegelii), holm oak, barberry, laurel, etc. There are two cross between two of these trees: Hybrid (cornicabra with mastic tree) and mesto (gall oak and holm oak).

Natural values:
ERMITA AND PUÑO. The canyon directly leads to the grotto. It is a slit which seems a natural half of an orange caused by streams of water. It is enormous and its pink and greenish mouth is 30 metres high and 25 metres wide. It has stalagmites and stalagmites inside and also different "piletas" (pools) with water that falls from the roof of the cave due to the process of filtration. It is possible to drink from them. The name of Ermita came from the altar that there is inside. You can see a stone wall 1 km away on the right once you cross the Ermita and the Garganta. This wall looks just like a closed fist. This effect is due to the erosion of water and wind.

Comments:
Permission and guidance is needed. It is necessary to call before to confirm routes. Open during the year, except for rainy days and after a rainy day.

Starting point: Zahara
Time: 1.5 h
Distance: 14 km
Difficulty level: Advanced

ZAHARA - GARGANTA VERDE (advanced level)

The itinerary starts at kilometre 8 of the Zahara-Grazalema road. It ends approximately 5 kilometres from Zahara along the Bocaleones lane. On the way down, you can see the north face of Sierra del Pinar. There is a path to get down to the Ermita. This path is perfectly visible if you take a look at the mountains walls. In Ermita de la Garganta there is a cave that have been carved into the rock. The passage of time, geological phenomena and stalactites and stalagmites have produced a curious and beautiful effect of lights and shadows. From this point on it is necessary to continue the route by using ropes. This is strictly necessary in order to cross the vertical walls that you will find until the arrival at the source of the Bocaleones river. This river is situated on the opposite side to the starting point. This route takes five hours.

Starting point: Km. 8 de la carretera Zahara-Grazalema
Time: 5 h
Distance: 5 km
Difficulty level: Advanced

ZAHARA - PUERTO LAS PALOMAS - MONTE PRIETO

Geographical location:
Monte Prieto belongs to Sierra de Grazalema - Located in CA 531 Zahara-Grazalema. Zahara is 11.3 kilometres away from Puerto de las Palomas. Puerto de las Palomas is located in the east side of Zahara. In order to get to Monte Prieto, it it necessary to head to Puerto de las Palomas by car, by motorbike, by bike, etc. For your information, you first need to park the car in Puerto las Palomas and walk up to Monte Prieto.

Artificial works:
A remain of a stone corral is 500 metres away. This mountain suffered fire damages a few years ago and this is still notable. Monte Prieto, the geodesic point, is an the end of the route. This consists of a meteorological station with wind and solar energy and a rain gauge.

Route:
High: Zahara: 511 metres. Puerto las Palomas: 1.157 metres. Monte Prieto: 1.300 metres. Length: Zahara-Puerto las Palomas 11.3 km (going), Puerto las Palomas-Monte Prieto 2.5 Km (round trip).

Views:
NORTH: Sierra de Líjar (Algodonales), Arroyomolinos, Zahara de la Sierra, Zahara-El Gastor lake, Cambroneras, Garganta Verde, Pilones. SOUTH: Grazalema-Sierra del Endrinal y del Reloj. EAST: Ronda, Sierra de las Nieves, Acinipo. WEST: Sierra de Zafalgar, Sierra Blanquilla, Pinsapar, Torreón, Los Pastizales and Sierra Margarita.

Transport:
From Zahara to Puerto las Palomas: By car, by motorbike, by bike, etc. It is necessary to walk from Puerto las Palomas to Monte Prieto.

Estimated time:
Approx. 2 hours..

Difficulty level:
Easy. Adapted for all ages.

Wildlife:
Mountain goats, sheep, reptiles and common birds.

Flora:
Bentgrass, matagallo, hawthorn, paeony, rosewood and stone pines.

Notes:
No permission needed for this route.

Starting point: Km. 8 de la carretera Zahara-Grazalema
Time: 2 h
Difficulty level: Easy

ZAHARA - ARROYOMOLINOS - CUEVA DEL SUSTO - ZAHARA

It is necessary to take Arroyomolinos road from Zahara. The route follows once you pass the source of the stream until getting to Cueva del Susto. It is adapted for beginners and professionals. It offers the possibility of staring at a natural open cave in Monte Prieto which is five kilometres away from Zahara and perfectly suitable for the development of speleology. This route takes three hours.

Geographical Location:
It is located in Parque Natural Sierra de Grazalema, south west of Zahara. Approx. 15 km away from Zahara. The name of the road is CA-5313-P. Zahara-Arroyomolinos.

History:
Área Recreativa Arroyomolinos. It is an artificial beach. Its locals were dedicated to the elaboration of bread. They took advantage of the stream in order to make the mills work.

Obras realizadas por el hombre:

• Roman paved road
• Three bread mills
• A.R.A.
• Bocaleones Camping

Route:
Zahara-Arroyomolinos-Cueva del Susto: 10 km. (Round trip). High: 420 metres. Length: Zahara-Arroyomolinos-Cueva del Susto 5 km.

Views:
Monte Prieto, Tajo Algarín.

Transport:
There are several options if you want to go from Zahara to the Vínculo mill, since it is located in the suburbs right along the road that leads to Grazalema. You can go by walk from the Roman paved road to Los Carrizos. You can go from Los Carrizos to the source stream either by foot, bike or car. In order to get to Cueva del Susto it is necessary to walk. It is highly recommended to bring the necessary material if you choose speleology.

Duration:
3 hours approx. Without getting into the cave.

Difficulty level:
Easy. For all ages, except for the entrance to the cave.

Wildlife:
Snakes, rabbits, lizards, weasels, mongooses, cows, goats, sheep, owls, common birds, butterflies, partridges, ducks, etc.

Flora:
Gorse, ardivieja, (cistus albidus) asparagus, olive trees, almond trees, matagallos (phlomis purpurea), broom, alcanduecas, gamones (asphodelus albus), European fan palm, lime trees, orange trees, ivy, oleander, carob, poplars, eucalyptus, mastic, sajo, weeping willow, quince, Spanish oyster thistle (scolymus hispanicus), mastranto (ageratum conyzoides), pennyroyal, ash, blackberry, fig, laurel, cherry, plum, pear, lemon, etc.

Natural Values:
Cueva del Susto and source of the stream.

Notes:
No permission needed for this route. .

Starting point:Zahara
Time: 3 h
Distance: 10 km
Difficulty level: Easy

ZAHARA - SAN CRISTÓBAL - ZAHARA

Geographical location: “Parque Natural Sierra de Grazalema,” road CA -531 Zahara-Grazalema. Km. 22 is 14 km away from Zahara (Las Canteras)..

History:
On the top of San Cristóbal mountain there was a little house which was formerly the home of some people whose main mission was the observation of the territory.

Artificial works:
At "Puerto de las Palomas" we find a viewpoint and a recreational area. There are remains of Roman paved road along this route.

Route:
Length:

• Zahara-Pto. las Palomas: 11,3 Km.
• Pto. Las Palomas-Canteras: 2,7 Km.
• Canteras-Pto. de las Cumbres: 2 Km.
• Pto. de las Cumbres -San Cristóbal: 2 Km.

28 km round trip by car. By walk: 8 km (round trip). Total of distance: 32 km (round trip).
High:

• Zahara-511 m.
• Puerto de las Palomas-1.157 m.
• Canteras-1.150 m.
• Puerto de las Cumbres-1.260 m.
• San Cristóbal-1.525 m.

Views:
NORTH: Viña del Moro, El Montón, Los Pastizales, Zafalgar, La Camilla, Los Pilones. SOUTH: Salto El Cabrero, Sierra de la Silla, Estrecho and Peñón de Gibraltar, Marruecos (Africa), etc. EAST: Sierra de las Nieves, Sierra Nevada, etc. WEST: Depresión del Guadalquivir (Campiña, Marisma), Sierra Norte de Sevilla.

Transport: Zahara - Las Canteras: By car. Las Canteras - Puerto de las Cumbres: By foot. Puerto de las Cumbres - San Cristóbal: By walk.

Duration:
5 horas.

Difficulty level:
High. Recommended age: 15 years old up.

Wildlife:
Mountain goat, roe deer, vultures, mongoose, eagles, badgers, foxes, reptiles, rabbits, etc.

Flora:
Gorse, blue broom (erinacea anthyllis), bentgrass (agrostis pourretii), blackthorn, black hawthorn, peonia paeoniaceae, grey-leaved cistus, perennial herb (thymus mastichina), hawthorn, wildrose (rosal silvestre), etc.

Starting point:Zahara
Time: 5 h
Distance: 10 km
Difficulty level: Advanced

LLANO DEL REVÉS (PINSAPAR) - PTO. ACEBUCHE

The route begins at Puerto de los Acebuches (Zahara-Grazalema road), entering the area of the Natural Park. You will enjoy beautiful landscapes such as the one of Sierra del Pinar, surrounded by pine trees and full of old Portuguese oak (quercus faginea).

Geographical Location:
Natural Park of Sierra de Grazalema. "Cancela" (gate) Puerto de los Acebuches, Llano del Revés direction. Next to “Cañada Curro Alvarez” (glen), there is the next glen: “Ballesteros.” Located in CA531 Zahara Grazalema.

Artificial works:
Nursery of A.M.A., Pilar and Alberca in Llanos del Revés.

Route:

• Zahara-Puerto Acebuches: 5 km.
• Puerto Acebuches-Cañada Ballesteros: 1.9 km
• Cañada Ballestero-Llano del Revés: 2.4 km.

Total of distance: 18.6 km. (round trip)

Views:

• Gate Camilla, Fuente del Moro, Puerto de las Carretas, Lajas (Tajos), Cortafuegos (Garganta Pto. Horno de la Miera), Canchas, Quejigalejo, Cañada Curro Alvarez, Cañada de los Ballesteros, Montón. Views comments: From Puerto de los Acebuches we can observe: Camilla, Laja, Fuente del Moro, Pto. Carretas, Cañada Curro Alvárez to the left. From Cañada Ballesteros, we can see on the right the “Montón” and on the “Canchas” on the left, that leads to los Pastizales.


• LLANO DEL REVÉS: Zafalgar, San Cristóbal, Torreón, Pto. Pinar, Pastizales, Pto. las Cumbres, El Montón. Coming back to the gate, we can see Las Majadillas and a water tank called “el Quejigalejo” with a pool that never dries and a fountain called “fuente Quejigalejo.” In spring, vipers predominate. When we finally get to the gate, we see the firewall that leads to Puerto del Horno de la Miera.

Transport:
Zahara - Puerto de los Acebuches: Any transport. Puerto de los Acebuches - Cañada Ballesteros - Llano del Revés: By walk, by an authorised car or by horse.

Duration:
Approx. 3 hours by walk. This must be added to the route from Zahara to Puerto de los Acebuches. By car 30 minutes (round trip).

Difficulty level: Medium. From 7 - 8 years old up..

Wildlife:: Roe deer, vipers, scorpions, butterflies, birds, mountain goats, badgers, mongoose, weasels, goshawks, eagles, owls, hawks, reptiles, etc.

Flora:
Ballesta, rose hip, moss, juniper, garbanzuela, holm oak, montezuma cypress, tree germander, lime tree, Spanish fir, stone pine, rhamnus lycioides, barberry, alcanduecas, cork oaks, butcher's-broom, strawberry tree, daisies, mastic, grey-leaved cistus, common smilax, phlomis purpurea, perennial herb (thymus mastichina), nerium oleander, billygoat-weed, viburnum tinus, hawthorn, oregano, Portuguese oak, evergreen oaks, etc. There is a system of natural orientation (without a compass) and it consists in the fact that when a tree has moss on one of its sides, that side faces north and the other side faces south (without vegetation).

Natural values:
Water source.

Comments:
Permission needed for this route.

Starting point:Llano del Revés
Time: 4 h
Distance: 18.6 km
Difficulty level: Medium

ZAHARA - LA BODEGA - ZAHARA

Geographical location:
It is located between the town of Zahara and Garganta Verde. It is 2.5 km away from Zahara.

History:
Its name come from the ruins that there are nowadays. They were a private wine cellar and vineyards. A little further up the house there is a small well, from where they took the water in order to make wine. People lived in this house up to approximately 40 years ago.

Route:
High: Approximately 500 metres. Length: 2.5 km.

Views:
Garganta Verde, Las Cambroneras, El Puente de los Palominos, El Peñón de los Toros, Sierra Margarita, Zafalgar, Majá Conejos, La Camá del Puerco, La Breña Garganta Seca, Sierra de las Imonas, Los Pilones and the Taramar.

Transport:
By foot.

Duration:
Hour and a half (round trip).

Difficulty level:
Easy. For all ages.

Wildlife:
Hawks, eagles, partridges, reptiles, rabbits, mongoose, mountain goat, griffon vultures, birds, foxes, weasels, etc.

Flora:
Along this route, we can find different type of plants like: carob, olive, gall oak, almond, shrubs, butcher's broom, viburnum tinus, lentisk, grey-leaved cistus, phlomis purpurea, oak tree (quercus faginea), gorse, flax-leaved daphne, chamomile, lime trees, etc. Flowers: daisies, alcanduecas, orchids, lilies, etc.

Notes:
No permission needed for this route.

ZAHARA - PUENTE DE LOS PALOMINOS - ZAHARA

Geographical location:
It is located in Parque Natural Sierra de Grazalema, south west of Zahara. Approx. 2 km away from Zahara. The entrance is in Zahara. Next to the playground there is a red path that leads to Puente de los Palominos. This path is not in a good condition.

History:
The name comes from the surname of the former owner of the land.

Artificial works:
There is a Roman bridge and in its surroundings there are several barbecues with some trees which provide a great natural shadows for a great country day.

Route:
Hight:

• Zahara-511 m.
• Puente de los Palominos-310 m.

Lenght: Zahara to Puente de los Palominos. 2 km. Complete route (round trip) 4 Km.

Views:
Along this route we can see: El Peñón de los Toros, Sierra Margarita, Sierra de las Imonas, La Breña Las Cambroneras, Majá Conejo, Garganta Seca, La Bodega.

Transport:
You can go from Zahara to Puente los Palominos by foot, by car, by bike, by horse, etc. .

Duration:
Descent: 45 minutes. Ascent: 1 hour and 15 minutes. 2 Hours approximately of total duration.

Difficulty level:
Easy. For all ages.

Wildlife:
Griffon vultures, different kinds of reptiles, rabbits, badgers, mongooses, weasels, some birds, pigs, etc.

Flora:
Carob tree, oaks, gall oaks, wild olive trees, fig trees, sajos, eucalyptus, poplars, olive trees, etc. Gorse, grey-leaved cistus, oleander, broom, matagallos (phlomis purpurea), alcanduecas, Mediterranean dwarf palm, common smilax, etc.

Annexed:
Once you get to the Puente de los Palominos (with the right permission), if you follow Bocaleones river, you can easily get into Garganta Verde, but only if it’s summer, since this route requires to cross the river which in some cases can be very deep and extremely cold.

Notes:
No permission needed for this route.