Costa del Sol Tourism Guide - Around Ronda

The El Chorro Gorge - Andalucia Walking Tours & Climbing

Spain's southern interior contains some of the most spectacular gorges and peaks in the country. The most spectacular, and well known to keen rock climbers, mountain bikers and walkers is the El Chorro Gorge (Garganta del Chorro) which stretches for 4km and sinks to depths of up to 400m. The rock outcrop which looms above the railway bridge bears some resemblance to the gargantuan rocky outcrops in Garajonay Natural Park on La Gomera (see weblink right). The gorge is fairly accessible from the coast, via the A357 road up from Malaga.

The main provider of Andalucia Outdoor Activities in the El Chorro area, including climbing, mountain biking, caving, kayaking and hiking, is Finca La Campana (see El Chorro Climbing/Mountain Biking weblink right for details). If you simply want to view this spectacular Andalucian gorge you can take a leisurely walk from El Chorro village along the railway.

Alora Andalucia Guide - Roman Remains & Andalucia Walking Tours

Beautifully situated rural Alora sits in the northeast area of the River Guadalhorse just 40km from Malaga, and to the east of Ronda. Alora is a popular base with climbers, walkers and mountain bikers looking to explore the El Chorro gorge to the north (also known as the Los Gaitanes Gorge). You're quite high up here, Alora sits 200m above sea level.

Serving as an excellent walking base from which to explore the Huma mountain range, and El Chorro gorge to the north, Alora has plenty going on in the village itself.

There is no doubt, Alora was a thriving Roman settlement, a number of Roman remains are in the area. Alora's castle foundations are Phoenician, but the Romans completed the building and made Alora a key trading post. Citrus fruit trees are still grown around Alora in the Guadalhorse Valley. Roman sites include the miliario/milestone with Roman inscription dating from 79AD.

Alora Tourist Information Centre, Town Hall, Plaza de Fuente Arriba, 15 29500, Alora, Malaga Spain. Tel. (00 34) 952 496 100. (for more Alora Tourist Information checkout the Visit Costa Del Sol weblink right and click on Village guides - Alora).

Ardales & Campillos - Cave Tours, Gorges, Roman Remains & Laguna de Fuente de Piedra

The reservoirs near Ardales and Campillos are the mainstay of Malaga's water supply. Ardales is the more bustling rural Andalucian settlement, and growing by all accounts. Around Ardales sit the distinctive 'tafonis' caves within small sandstone promontories. Cave paintings can be seen within caves such as Cueva de Dona just 5km form Ardales. Ardales saw a boom period during the 9th century particularly, as an Islamic centre under Omar Ben Hafsun who was busy trying to destabilize the Caliphate of Cordoba by establishing his own centre here. His main base was at nearby Bobastro. Historic sights and museums within Ardales itself include churches, Bobastro ruins, the Castillo de la Pena, La Molina Bridge and a Municipal Museum of History and Tradition as well as the Ardales Park Museum. Local attractions focus on the dramatic walking and climbing territory of Camino del Rey and the Los Gaitanes (El Chorro) Gorge, as well as the reservoir region and numerous caves.

The Romans were obviously well established around Campillos too, as evidenced by the archaeological sites of Capacete Castillon de Gobantes, Cortijo La Cuesta and Los Castillos in the area. Campillos is high up at 500m above sea level and is surrounded by broad plains with lower hills than nearby neighbours Ronda and Alora. If you are looking to explore the protected wetlands areas around the reservoirs to the south of Campillos, and the sublime protected area of the Laguna de la Fuente de la Piedra - one of the Iberian Peninsula's largest brackish-water lakes and important nesting site for pink flamingos (see weblink right) then choose Campillos (or Antequera) for a base. With Costa Del Sol car rental from Malaga Airport, Campillos also makes a superb central base from which to push out and explore Seville to the north west, Ronda and the coast to the south and Antequera to the east. The Roman archaeological remains are the key attraction within the Campillos area, as is the scenic beauty of the surrounding broad plains and nearby wetlands and reservoir region.

Ardales Tourist Information, Town Hall, Plaza de la Constitucion, 1 29550, Ardales, Malaga Spain. Tel. (00 34) 952 458 087.

Campillos Tourist Information, Town Hall, Avenida Santa Maria del Reposo, 7 29320, Campillos, Spain. Tel. (00 34) 952 722 168.