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Accommodation in Andalucia
Photos of Ronda
Costa del Sol Tourism Guide - Ronda
The drive or coach tour up to Ronda (Inland Andalucia), to the north west of Marbella, up the winding A376 is as much a scenic highlight as Ronda itself. There are numerous stopping off points along the way, and you'll want to stop to admire the views spanning the Valley of the Rio Guadalmina, and then as you push closer to Ronda the spectacular Serrania de Ronda which sits now within the Parque Natural Sierra de las Nieves. Survivor of the Ice Age, the Spanish fir is found in abundance here in Las Nieves and adjacent Grazalema Natural Park. A walker's paradise, outdoor Andalucia is at its most scenic in the Ronda area and the Sierra de las Nieves ranks as one of the most beautiful areas of Southern Spain. Choose Ronda or one of the many surrounding villages as a walking, hiking or horse riding base from which to branch out and explore.
The town of Ronda, a ready-made picture postcard day trip or Inland Andalucia walking base, sits 2428ft/740m above sea level on a dramatic rocky outcrop encased by the Serrania de Ronda. Of all the stunning pueblos in Andalucia, Ronda ranks as the most spectacularly situated, with a long history as a Spanish bullfighting centre - Ronda's Plaza de Toros is one of the oldest bullfighting rings in Spain. Ronda has packaged its many attractions well to serve tourist days trippers, with the list of historic attractions including striking 18th century viaduct bridges, pretty tree-lined avenues and parks, Baroque chapels, Arab Baths and the panoramic views from Alameda del Tajo park particularly take your breath away. Ronda has been fascinating visitors long before the rise of the coach tour. Both Orson Welles and Ernest Hemingway were fascinated by Ronda, especially its bullfighting history. Two of Ernest Hemingway's novels - For Whom the Bell Tolls and Death in the Afternoon have Ronda in mind. See photographs of visits to Ronda by these two notable celebrities at the Plaza de Toros Ronda Museum.
Ronda Outdoor Andalucia Holidays & the Sierra De Las Nieves Natural Park
For walking tours of Andalucia, Ronda serves as the perfect base. Flanked by several Natural Parks, including the Sierra Bermeja and Sierra de las Nieves to the south and Sierra de Grazalema to the west and north, you're in prime Spanish fir country here. Spanish firs are to be found in over 3000 hectares of the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park. The scenery is some of the most spectacular in Spain. Take in the vistas of deep gullies, spectacular clefts and deep ravines. Several mountain ranges are in the area including the Serrania de Ronda, Sierra Blanquilla and Sierra de las Nieves.
The terrain is rugged indeed, with highest peak Penon de Ronda (Ronda Rock) reaching 1,289 metres. Nicknamed the 'white ranges' because of their colour due to calcareous rock present in the sedimentary. Caves are found in the area such as Tinaja in Tolox. Las Nieves is renowned for its abundance of Spanish Fir, with the Ibex the most well known animal adopted as logo for the park.
Egyptian vulture numbers are small now in the park, but birdwatchers can expect to see numerous goshawks, sparrow hawks, kestrels, peregrine falcons and griffon vultures.
For a comprehensive guide to Sierra de las Nieves, Grazalema and Bermeja look to the Costa Del Sol webguide right, and click on Tourist Guides/Nature. Good directions are also on here to specific highlights and monuments within these parks. A number of caves are situated around Ronda, with one of the most popular - La Pileta cave just to the south of the town at 670m in the heart of the Serrania de Ronda. (see La Pileta Cave weblink right for details).
Visiting Ronda Andalucia Spain, Scenic Tourist Train to Ronda
For daytrips to Ronda via car hire Costa del Sol, allow around one and a half hours for the drive up from Marbella taking into consideration stops (which you'll want to make). Coach tours to Ronda are numerous, and easily available from all the Costa Del Sol resorts.
Ronda is popular, in peak season it bustles with European holiday makers especially and is crowded. Out of season equal high numbers of holidaying Spaniards make the coach tour or drive up to Ronda. On arrival the reasons for Ronda's popularity become as crystal clear as the spectacular views. Ronda is stunning, with a host of historic attractions, a historic bullring, pretty park areas with sublime visas from which to admire views of Las Nieves and Grazalema and host of arts and crafts shops, restaurants, bars and cafes. The A376 road up is in excellent condition, and the drive despite being winding early on, levels out latter once in the Serrania higher area and isn't particularly difficult.
Ronda's tourist information centre sits opposite the Plaza de Toros bullring at Paseo de Blas Infante s/n, Ronda, Spain. Tel. (00 34) 952 87 12 72. (download a Ronda street map via the official Ronda webguide right, or pick up one here at the tourist information office on your visit). The maps are good, and highlight particular vista points around the town, plus major historic sights.
Around four scenic tourist trains a day depart from Algeciras (west of Gibraltar) to Ronda and back (see Renfe Trains weblink right for timetable, you'll ant the Regional Expres/Tourist train. Departure times are around one at 7.15am and another at 12.10 from Algeciras, and return from Ronda 4.30pm or 8.18pm - but check Renfe for up to date times). This train journey allows you to appreciate Andalucia's stunning interior to the full, but you don't have to pick the train up at Algeciras. This train also stops at stations San Roque/La Linea just before Gibraltar. With car hire, park at San Roque and pick the Ronda train up there or alternatively pick up at Jimena de la Frontera inland.
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