Trekking and Walking in Andalucia
The village of Villanueva del Rosario is a small white Andalucian town that is situated 45km north of Malaga and 75km south west from Granada. The town has an elevation of 750m and lies at the base of the El Jobo and Camarolos hills and is surrounded by a stunning landscape that is also home to the highest peak in the region - El Chamizo (1,641 metres).
Although close to both Malaga and Granada the Axarquia region where we live is still an unspoilt region of the Costa del Sol, where small white pueblos nestle into the countryside and olive farming is still the main source of income. We ae surrounded by the mountain ranges of the Sierra de Camarolos to the immediate south, the Montes de Malaga (20 km to the south), the Natural Park of Torcal de Antequerra is 15km to the north and the huge playground of the Sierras de Alhama, Tejeda and Almijara (east)is 35km to the south west.
The imposing mountain front that can be seen from our house greatly enriches an area that is diverse and attractive in its own right; there are pines, live oaks, gall oaks, black poplars, ashes and broad expanses of olive trees. The area not only holds sites of unexpected beauty, but also has some of the highest peaks in the region with El Chamizo (1,641 metres), Alto de Hondonero (1,420 metres) and El Pelao (1,387 metres).
You can be climbing up the hillside within two minutes of leaving our house, passing the hermita of the 'Virgen del Rosario', patron saint of the village, standing guard over the vast expance of olive fields . If you carry on up the hill, you reach the natural spring 'El Nacimiento', which provides the drinking water for the village. The natural tracks then lead higher up the mountain to the Hondoneros plain at the base of the Sierra Los Camarolos and Sierra Gorda Mountains.
This is an area of great natural beauty - a wonderful place for the whole family to really enjoy a day out in unspoilt countryside.There are five routes for walkers in the area which are Tosquilla, Tajos, Chamizo and Las Fuentes I and II which give the visitor a chance to take in the natural beauty of the area
Details of these routes can be obtained from Tourist Information: Town Hall: Plaza de España, 9 (29312). Telephone: 952 742 008; Fax: 952 742 213
Additionally...
The Costa del Sol has many natural parks that offer numerous possibilities for walkers and. The main natural parks include the Parque National De Las Nieves, the Parque National Montes de Málaga, the Parque National Sierra de Grazalema, the Parque Naturel Los Alcornocales and the Parque Natural de las Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama.
The Montes de Málaga Natural Park (Parque National Montes de Málaga) is found to the north of Malága city. It is great for both hiking and mountain biking with Aleppo pine covered mountains and a wide variety of wildlife.
Further information from Parques Naturales
The Parque Natural de las Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama covers the vast mountainous area to the south east of us from Málaga to Otívar. The peak of Maroma is the highest in Malaga and offers panoramic views of the Mediterranean.
The Natural Park of Torcal de Antequerra is very close by to the south of Antequerra and has some of the best karst limestone formations in Europe. Plus the Parque Ardales that covers the Guadalhorce river gorge and pine forests. Visitors can hike, cave, climb and try the reservoir's water sports.
