Walking holiday Andalusia - Trek Cómpeta to Nerja

A wonderful trek through the most beautiful Spanish landscapes and villages

8 days

from €329,-

Trek through the nature of Almijara

In the mountains of Almijara in the Spanish province of Andalusia, spring and autumn are ideal times for walking with daytime temperatures of around 20 degrees (but +30 degrees in July and August). Even in winter, temperatures in the middle of the day are still pleasant. Nature is at its most beautiful in spring when the almond trees bloom exuberantly white and the oranges are ripe. In this region the sun shines no less than 325 days a year!

The nature of Axarquia has a lot to offer: wooded mountains that alternate with open terrain and orchards where olives, almonds and other tropical fruits grow. The walks, often on footpaths and donkey paths, go to altitudes of approximately 1100 meters.

The journey starts in Cómpeta (700 meters), an attractive and cozy mountain town. It is hidden at the end of an elongated valley and far away from mass tourism. From lively Cómpeta you walk through pine forests to the Cerro Gavilan, a 1130 meter high peak with a beautiful panorama in all directions. In the distance you can even see the coastal town of Nerja, the end point of your journey. The GR 249 that you follow used to be a trading path over which muleteers brought their merchandise from the coast to the region around Granada. Along the way you will even pass ruins of old inns where the floaters spent the night. Along the paths there are beautifully blooming gorse bushes and old fig trees. The route then takes you to Acebuchal, a village that was abandoned in 1949 and subsequently fell into disrepair. In 1998, Antonio Garcia Sánchez started its restoration and the results are impressive! In Acebuchal you will stay in a hospitable B&B run by a Flemish couple, who will also prepare breakfast. From here you continue to Frigiliana, declared the "most beautiful village in Spain" at the end of the last century. The old Moorish quarter is especially worth a visit with a labyrinth of alleys, steps and passages. This tour continues through two valleys with wonderfully scented man-sized rosemary bushes along the way. Finally, a descent takes you to the Rio Chillar, a mountain river with rapids and waterfalls, with your final destination being Nerja: a lovely coastal town on the Costa del Sol.

Tour guide

Onne Schepel

Languages

Dutch - English - Spanish - Portuguese

Route

Deze trektocht biedt voor ieder wat wils en heeft een gemakkelijke variant met dagwandelingen van ca. 4 uur en een interessantere / langere variant “off the beaten track” met dagwandelingen van ca. 6-8 uur. Je kunt per dag beslissen of je de volgende dag de korte of lange variant wilt doen.

Competa (3 nights)
In Cómpeta you will stay in Casa Hadriano. It is a restored authentic village house with three spacious double rooms, each room has its own bathroom with shower and toilet. There is a kitchen, a lounge and two roof terraces for general use with views over Cómpeta, the mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. Location in the center of Cómpeta near the central square with the church (Plaza Almijara) with some cafes and restaurants.

Acebuchal (2 nights)

You will stay in B&B the Lost Village where Luc and Virginia will take care of you. This casa rural is fully equipped: living room, equipped kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. The Flemish/Argentinian couple will take care of your breakfast and you can also have dinner here (not included). The village has no shops, but it does have a bar/restaurant where you can eat very well. Acebuchal is a village in the nature reserve that was abandoned and fell into disrepair in 1949 and has been completely restored in recent years for rural tourism. At most there will be a few tourists during the day, but in the evening you can hear the silence.

Nerja (2 nights)

You will stay at Hostal Abril for the last 2 nights of this trip. The hospitable hotel is located in a quiet street in the center, 100 meters from the bus station and within walking distance of the beach. Here you have a spacious double room with private bathroom.
Nerja is a pleasant and not too busy seaside resort with numerous beautiful bays and beaches. The stay in Cómpeta and Nerja is on a bed and breakfast basis, in Acebuchal breakfast is included. There are plenty of cozy bars for breakfast in Cómpeta and Nerja.

Day 1

Travel to Competa. Click here for all transport options: link
Here you will be welcomed by your tour guide Onne Schepel.
If flight times permit, you can take a short orientation walk above the village today (approx. 5 km/1.5 hours, extendable by an additional 2.5 km/45 minutes).

Day 2

Walk Cómpeta-Canillas-Archez-Cómpeta (approx. 9 km/3 hours, extendable to approx. 12 km/4 hours)
Because you will be staying another night in Cómpeta tonight, you can take a walk in the area around Cómpeta today. There are plenty of possibilities. For example, you can walk from the central square in Cómpeta, the Plaza Almijara, towards Canillas de Albaida. You follow an irrigation canal over a beautiful old path with beautiful views. You continue walking via the river and the mill route to the Moorish village of Archez. A nice place for a break. Before you continue your way, don't forget to visit the 13th century church tower of Archez. This was built as a minaret in Moorish times. You walk back to Cómpeta via narrow donkey paths and vineyards.

Day 3

Circular walk Canillas de Albaida (approx. 16 km / 4.5 hours with an elevation gain of 700 metres)

Route along the Rio Cajula river with beautiful overhanging rocks and ultimately via a beautiful path back via the Rio Turvilla and Canillas de Albaida back to Cómpeta. This walk can be shortened to 8.5 km and 340 meters of elevation in 2.5 hours

Day 4

Walk Cómpeta-Acebuchal (approx. 13 or 18 km / 4 or 6 hours)

The first part of this walk goes straight up. You soon have a beautiful view of Cómpeta in the depths. You walk via a ridge* (1030 m) to the lookout hut on top of the Cerro Gavilan and you have earned a short break. With good visibility, Gibraltar and the Rif Mountains in Morocco can be seen! You continue around the Cerro Gavilán and follow a sloping mule path that was one of the connecting routes between the coast and the hinterland for many hundreds of years. Along the way you will pass three former 'ventas' (inns but now ruins), where the muleteers took a break centuries ago before walking into Acebuchal. Overnight in Acebuchal.

Day 5

Free day or circular walk to Acebuchal (approx. 11 km / 3.5 hours)

Today you can choose to leave your walking shoes behind and enjoy the quiet village life. If you still want to explore the area, there is a beautiful walk around Acebuchal where you walk through the valley of the Rio Torrox. It goes up via narrow paths to the Collado Panduro, a narrow pass that offers you a wide view of the valley where the walk started. You walk back into Acebuchal via a winding route via a dry river bed. This day it is also possible to climb the El Fuerte (976m). This is really a highlight of the trip with beautiful views over all the villages and the Mediterranean Sea.

Day 6

Walk Acebuchal-Nerja (approx. 13 km / 3.5 hours or 20 km / 7 hours)

The first part of the walk to Frigiliana is largely on a quiet road with little traffic. The village of Frigiliana is definitely worth a visit, as it is one of the best preserved Moorish villages. Stroll through the narrow car-free streets with the white-painted houses with red slate roofs before continuing your way. For the second part of the walk you descend to the Rio Higüeron and follow the route to the Caves of Nerja. Here you board the bus to the center of Nerja (not included). From the bus station in Nerja it is only a short walk to your accommodation. If you choose the shorter option, you can walk from the village of Frigiliana directly to Nerja via a beautiful route through the gorge.

Day 7

Free day Nerja or Nerja-Maro walk with a visit to the Caves of Nerja (approx. 4 hours)

Nerja is known for its pleasant center, beaches and food. The charming coastal town has everything to offer for a relaxing day. It is also possible to walk from Nerja to Maro to visit the Caves of Nerja (not included). The famous stalactite caves of Nerja are better known as the prehistoric Cathedral. It possesses one of the largest formation of stalactites and stalagmites.

Day 8
Return trip

After checking out, you travel to the airport by public transport.
If you have a late flight, you can take a city walk in Málaga. There are lockers at the bus station. After which your walking holiday in Spain comes to an end.

There are approximately 16 buses per day from Nerja to Malaga (travel time approximately 1.5 hours, costs approximately €4.90).