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Difficulty-Low
1:15 h.
3 km.
Difficulty-Low
1:15 h.
3 km.
There are almost magical landscapes that transport us to other times, that make our imagination fly as we walk through them. One such place is undoubtedly the Torcal of Antequera Natural Park, in the province of Malaga. The karstic labyrinth of a thousand and one different shapes that characterises it has its origins millions of years ago, when this area was submerged under the waters of the Sea of Thetis. When the sea retreated and the mountain range where it is located arose, the erosive process began, resulting in this landscape of singular beauty. Today we can visit it and explore its nooks and crannies thanks to the various hiking routes that exist in the Torcal of Antequera. There are several routes signposted by colour that can be done on your own, and other guided routes that can be booked.
To get to the Torcal of Antequera we must go to the town that gives it its name, Antequera. It is on the road that connects it with Villanueva de la Concepción where, halfway along the road, you will find the turn-off that leads to the Torcal of Antequera. Once there, there are two parking areas, the first in the middle of the road, just before going up the rocky outcrop where the Torcal sits. The second once we reach the top, where the visitor centre and the start of most of the routes around the Torcal of Antequera also await us.
If our intention is to visit the Torcal of Antequera on our own, following one of the routes enabled for this purpose, the visit is free and initially is not subject to timetables. As you can imagine, the car park next to the visitor centre fills up quickly on busy days, so if we have to park in the first car park and we don't want to walk up the orange route that connects it with the visitor centre, we will have to pay the €2 per person for the bus that connects the two car parks. If our intention is to hire a guided tour or visit the visitor centre, we will have an established timetable depending on the time of year and the corresponding cost of the tour of the Torcal of Antequera that we hire. In this link you have more information.
The Torcal of Antequera Green Route is the simplest and shortest of all the routes we can do. It is a circular route signposted at all times by green markings, which starts from the visitor centre and takes approximately 45 minutes to complete. The path that we must follow at first shares the same route as the Yellow Route and quickly takes us into the magical landscape of the Torcal. As we advance we come across curious figures that make our imagination run wild. We also pass some excellent viewpoints that allow us to contemplate the surrounding landscape. Before we know it, we reach the crossroads where we say goodbye to the yellow waymarks and descend to Hoyo de la Burra. Once there, our route rejoins the Yellow Route and together we return to the Torcal Alto visitor centre.
Torcal of Antequera-CC/Malopez 21
Torcal of Antequera-CC/Gzzz
Torcal of Antequera-CC/Michael Gaylard
The Yellow Route is perhaps the most recommended and beautiful route in the Torcal of Antequera. This is a circular route of just under 3 km which takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete. As we already know, it coincides both at the beginning and at the end with the Green Route, passing together through curious formations and we will even be able to contemplate the Montpelier Maple, one of the Singular Trees of Andalusia. After saying goodbye to the green route, our route continues its course taking us through narrow passages and alleys of singular shapes. The route is somewhat steeper than that of the Green Route, but in normal conditions and with the caution that should always accompany us, this should not be a problem. Dolines, viewpoints and the unique vegetation of the area liven up every step we take. Almost without noticing we meet again the Green Route and together we return to the visitor centre.
This is the route up to the Torcal Alto from the lower car park next to the road that leads up to the visitor centre. It is a linear route of just under 4 km, one way, which can be done in just over 1h 15min. This route is signposted with orange markings and allows us to discover beautiful viewpoints and a host of different formations that await us along the way.
The slope we have to climb is the biggest disadvantage we will face, but for a person who is used to hiking routes it should not be a problem.
At the end of the parking area we will find the beginning of the path that we must follow. A path that quickly makes us make an effort to climb up the mountainside, taking us past old farmhouses and even an abandoned quarry. But perhaps the most significant point of this entire route is the Natural Monument of El Tornillo, almost at the end of the route after passing the Manuel Grajales viewpoint. It is a curious rock formation that has become a symbol of the Torcal of Antequera.
1-The whole area is a labyrinth of passages and stones that make it very easy to get lost, so it is important not to stray from the marked routes.
2-In addition to these three routes, there are five more guided tours, which must be booked in advance.
3-Bear in mind that the terrain is quite rocky and steep, and that it is at an altitude of over 1200 m, so it is important to equip yourself properly.
4-The three free routes communicate with each other, allowing us to adapt the route to our taste.
5-At weekends and during the summer, the upper parking lot fills up quickly, so it is best to get up early if you want to avoid having to park in the lower parking lot.
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| 1-Lower parking | 950m | 30S 365212 4091804 |
| 2-Visitor's Centre | 1210m | 30S 362452 4090734 |
Coordinates UTM Datúm WGS84
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Distance: 3Km
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Time: 1:15h
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Difficulty: Low
Slope: 820m
Slope +: 410m
Slope -: 410m
Maximum altitude: 1230m
Minimum altitude: 950m
This schematic with the path is approximate and has been created from the derived cartographic base © Instituto Geográfico Nacional "Cuadrante 1038-2 y1039-1 1:25.000".
¿Did you know that...
In the heart of the Torcal of Antequera Natural Park is the Torcal Astronomical Observatory, which offers different activities such as astronomical and Perseid observations.
Don't miss out...
A visit to the town of Antequera, which has a rich cultural heritage, such as the dolmens of Menga, Viera and El Romeral, a must-see, or the Roman, Visigothic and Muslim remains.
From the commitment of SENDITUR with Nature and the respect to the balance of the environment, SENDITUR urges you to travel in a responsible way, with low environmental impact and respecting at all times the Natural, Cultural and Social environment wherever you go.
Besides sharing with all of us your experience on the route we would be grateful if you could write to us to inform us of any erroneous or outdated information you may have found, or simply to let us know what you think at Thank you.
Route information updated on 18-05-2021. The route may vary greatly depending on the time of year, weather conditions and terrain, as well as the actions of third parties and the evolution suffered in the natural environment where it is located. All opinions, advice and/or assessments made by SENDITUR in their descriptions are for guidance only and are subject to and/or refer to the specific conditions of the specific day of the route, referring to that specific day, taken from trained people, with the appropriate experience and with a high level of physical and technical preparation as a reference, as well as correctly equipped.
All the times are approximate and take an orientative character, the stops have not been taken into account, no matter how small they are. All the information related to the route, texts, images, videos, maps, diagrams, tracks, towns, and places of tourist interest are published as a guide, and may not coincide with the current state of each place. Before undertaking any activity, assess your technical knowledge, your physical condition, find out about the weather and the variations that the route may undergo, equip yourself correctly, be prudent and responsible at all times, and do not exceed your capabilities. SENDITUR is not responsible for any misuse or inappropriate use of the comprehensive guides of its routes and/or publications as well as its electronic guides, nor for any variations in their descriptions for the aforementioned reasons, and recommends that everyone be responsible and prudent in carrying out the activity. We also encourage you to read books and specialised guides to complement the information described above.
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