Andalucia Articles

Winter Walking in La Axarquia

La Axarquia is a rare pocket of southern Andalucia, bordered by mountains and the Mediterranean Sea, where walkers can witness rural Spanish life continuing just as it has for hundreds of years. It is our favourite destination for winter walking as its mild climate and low altitude sierras offer safe mountain walking often under crisp, clear blue skies all through the winter months.

You can be in the heart of La Axarquia after just a 40 minute drive from Malaga airport where flights can sometimes be as cheap as 10.00 pounds each way. One minute you are all wrapped up in overcast London, the next you are walking through stunning snow-capped mountains in your shorts and T-shirt looking at the Riff mountains of Morocco across the glistening Mediterranean Sea!

La Axarquia is a region of terraced foothills and deep river gorges, which make their way down to the sea from the higher sierra above. The landscape is dotted with white washed villages, ancient churches and Moorish castles and most of the walking is on medieval mule tracks which criss-cross from village to village and up into the mountains.

The area has a sub-tropical climate, which is said to be the best in Europe and many tropical fruits are grown in the deep, lush river valleys. Its strong sweet wine made from grapes dried on the south facing slopes is renowned throughout Spain and its Olive Oil from the "Verdial" tree is one of the best in the country.

The village "fiesta" and religious ceremonies form the highlight of the Axarquian year, where whole villages parade the streets in flamenco costumes and on horse back. The local form of flamenco "Los Verdiales" is performed at these events and you can often catch an impromptu performance in the local bars after the "Vino" starts to flow.

The walking is refreshingly varied ranging from wild uninhabited sierras, shaded forest walks to village to village trails, and there is always something of interest to see whilst walking in Axarquia. Mules are still used to carry produce from the land and goat herders cause traffic jams on the twisty mountain roads.

Winter is a good time to spot the endemic Iberian Ibex, the wild mountain goat that inhabits the sierras and you can also catch glimpses of soaring Golden Eagles and Griffon Vultures passing overhead.

Our walking base in the Axarquia region is in the restored 16th century village house "Posada la Plaza", now a hotel in the centre of the white village Canillas de Albaida. The hotel is situated opposite the 16th Century church amidst the stepped cobbled streets and white washed houses. The restaurant serves delicious local cuisine (and of course the local wine) and there are plenty of other villages nearby to explore too.

The walking level for The Sierras of Axarquia is Medium, but if you are thinking of taking your first walking holiday abroad then our Nerja and the Sierra Almijara walking holiday, also based in Axarquia, is ideal as most of the walking is at an easy level and no more than 8 miles a day.

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