Planning a holiday in the Almáchar and Cútar region
Exploring and experiencing rural Axarquia, walking and local wildlife, costal resorts, heritage, and the big cities
Drive 20 minutes south of the villages to the small Spanish resorts of Torre del Mar and Rincon de la Victoria. Drive 25 minutes east to the attractive seaside resort of Nerja (pictured left on New Years Day) East of Nerja, the deserted rocky coves of the small white hamlet of Maro and beyond, offer opportunities for snorkeling.
The resorts west of Málaga (Torremolinos et al) need little introduction.
Málaga (pictured right at Christmas) - only half an hour's drive - is a wonderful town to
explore and still largely undiscovered by tourists
"a beautiful place, full of atmosphere and sultry Spanish life and a world away from the Costa resorts" Rick Senley, Sunday Telegraph.
Almáchar and Cútar The villages and surrounding areas are ideal for nature lovers, walking enthusiasts and cyclists. Charles Davis in his recently published book ‘Costa del Sol Walks’ describes Almáchar as a good base from which to explore. There are beautiful walks between Almáchar and Cútar and further afield around Competa, Comares and other white villages of the Sierra Tajeda.
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The foothills of the Sierra Tejeda are ablaze with flowers and blossom from January onwards. The climate of southern Andalucia is ideal for both European and tropical plant species. Avocado, guava, mango and custard fruit are farmed here as well as olive, almond and the muscatel grape. Birdlife is abundant – recent sitings in Cútar include the Blue Rock Thrush, Sardinian Warbler, Red Legged Partridge, Crested Lark, Siren Hoopoe, Shrike Kestrel, Woodchat and Turtle Dove.
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The ancient city of Antequera is an hour or so´s drive and well worth a visit, the world heritage city of Cordoba is also just possible on a day trip - or take the train - just an hour from Málaga.
An unmissable day trip is the Moorish City of Granada (below) – home of Lorca, the Alhambra and the Generalife gardens - just an hour and a half away on the motorway. Or take the cross country road which won’t take much longer – unless you’re unable to resist stopping frequently to enjoy the stunning, everchanging scenery en route !
The villages are famous for their fiestas and ferias. There are numerous celebrations of local, regional and national saints days, holidays and historic events. These are augmented by seasonal fairs equivalent to the country fairs in the villages of northern Europe, many, sadly, no longer celebrated.
Andalucian celebrations invariably involve eating, dancing and singing. There is also drinking - with very little trouble arising from alchoholic excess.
Some fiestas are very casual like the spring festival in Cútar. Others involve huge ritual and ceremony, not seen in England since medaeval times! The Santa Semana in Velez-Malaga is a spectacular example of this. A calendar of fiestas can be found here:
