Summer is over. The heat, the hustle and bustle and the crowds are giving way to the quiet autumn, the perfect season for short breaks in the camper van and enjoying the countryside and its late fruits such as chestnuts, walnuts...
We propose five weekend getaways or long weekends in the provinces of Cadiz, Seville and Malaga where you can enjoy the colours and flavours of autumn on board a van and enjoy a great ‘camper experience’.
1. -On foot in the Sierra de Grazalema.
The Sierra de Grazalema is a stone's throw from our motorhome rental base in El Puerto de Santa Maria, Cádiz, and there are numerous hiking routes for all ages:
-Ruta del río Majaceite.
One of the best known of the Natural Park, it is about 6 kilometres of path along the banks of the Majaceite River with beautiful waterfalls and corners. The trail runs between Benamahoma and El Bosque. We can do it there and back or do one of the routes on foot and return by taxi.
Tip: There is an interesting botanical garden in the forest, which is free to visit.
Where to sleep? We have a motorhome area in the bullring of El Bosque.
-Llanos del Republicano.
A pleasant path from the beautiful Villaluenga del Rosario to the Llanos del Republicano (4 km) where we can see the Republican's chasm and if we want to continue a little further we can reach the neighbouring Llanos de Líbar (6'5 km).
Tip: Take a walk through Villaluenga and buy some Payoyo cheese, delicious!
Where to sleep? We have a Motorhome Area at the exit of the route in Villauenga, next to the municipal swimming pool.
-The Green Throat.
Perhaps one of the most charming and most popular routes in the Sierra de Grazalema, so much so that we must ask for prior authorisation to do it. The initial route is short and hard (2.5 km) but it is spectacular as it runs through a rock canyon excavated by the waters of the Bocaleones stream and ends in the Cueva de la Ermita, a rock dome. It is also possible to do the complete route but it includes canyoning sections and we need to hire an adventure company.
Tip: Book early, it is not easy to find places.
https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/medioambiente/cupos-ciudadano
Where to sleep? You can get there from Zahara de la Sierra or from Grazalema, where there is a campsite and some car parks. In Algodonales, very close, we also have an AC Area.
1- Route of the Majaceite River / 2- Llanos del Republicano / 3- La Garganta Verde (The Green Gorge)
2. -Caves in the Serrania de Ronda
In neighbouring Malaga, bordering with Cadiz and very close to Ronda, we find an area full of caves, well actually it is a huge karstic system of cavities that communicate with each other. Between the towns of Benaojan and Montejaque.
-Hundidero Cave.
Very close to Montejaque we find this impressive cave that is one of the entrances to this system. It is freely accessed by going down long stairs that take us to an impressive entrance in the shape of a cut in the rock. It can be visited in the first few meters with appropriate footwear and a flashlight, until you reach a flooded area.
-Cat Cave.
A few kilometers away, in Benaojan, it is perhaps the most famous in the area due to its fame and for being one of the references for cavers in the area. It cannot be accessed except with duly accredited adventure companies, but it has a pool at the exit and if you like dips in cold water, this is certainly your place. It is the exit from the previous cave, from the Hundidero.
- Pool Cave.
A true treasure hidden underground that has a range of stalactites and stalactites along its route, as well as a large amount of prehistoric rock art with Paleolithic parietal art and Neolithic remains. You have to book a guided tour (€10) and call to reserve, but it is worth it.
Tip: Bring a flashlight and appropriate footwear, it is slippery! Don't forget to call the day before to make a reservation at the Pileta cave.
Where to sleep? There is no AC Area as such, but there is space at the Benaojan station and in the Cueva del Gato Parking you can spend the night, it costs €1 and it is very quiet. In Ronda there is an Area with all the services.
1- Hundidero Cave / 2- Cat Cave / 3- Pool Cave
3. -The magic of the Alcornocales Park
Another of the many natural treasures that we have in the province of Cádiz is the Alcornocales National Park, one of the largest in Spain. Hectares of cork oaks, gall oaks and wild olive trees populate these mountains where small valleys of "canutos" formed by streams with magical vegetation fed by fog and rain are hidden.
-Miel River Trail.
Easily accessible from Algeciras and with a linear route of 2.5 km, the path follows the course of the river Miel. Populated by the ruins of flour mills and covered with thick tropical vegetation that forms plant caves. To round off the route we can enjoy a beautiful waterfall.
Tip: There is hardly any sun, once on the river the trees and vegetation cover everything. Wear suitable clothing.
Where to sleep? In neighboring Tarifa we have an AC Area and campsites to choose from.
-Montera del Torero and Sendero Valdeinfierno.
We link these two destinations due to their proximity. If we are going to follow the Valdeinfierno trail, another example of ‘canuto’ with laurisilva vegetation along a beautiful route along the stream of the same name (circular 5 kilometres). On the way we come across the impressive rock known as Montera del Torero. It is a whimsical mineral formation that is well worth a visit and will only take a few minutes. All of this is very close to the town of Los Barrios.
Tip: There is a large Recreation Area at the foot of the Montera, with benches, tables and barbecues, very popular on certain dates.
Where to sleep? There is a municipal AC Area in the nearby town of Castelar de la Frontera.
-La Sauceda.
The Valle de la Sauceda area, located in Cortes and Jimena de la Frontera, we offer various options, visit the population of La Sauceda, where we have access to cabins and the hermitage. The cemetery, sadly famous for being where the Republicans who were repressed there and in the Marrufo farmhouse have been buried.
There begins the path that leads to the Pico del Aljibe, the highest in the Park at 1,091 mt. with its impressive views (13 km) or the option of reaching just as far as the Laguna del Moral (6 km).
Tip: To climb Pico del Aljibe you need authorization:
https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/medioambiente/cupos-ciudadano
Where to sleep? We have the Alcornocales Campsite very close to Jimena de la Frontera and the AC Area in Ubrique.
1- Honey River Trail / 2- Montera del Torero and Valdeinfierno Trail / 3-La Sauceda
4. -Go for chestnuts in the Genal Valley
Autumn is time for chestnuts and if the Genal Valley in Malaga is characterized by something, it is for its chestnut trees and the reddish color of its forests at this time. So much so that they call it “The Copper Forest”, due to the intense ocher of its leaves. In these valleys we have many towns and areas to visit, we highlight three for different tastes and very accessible by Camper.
-Genal River walkways.
A pleasant walk along the banks of the River Genal itself, which runs for about 4 kilometres from Venta San Juan to the Prado de la Escribana Recreation Area. There are areas where the path runs along raised walkways, hence its name. It is suitable for children.
Tip: If you have vertigo, you will get tingling, but there is no danger! :-). :-).
Where to sleep? At the beginning of the trail there are two Campings, Camping San Juan and Camping el Genal, which couldn't be closer at hand.
-Genalguacil Museum Town.
One of the beautiful white villages in this area of Malaga which has also become a Museum of Modern Art thanks to the Art Encounters that the village organises every two years and from which it inherits its works and places them all over the municipality.
Tip: Walk around every corner looking for works of art, it has a thousand nooks and crannies!
Where to sleep? It is very close to the previous campsites or we have an AC Area in Benalauría, another town in the valley.
-The Enchanted Forest of Parauta.
A real sensation with the little ones. It is a walk suitable for all ages (4 km round trip) with sculptures of fairies, elves and dwarves carved in the trees along a beautiful chestnut forest. If it is too short you can continue to the next village, Cartajima.
Tip: Be careful, the town gets totally overcrowded on weekends. Better on weekdays or arrive very early. This is not an exaggeration, the road is blocked from the crossroads.
Where to sleep? In the town it is complicated, there are very few flat places. Very close we have Camping las Conejeras, a little higher up.
1- Genal River Walkways / 2- Genalguacil Museum Village / 3- The Enchanted Forest of Parauta
5. -On safari to the Castle of the Guards
The African savannah is far away, but very close to Seville we can make a full-fledged safari without getting out of our camper van. It is a reserve with wild animals, lions, elephants, giraffes, hippopotamuses in which we can circulate inside mounted on our camper van and circulating among them, as if we were in the Serengeti itself.
The reserve has a route of about two hours to enjoy it quietly, we can feed the animals carrots that we can buy at the entrance. The children of the house will be amazed with the animals so close. The giraffes are very curious and will peek through the skylight of our camper to see if we give them something to eat!
The Castillo de las Guardas Reserve is 60 km north of Seville and entrance tickets are priced between 17 and 23 €. Open every day of the year from 10:30h to 18:30h.
To complete the excursion we can make a visit to the Rio Tinto Mines in Huelva, see its interesting Mining Park and its incredible red river. It is only 30 kilometres from Castillo de las Guardas.
Tip: Arrive early or sleep there and you will be the first to get in and avoid queuing.
Where to sleep? You can spend the night in the Reserve's own parking lot. In the town of Castillo de las Guardas we also have an AC Area.
1- Las Guardas Castle / 2- Río Tinto Mines
Which one do you choose?
