Overview
A five day, centre-based holiday, walking in Málaga and staying at a mountain hotel throughout the trip. This is located in Canillas de Albaida, a typical Andalucían whitewashed town on the slopes of the Sierra de Tejeda and Almijara Mountains. With three days of trekking, ranging from easy to more strenuous, highlights include the El Saltillo Hike on the GR249 trail, the Silk Route through the rugged terrain and cliffs of the Axarquía region, and a trek to the summit of Cerro Verde (1,346m). All of these walks are within the protected area of Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama Natural Park, which also creates a beautiful natural border between Málaga and Granada.
- Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama Natural Park
- El Saltillo Hike and GR249 Trail
- Cerro Verde
- Málaga
- Silk Route
If you would prefer an upgraded version of this tour, please see Walking in Málaga in Comfort (Centre-based).
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Canillas de Albaida
You are met at Málaga airport and transferred to Hotel Posada la Plaza in Canillas de Albaida, located on the slopes of the Tejeda and Almijara Mountains, right on the border between the provinces of Málaga and Granada. After settling into the hotel, take the time to wander around this whitewashed town, where you can sample some of the region’s local delicacies such as migas de maíz, fried pumpkin and Moscatel wines.
- Accommodation: Posada La Plaza or similar in Canillas de Albaida
Day 2: El Saltillo hike | 9.2km
Your walking holiday begins in Canillas de Aceituno, a traditional whitewashed village on the edge of the Sierra de Tejeda. From here, follow the trail through the Axarquía region, part of the region’s famous GR249 trail, Gran Senda de Málaga. The route takes you across rugged terrain and clifftops, including the breathtaking puente colgante (suspension bridge), which towers 78m above the gorge and Almanchares River. Continue along suspended sections of the trail that skirt dramatic cliffs before arriving in Sedella, where you are met and transferred back to the hotel.
- Walking for the day: 9.2km, ↑476 m, ↓443m
Day 3: Silk Route | 15.4km
Today’s route, known as the Silk Route, traces the historic paths used by merchants transporting silk between Málaga and mountain villages of Axarquía. You are transferred to Las Colmenillas, before ascending rocky trails and mule tracks through an old olive grove. From here, the trail traverses the hillside, passing the ruins of Venta María and Venta Pradillos, the latter making an excellent place for a picnic lunch, with great views. The return journey initially follows the same path back to Venta María, before splitting off to descend down a different path, passing Cruz de Canillas and eventually returning to Canillas de Albaida.
- Walking for the day: 15.4km, ↑572m, ↓711m
Day 4: Cerro Verde | 10.3km
After a transfer to Fábrica de la Luz, follow a gradually ascending, shaded trail alongside Arroyo de la Cueva del Melero stream. The route passes traditional farm buildings and terraced groves, before beginning a steeper ascent involving brief scrambles to the summit of Cerro Verde, where you are rewarded with panoramic views across the valley and surrounding mountains. The descent passes rosemary and gorse bushes before continuing into woodland and then on to Fábrica de la Luz. From here, it is only a 3.6km walk back to Canillas de Albaida.
- Walking for the day: 10.3km, ↑607m, ↓605m
Day 5: Departure
After breakfast, depart via private transfer to Málaga airport or city, where we can arrange additional nights.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour is in two or three-star hotels. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view default hotels
- Posada La Plaza (Canillas de Albaida)
- Casa Vista B&B (Canillas de Albaida)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included each day. If you stay in the Posada la Plaza complex, breakfast is served in Restaurante La Plaza, so you may need to walk 5-10 minutes to reach this location. Where no restaurants are available en route, lunch can be purchased from either a local shop or from your hotel. Dinner can be purchased from local restaurants in Canillas de Albaida.
Difficulty and terrain
This walking holiday is suitable for regular walkers, with a good fitness level, who are used to hiking in rugged terrain. Most walks described will take between 3-6h with some steep ascents and decents. A small amount of low level scrambling may be required on the Cerro Verde route (read more about difficulty grades). We strongly advise you to only follow marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime.
More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available all year, from January to December thanks to Málaga’s mild climate and lack of rain.
The flexibility of self-guided holidays means there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date during the season.
The weather can be extremely warm in July and August, with average temperatures between 28-31C, so it is advisable to begin walking early.
For further information, see our blog Best time to go to Spain.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour is Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP).
By train or bus
- If you can travel to Spain without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail, with a train station in Málaga. For more details, see the national rail operator Renfe or use the Omio planner above.
- Private transfers from and to Málaga Airport are included (1h).
Inclusions
Included
- 4 nights in Canillas de Albaida in en-suite rooms
- 4 breakfasts
- Private transfers to and from Málaga Airport
- Transfers as outlined in the itinerary
- Detailed digital holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps.
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Transfers not included in the itinerary
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Extra nights in Málaga
- Extra nights in Canillas de Albaida
Spain’s legal requirement for personal information
Please note: in December 2024, the Spanish government introduced a new law making it a legal obligation for all visitors to Spain to share personal details with their accommodations and car rental companies. Consequently, as we book your accommodation for you, we are obliged to pass these on to our local partners on the ground. After booking your holiday, we will send you a form to complete requesting all the legally-required information, including: name, nationality, gender, passport number, DOB, address, phone numbers and email address. This applies to all travellers aged 14 and over. If you are travelling with people under 14 years old, you need to declare your relationship to them. We apologise for any inconvenience. For more information, see here.
