Walking and Hiking in Andalucia

Visitors to Andalucia's enchanting mountain villages usually come to relax and enjoy a peaceful time away from the pressures of modern life; however, for those who like to be fairly active during their mountain village holiday, there is no shortage of sports and leisure activities available in Montejaque.

Numerous tracks wind away from Montejaque through mountains, cork forests and farmland where you can enjoy spectacular scenery undisturbed by traffic and everyday noise. The surrounding countryside is part of the Grazalema Natural Park and is a paradise for botanists and ornithologists.

Walking at all levels is available through the mountains, using trails and tracks that have been in existence in some cases for hundreds of years, where you really capture the feeling that you have stepped back in time.
Nature has been seemingly left to its own devices, and the area is a treasure trove for those interested in flora and fauna, set against an azure sky with Griffon Vultures soaring, the warm air rising from the steep mountain slopes - a photographer's dream.

A myriad of trails and tracks greet the serious walker who will undoubtedly find the longer distance trails both a challenge and pleasure, in surroundings that have a unique quality. Routes start at the top of the village and the limestone provides good grip but can be very sharp so good footwear is essential.
The Andalucian mountains surrounding Montejaque are: Tavizna (899m), Hacho (1065m) and El Pico de la Ventana (1298m).

The River Campobuche flows from near Grazalema to the dam at Tavizna, and then disappears into the mountain at the Hundidero Cave, appearing again near Benaojan at the Cueva del Gato or Cave of the Cat.

Montejaque is of Arabic origin, and the part of the town known as the Castillo was a mediaeval citadel, complete with minarets. It is said that during the Napoleonic wars the villagers managed to fend off the French army. The Church of Santiago el Mayor, built in the 16th century and restored in the18th, is built in a gothic style, with high arches. There is a small chapel on the hill opposite the town, where the town holds its Virgen for Romarias, a type of pilgrimage/party. You can see the path winding up from the Benaojan road, and it is an easy walk with wonderful views, known as Las Canchas. Above the town, accessed from near the Bar La Cabana lie the wonderful mountain meadows of the Llanos de Libar with various beautiful Cortijos and sinkholes for the cavers.

Suggested routes for walking and hiking around Montejaque

El Castillo / Mirador

If you take a look from the main plaza, the area of El Castillo sits perched on top of an outcrop of rocks behind the village. The fir trees on the hill were planted over 20 years ago by inmates of the Malaga jail and now offer a relaxing shaded little area, where it's great to sit back and watch the sun go down over the mountain of El Hacho or enjoy a nice picnic.
Affording spectacular views of the village and nearby mountains, this ten minutes' walk from the town is highly recommended and suitable for all of the family.
To enjoy this walk we suggest you follow these directions (we do not recommend flip-flops for footwear!.

Tavizana Circuit

This a local circular walk taking in the Tavizna Gorge, the Cave of Hundidero and the ill-fated Montejaque dam and reservoir. The walk starts in Montejaque and leads you towards the Tavizna mountain, then deep down into the gorge for a view of the local cave whose labrynth runs 7km under the mountains, and exits at the Cave of the Cat close to the river Guardiaro. From the cave you will then climb up the valley wall to the local dam for views of the gorge and surrounding countryside with a view of what the valley was intended to be, a reservoir.
The circuit leads you down into the valley, around the mountain of Tavizna and finally back uphill to complete the circuit close to where you started. The walk is split into 2 categories from easy/medium to medium/challenging depending on which route you take. Please read all instructions before deciding which route. (This walk cannot be done during heavy rain spells).

Duration:	3 hours comfortable pace depending on route.
Sights:	Mount Tavizna, deep gorges, Montejaque dam, plenty of birdlife.
Trail:	Starts close to Mount Tavizna and finishes in a circular fashion. 6/7km.
Level:	Circuit 1 Easy to Medium. Circuit 2 Medium to Challenging.
Obstructions:	Some gates, large rocks on circuit 2.
Shade:	Plenty in bottom of gorge, little elsewhere.
Equipment:	Strong walking boots or shoes with good grip. Walking poles, sunscreen, hat, bottled water.
Dangers:	Very steep paths. Narrow horizontal paths with vertical drops. Not suitable for young children. Do not go beyond the main Hundidero cave entrance. Excessive heat in late afternoons in the months of June, July and August. Thorn bushes and plants on circuit 2.
Emergencies:	The main road travels around the gorge. If an emergency arises you will need to decide to go back up the mountain the way you came or continue on the route described. Cellphones do not work in the gorge.
Maps:	The circuit is divided on two maps 1:25,000; Mapa Topografico Nacional de Espana - Montecorto 1050-11 Mapa Topografico Nacional de Espana - Benaojan 1050-14 Both maps show the reservoir Embalse de Montejaque but it does not exist!

Sierra Circuit

This is another circular route taking in much of the local countryside and much of what Andalucia has to offer. Olive orchards, oak forests, goat farms, large valleys, big mountains and fabulous views make this trip worthy of a full day, although at a brisk pace the circuit can be covered in about 4 hours. The circuit starts north of the town, around Mount Hacho and winds its way southwards across a variety of scenic splendour. Finally after crossing a few short hill tops you find yourself in the Libar Valley with impressive views of the Sierra de Juan Diego and a northward hike back into Montejaque.

Duration:	4 hours fast pace. 5 hours medium pace. 6 hours comfortable pace.
Distance:	Approx 14km.
Sights:	Mount Hacho, mountains, valleys, orchards, forests.
Trail:	Starts and ends in Montejaque in a circular fashion.
Level:	Medium, mostly level landscape, some uphill climbs.
Obstructions:	Some gates, some bulls, some rocks to navigate, some no-go areas.
Shade:	Plenty on most parts of the trip except final hour.
Equipment:	Lots of water, food, sunscreen, hat, walking poles, strong boots or shoes, and a rented compass from our office.
Dangers:	Some snakes (although human snake bites are rare, there is a risk of being bitten by the local vobora snake, vipera latastei or snub nosed viper. Its bite is venomous and can kill small farm animals. If you get bitten, stay calm and seek medical attention as soon as possible). Getting lost (you can rent a compass). Excessive heat in late afternoons of June, July and August.
Emergencies:	Cellphones have intermittent service on the entire route. There are a number of farms close-by and much of the circuit can be reached by four wheel drive vehicles. In case of emergency, try one of the local farms for assistance.
Maps:	Mapa Topografico Nacional Benaojan 1050-14 (1:25,000) This is not the best labelled map and often names are known differently by the locals.

Hacho Mountain

Facing dominantly over the town of Montejaque affording spectacular views is the mountain of Hacho. The tallest of its three peaks reaches 1075 metres above sea level, about 300 metres above the town. Like much of the local landscape, Hacho is a Karst rock formation and offers some interesting sights.
Its imposing easterly face is rather difficult to navigate unless you have some previous climbing experience, but our route takes you around to the rear side of the mountain where the slopes are a more comfortable 45 degree angle. We suggest before starting off on this trip that you find a point in town where you can see Hacho's eastern front and get an idea of where its peaks are in relation to the map provided. Once on the mountain it is difficult to navigate the peaks from below. Should you prefer not to climb the mountain, our route offers you an easy alternative walk around the base and returning from the opposite side of Montejaque.

Duration:	Circuit 1, 90 minutes Approx. 4km. Circuit 2, 2.5 hours.
Sights:	From the peaks, spectacular views of nearby mountains, karst rock formations, and a rare view of Montejaque from high above the town.
Trail:	Starts in Montejaque in a circular route and ends back in town. 3/4km.
Level:	Circuit 1 Easy, No climbing (uphill 45 mins and downhill 45 mins) Circuit 2 Medium, Some climbing depending on route you take.
Obstructions:	Some gates, large rocks.
Shade:	Trees line the route at the back of mountain and on mountain.
Equipment:	Circuit 2 requires strong walking shoes (preferably boots), sunscreen, hat, walking poles, water.
Dangers:	None on Circuit 1. The biggest threat on Circuit 2 is falling onto extremely jagged rocks and suffering lacerations. Care should also be taken when using walking poles that can easily get stuck between rocks causing you to lose balance.
Emergencies:	Few people take this route, so assistance is difficult. Cellphones are intermittent. In case of emergency make your way back to town along the route you came.
Maps:	Mapa Topografica Nacional de Espana - Benaojan 1050-14; 1:25,000