Map of Benalmadena’s Walking and Hiking Routes (Click on the map to see larger version)
Do you enjoy walking and hiking in the countryside? Although better known as a sun and beach holiday destination, Benalmadena also offers many fun and entertaining activities during the quieter and cooler winter months. Two of those activities are walking and hiking.
Benalmadena actually boasts an impressive network of natural walking routes and trails from which you can experience unbelievable views of the Costa del Sol and beyond.
These routes are spread over the Municipality’s vast expanse which stretches into the hills and mountains behind Benalmadena Pueblo and Arroyo de la Miel. The town hall actively promotes these walking routes at travel trade fairs, and also maintains and cleans the 6 routes it recommends.
Below we’ve put together a quick guide and summary of Benalmadena’s six walking routes with approximate distances and difficulty levels.
If you fancy trying all 6 routes, why not treat yourself to a few nights stay in Benalmádena? Sunset Beach Club seafront Hotel-Apartments offer great value in the autumn and winter months, and are the perfect choice for a comfortable stay. You can also relax at Happy Hour and enjoy the stunning sea views after a hard day’s trek! Our Leisure Desk can also advise you how best to get to the start of the walking routes.
Route 1: Arroyo de los Muertos
This route has two variants, ‘Calamorro’ and ‘Ermita’.
Calamorro Route
Distance: Approx. 3.5 km
Difficulty Level: Low
Starts from: Arroyo de la Miel
The route starts off from just behind the Miguel Hernández Public school (see map above). You’ll make your way through a tunnel under the motorway and head up the mountain. Soon you’ll come to a crossing; heading left will take you to the ermita (chapel) – See below – and if you take the trail on the right you’ll go all the way to the top of the Calamorro mountain (where the cable car stops). Those of you who have taken the cable car will know that the views from here are simply spectacular – and well worth the hike.
Ermita Route
Distance: Approx. 2 km
Difficulty: Medium
Starts from: Arroyo de la Miel
Starts from the same place as the above ‘Calamorro Route’. You won’t go all the way to the top of the mountain following this route but the views from the ermita (chapel) are equally impressive. The last part of the route is a little steep, hence the reason for giving it a ‘medium’ difficulty level.
Route 2: Los Leñadores
Distance: Approx. 2.5 km
Difficulty: Medium
Starts from: Benalmádena
Access to this route is from the A-368 road joining Torremolinos and Benalmadena (Km 7). This is another short route with an easier start on tarmac until you reach the Benalmádena quarry; the next couple of hundred metres is quite steep until you clear the quarry. From that point on it’s more of a gentle climb to the Puerto Viejo area near the top of the mountain.
The highlights of this route are the views over the town of Benalmádena.
Route 3: El Quejigal
Distance: Approx. 3 km
Difficulty: Low
Starts from: Benalmadena
Route 3 (R-3) starts from a sharp corner on the A-368 road (very near to the start of Route 2). You’ll make your way through a viaduct under the motorway and head up through a pine forest. Follow the trail all the way up to the area known as El Quejigal, an area of great ecological value.
You’ll be able to see different species of eagles hunting for prey as well as mountain goats climbing the rocky walls of the mountain.
Route 4: Tajo de la Sabia
Distance: Approx. 3.5 km
Difficulty: Medium
Starts from: Benalmadena Pueblo
The route starts from Benalmadena Pueblo (see map) and has a choice of two trails, one taking you through a pine forest and the other a more direct route up the mountain.
As you near the summit, you’ll go through what is perhaps one of the more densely populated pine forests in the area; a great place to stop and enjoy the peace and tranquility 🙂
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Route 5: Mina de la Trinidad
Distance: Approx. 6 km
Difficulty: Medium
Starts from: Benalmadena
More or less one kilometre from Benalmadena Pueblo (heading towards Mijas) on the A-368 road there’s a trail on the right hand side; this is the start of the Route 5.
This route takes you past an old mine (Mina de la Trinidad). Although dangerous and only recommended for experienced hikers, you can go into the mine which has various galleries with geological formations.
The rest of the route is a steady climb to the ‘Cerro del Moro’ where you can stop and contemplate the breathtaking views over the Costa del Sol and, on a clear day, over towards Gibraltar and North Africa. This is also the start of Route 6 which we talk about next.
Route 6: Los Cazadores
Distance: Approx. 4.5 km
Difficulty: Low
Starts from: Benalmadena (Cerro del Moro)
This route starts at an altitude of over 900 metres and takes you on a gentle downward slope along the mountain ridge towards the Puerto Viejo area. Due to its location, this route actually joins on to many of the other routes mentioned above (see map).
You can join Route 1 here and challenge yourself by climbing the steep trail (150m change in altitude) up to the top of the Calamorro Mountain; as mentioned earlier, the views from here are spectacular making it the ideal spot for a great photo! 🙂
A few Recommendations
If you’re planning on exploring one of these amazing routes, there’s just a few things you need to keep in mind in order to make your walk more enjoyable and help look after the environment.
- Use comfortable footwear (boots or trainers)
- Protect yourself from the weather conditions
- Respect the environment (no camping, no motor vehicles, no camp fires or barbecues allowed)
- Do not leave litter
- Respect the plants and flowers (Do not cut flowers)
- Avoid fire risks (Do not smoke)
- Always walk on the paths
We certainly hope you wont need them, but just in case, here are some of the emergency service numbers to call in case of accident or medical emergency:
Emergencies: 112
Local Police: 092 or 952 562 142
Fire department: 080 or 952 563 429
Protección Civil: 952 562 655
So what do you think, will you be attempting one of these fabulous walking and hiking routes the next time you are in Benalmádena? Have you already been on one of these walks? Let us know in the comments below.
=> Click Here to download a pdf version of this Benalmadena Walking Guide
Note: If you are planning a holiday in Benalmadena and need accommodation, at Sunset Beach Club we’ve got great value accommodation in modern and comfortable apartments. Our sea front location makes it the ideal base from which to explore Benalmadena´s Walking and Hiking Routes. For more information please visit www.sunsetbeachclub.com.
My dog and I went hiking north of Benalmádena Pueblo today. We started out taking route 3, when it split we took route 4 (upwards, upwards, upwards and upwards), then route 6, then route 3 down…
We have hiked a lot in Sierra Nevada, and usually do medium hikes. We usually do the hikes in about half the estimated time.
This is NOT a medium hike! It is indeed a HARD hike.
I was wearing hiking sandals, which was a big mistake. When going up, it is a mix between walking on rocks that roll under your feet and mountaineering 😉 When you think you have reached the top, it is pretty much still upwards, just a little lighter, still walking/climbing on loose rocks. It is a pretty long walk, and when it finally starts going down, still on loose rocks, you are walking in a “path” that most be flooded during spring – pretty difficult to walk there.
Beware, that you feel like you are getting no closer to civilisation for a looooong time. The rocks are pointy a lot of the way, so you’d better not fall.
There is cell coverage MOST of the time. But really – be sure to tell somebody where you go, and text them along the way when you go on another route.
I know that you should always tell someone, but I rarely do. This time though, I was getting tired after 3 hours, so I texted a friend, telling her to send somebody looking for us, if I did not text her within and hour and a half.
This hike took us about 4 hours, with almost no breaks (remember that we usually do hikes in half the estimated time). Now my legs and feet are buzzing from balancing on rocks for 4 hours.
I would only recommend this hike for experienced hikers, and not to go alone.
If you are not, and choose to go anyway, do not go alone, wear hiking boots/shoes, lots of water, a cell phone (plus extra batteri if data is turned on) and be sure to start out so you have 6-8 hours before sundown.
Thank you very much for letting us know about your hike Bettina. We appreciate the information you have given us and I’m sure fellow hikers will find it extremely useful if they try the routes themselves.