Things to do in Cádiz
Cádiz, Sierra de Grazalema mountains
Spain has a surplus of staggeringly beautiful wild spaces. But Sierra de Grazalema in the north-east of Cadiz, became the country’s first Unesco biosphere reserve in 1977 for a good reason. Here you’ll find all sorts of natural beauty, just 57 miles (92 kilometers) outside of Cádiz. In fact, whether you’re a hiking newbie or you’ve covered thousand of miles, there are plenty of trail options.
The best hiking trails near Cádiz are spread all around the remarkable, 53,400 hectares wilderness area, which sits mostly in Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park. But also strays into Los Alcornocales Natural Park and overflows into the province of Málaga.
This article focuses on the best day hikes; on the great walks that you can get done in a single day. Read on for our favorite best day walks near Cádiz.
Hike Majaceite river walk
If you want to experience how does it feel rambling surrounded by different types of trees such as poplars, ash trees and elms, together with its fauna, finding birds like the golden oriole, the blackbird, the robin or the wagtail. While listening the water running down the river and breathing fresh air and finding rests of an old fulling mild, then this is the perfect route for you.
This hike goes from El Bosque to Benamahoma, but you can do it in both ways. In fact, it is a 5km well sign-posted trail walking near the Majaceite river, and because of its low difficulty and its beauty in nature, this trail is one of the most popular in the area. You can come with your family, friends and even your dog (as long as it is leashed).
- Location: El Bosque, 57 miles away from Cádiz city
- Total distance: 3.1 miles
- Hike time: 3 hours (total)
- Difficulty Rating: easy
- Highest elevation: 1354.99 feet
- Best For: Exploring a fantastic scenery
- Dogs: leashed
The trail is best hiked in spring, and even at the beginning of summer season. So, if you are planning a walking guided tour in Southern Spain and want to experience this remarkable hike, don’t hesitate to book with us! We will make sure you get the experience at its fullest.
Hike up Salto del Cabrero
Salto del Cabrero trail is one of the most astonishing trails in Sierra de Grazalema due to its unbelievable views. In effect, if you are looking for an escape from the loudness and business of the city, this is the perfect place for you to relax and reconnect with yourself again.
The hike up Salto del Cabrero does not require an enormous amount of effort, and it is easy to walk through. Even though it belongs to Benaocaz, you’ll find the start of the trail right before arriving in the town, taking a deviation to a hotel called Los Chozos, where it’s a parking area. During the hike, we can find an old broken bridge and later two trails. We take the one that ascends up the hill that connects to the town of Benaocaz. Nonetheless, the route leads us in the opposite direction, leaving Benaocaz behind.
Further, we cross a gate arriving at el Puerto de Don Fernando, there we can find trees such as olive trees, maples and mastic trees. While walking down the long trail, there is a wide beautiful meadow. Here we take the left signed trail and in about a few minutes we will have arrived at Salto del Cabrero viewpoint. Once there, we find vultures and a gorge that separates two huge vertical mountain walls. But there is more if we turn around, because we can see the Alcornocales Park, one of the lungs of the province.
- Location: El Bosque, 64 miles away from Cádiz city
- Total distance: 3.1 miles
- Hike time: 3 hours (total)
- Difficulty Rating: easy
- Highest elevation: 1354.99 feet
- Best For: Exploring a fantastic scenery
- Dogs: leashed
So, if you are looking to enjoy and experience stunning views such as Salto del Cabrero, book with us your guided walking tour right now and see if there is any place available in our group! Above all you’ll enjoy this adventure to its fullest thanks to our local guides.
Hike El Torreón trail
This is a challenging hike, but you won’t want to miss it. El Torreón trail is the most breathtaking hike in all of the Sierra de Grazalema. From the beginning of the route up to the highest peak of the province of Cádiz, you’ll enjoy spectacular views of all the province area. But before we start, there is something to be aware of. You need to ask for permission to walk this trail beforehand in the El Bosque office. And take into account that this route is closed from June 1st to October 1st.
- Location: Grazalema, 65 miles away from Cádiz city
- Total distance: 3.9 miles
- Hike time: 5 hours (total)
- Difficulty Rating: challenging
- Highest elevation: 5410 feet
- Best For: Exploring breathtaking views
- Dogs: no dogs
To begin with this astonishing trail, if you are coming from Grazalema, drive the Benamahoma road (A-372) until finding El Torreón parking to the right. Firstly, cross the road until we get to the gate, which is the starting point of our signposted route. Secondly, we start our ascent to El Torreón, walking through an old Roman road that went from Arcos de la Frontera to Ronda. While ascending we need to stop to look at the wonderful panoramic views we get of all the Sierra de Cádiz area. Moreover, during the hike, strolling through a forest of evergreen oaks, we’ll see wild goats, and other typical goats of the region called “Payoyas”. For this reason these are the ones making with their milk, the most famous cheese of Sierra de Grazalema, “Queso Payoyo”, in the cheese factory located in Villaluenga del Rosario.
However, when arriving at the foot of El Torreón, we must be extremely cautious due to the rock paths that we have to walk through. But they are not as difficult as it seems. Once getting through the rock trail, the hike until reaching the peak is pretty smooth. It is safe to say that this trail requires a lot of effort and you could arrive to the top of the mountain slightly tired. But it will be worthy once you get there and appreciate the breathtaking views where you can see part of province of Seville and Málaga such as Ronda and Sierra de las Nieves. And almost the whole province of Cádiz from la Garganta Verde, el Parque Natural de los Alcornocales, to the bay of Cádiz enjoying the views of Gibraltar. To sum up it is a full 360 view astonishing experience.
Embrace guided tours and learn about the history
Maybe you think you’ve never been much of a fan of group tours. You can also feel like you’d floating above a place instead of standing in it — that you’re being shown what someone thinks tourists should see, versus really getting to know an area yourself. But that changes with our local guides from Cádiz. On your walking tour, you’ll walk some miles in the countryside, marveling at the grand forests, watch mountains and rivers that fill you with new energy. And you will really understand much of what you’re looking at.
Cádiz region on Spain’s southwestern edge, is mostly known for its white villages and gastronomy. But what most people don’t know is that, there is much more on its core regarding its nature together with stunning landscapes. Indeed, you will find it if you book with us in one of our walking guided tours all over the beautiful Sierra de Grazalema trails.
If you are a hiking lover, the best day walks near Cádiz are for you. Enjoy this outstanding experience with us, there is a limited group of people that can walk this route, contact us for more information!
