Benaocaz – Gorge, Nature Trails and Local History

In Benaocaz, the Salto del Cabrero gorge has vertical rock faces more than 80 metres high and a passage no more than 50 metres wide. The hiking trail of the same name begins at the end of Calle Pajaruco on the northern edge of the built-up area.

Nature

The Ojo del Moro trail is 1.384 km long, takes 40 minutes and is considered easy. It leads to waterfalls on the Arroyo del Pajaruco and past an abandoned lime kiln. The hiking trail to Casa Fardela is 3.2 km long, takes 1 hour and 30 minutes and is classified as moderate. It begins in the upper part of Benaocaz, in the Los Corrales area, at the end of Calle de los Nazaríes. The Calzada Romana de Ubrique hiking trail leads from Benaocaz to Ubrique along a well-preserved Roman road.

The different trail lengths, walking times and difficulty ratings help you compare the routes for your own daily planning. Natural destinations sit alongside a historic route, so the focus of each trail is clearly distinct.

The information on duration and difficulty reflects different time budgets and trail characteristics: on the Ojo del Moro, the waterfalls and lime kiln are located along the same route, while Casa Fardela describes a different format, with a longer distance, a longer walking time and a moderate difficulty rating. The Calzada Romana adds a route between two towns to this selection.

Salto del Cabrero provides another spatial point of focus. In addition to the gorge's dimensions, the trail's exact starting point is also given; this allows the rock formation and the edge of the town to be considered separately in your own planning, without combining the different routes into a single trail offering.

Culture

The narrow, labyrinthine streets of the Barrio Nazarí preserve their old paving and are lined with whitewashed houses and colourful flower beds. In the Iglesia de San Pedro, the bell tower consists of the minaret of a former mosque. The same church houses the Cristo de la Columna, known as “Amarrao”.

The San Blas Festival in Benaocaz is celebrated on 3 February; it is believed to have been held since at least the 17th century. It includes a procession through the streets of Benaocaz accompanied by charangas. Typical regional products are sampled at midday.

The townscape, church and festival represent different cultural focal points: the Barrio Nazarí is expressed through its streets, paving, houses and flower beds; the Iglesia de San Pedro combines the bell tower with the Cristo de la Columna; and the San Blas Festival brings together a date, procession and regional products.

More town pages: San Martín del Tesorillo, Poblado Sancti Petri, Algeciras, Cádiz, San Pablo De Buceite, San Fernando, Bornos, Estella del Marqués.

History

Benaocaz was declared a historic-artistic ensemble by Andalusian Decree 27/1985. The Castillo de Aznalmara is a ruined fortress with a preserved weapons courtyard, a cistern or well, and part of the battlements on its square keep.

To the main travel overview: Cadiz.