Cortes de la Frontera – Nature, Hiking Trails and Culture

Nature

The Cañón de las Buitreras is a geological natural monument covering an area of 21.9 hectares and belonging to the municipalities of Cortes de la Frontera, Benalauría and Benarrabá in the province of Málaga. The narrow gorge formed by the Guadiaro River contains karst passages, caves and numerous waterfalls. A significant colony of griffon vultures breeds on the steep rock faces of the Cañón de las Buitreras; otters also live in its waters.

Los Alcornocales Natural Park is a mountain complex with the largest cork oak forest on the Iberian Peninsula, which is in an excellent state of conservation. Laguna del Moral is a seasonal habitat for newts and frogs. When planning your trip, you can consider these focal points separately. Depending on your personal interests, landforms, wildlife, forest or seasonal bodies of water may take priority.

Hiking and History

The La Sauceda hiking trail passes through a small valley formed by the Arroyo Rosada Llana, also known as Pasadallana, passing the old Molino del Mondo grain mill and the former settlement of La Sauceda. The remains of a chapel that also served as a school for a time are located there.

For centuries, La Sauceda was a refuge for bandits and people who had been displaced from their homes. During the Spanish Civil War, the settlement was severely affected by Francoist troops and even bombed from the air. Official authorization is required for the La Sauceda hiking trail. The trail description combines the natural environment with remembrance; obtaining authorization is a separate organizational matter.

Culture

The Ruta de Levante begins in Cortes de la Frontera and leads, among other places, to the Roman ruins of Saeponta. The parish church of Nuestra Señora del Rosario in Cortes de la Frontera is associated with an important pilgrimage.

When comparing holiday apartments in Cortes de la Frontera, you can check travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions side by side on the respective offer pages. Depending on your personal travel plans, these details can be given different weight without basing the decision on a single activity or cultural attraction.

At the XXII Jornadas Micológicas in Cortes de la Frontera on 3 and 4 February 2024, the programme included excursions into the countryside, identification and cultivation workshops, Micotapas or Micotapa routes, live cooking, tastings, photography competitions and exhibitions. For your planning, you can weigh historical traces, religious tradition and regional mushroom culture independently of one another; no fixed order is prescribed. The XXII Jornadas Micológicas of Cortes de la Frontera were awarded the title Fiesta de Singularidad Turística Provincial and have been held since 2002.

Other places: Sayalonga, Salares, Los Villalones, Vélez-Málaga, Jimera De Líbar, Nerja, Atajate, Villanueva De Algaidas

To the higher-level travel overview: Málaga.