Holiday apartment in Cuevas de San Marcos: Water, Trails and History

Cuevas de San Marcos combines a river landscape with cultural traces reaching far back into the past. The Genil River runs through Cuevas de San Marcos and forms the Iznájar Reservoir. On the slopes of the Falla de la Sierra del Camorro, caves and settlement remains from prehistoric times point to the long history of the landscape.

Water Landscape and Trails in Cuevas de San Marcos

The “Valle del Genil y presa del Pantano de Iznájar” trail is 3,216 metres long and is a linear route in Cuevas de San Marcos. There is also the 4,631-metre circular “Falla de la Sierra del Camorro” trail. The two trails therefore differ not only in length but also in their route design. When planning your day, you can take the route format into account as well as the distance. A linear route and a circular route require different considerations regarding the course of the trail.

Cycling and Active Experiences

For cycling tourism, Bike Territory Sierra Norte de Málaga offers routes through several municipalities, including Cuevas de San Marcos. Cuevas de San Marcos also has several via ferratas.

In the participating municipalities of Bike Territory Sierra Norte de Málaga, including Cuevas de San Marcos, there are centres with changing rooms, showers, car parks and areas where cycling travellers can hire equipment. The changing rooms and showers are for preparation, while the car parks serve arrival by car; the equipment-hire areas complement the centres for cycling travellers. The routes are thus supplemented by practical facilities.

Belda, Camorro and Older Traces

An early point of reference is the village of Belda: Ptolemy mentioned it in 298 BC. Coffins, amphorae and coins from the late imperial period found in Belda are considered evidence of a significant Roman settlement.

The remains from the Arab period at Cerro del Camorro, also known as Cerro del Chamorro, include a castle ruin or castle site. There are also paved areas, sections of rendered walls and numerous ceramics with cord decoration from the 13th and 14th centuries.

The Cueva de Belda contains remains of the Dolmen culture. These include the menhir near Las Cruces, locally known as the “Stone Child”.

The Ermita del Carmen in Cuevas de San Marcos is an 18th-century hermitage.

Festivals, Customs and Cuisine

The San Marcos festivities in Cuevas de San Marcos begin with a church service and a triduum. This is followed by prayers for rain; these preserve and pass on prayers with very ancient origins.

A ritual in Cuevas de San Marcos is called “tying up the devil”: villagers tie a knot in a handful of grass or straw without breaking the stalks.

A typical soup from Cuevas de San Marcos is made with broad beans, egg and coriander.

More Destinations for Your Planning

More destinations for your planning: Moclinejo, Bobadilla, Benahavis, Benaoján, Yunquera, Villafranco del Guadalhorce, Malaga, Archidona

For the higher-level travel overview: Málaga.