Portugalejo – Cycling Routes, River Landscapes and Tibetan Buddhist Culture

Portugalejo is the starting point of the “Portugalejo-Benamargosa-Comares” route. From here, it leads downhill towards Vélez-Málaga. It crosses the Axarquía comarca and runs through an area of vines and vineyards. It passes cortijos with numerous grape-drying facilities, as well as a round tower in ruins that serves as a landmark. Close to the route is a cortijada signposted as a Tibetan Buddhist centre. From a distance, the La Viñuela reservoir can also be seen along the route.

This route therefore combines several clearly distinguishable impressions: its course through the Axarquía, agricultural landscapes, historic landmarks and a cultural connection. At the same time, the route remains recognisable as a specific connection between Portugalejo, Benamargosa and Comares.

Other location pages include: Alozaina, Marbella, Alcaucín, Mondrón, Benamargosa, Sedella, Serrato and Periana.

Cycling

A second cycling tour is called “Subida al Puerto de Zafarraya y bajada por el Puerto del Sol” and runs via Trapiche, La Viñuela and Portugalejo.

The two cycling tours emphasise different areas. The route to Benamargosa and Comares starts in Portugalejo and leads downhill towards Vélez-Málaga; the tour via Puerto de Zafarraya, Puerto del Sol, Trapiche and La Viñuela incorporates additional named locations. When planning your own day, the route, connection to specific locations and landscape themes can therefore be considered as separate criteria alongside one another.

Nature

The Río Bermuza runs for approximately 14 kilometres in a north-east to south-west direction and flows into the Río Salia near Portugalejo.

The river gives the landscape its own geographical reference, while the routes reveal the area through movement. The watercourse, reservoir and agriculturally shaped surroundings thus stand alongside the two cycling routes, without these features having to be grouped into a single landscape type. The approximate length of the Río Bermuza also remains as a separate piece of information.

Culture and Hiking

Karma Guen offers small courses and individual meditation retreats throughout the year. It also provides academic and cultural activities connected with Tibetan Buddhist traditions.

The cultural connection therefore includes both small courses and individual retreats, as well as academic and cultural activities. The signposted cortijada along the route adds a specific point of reference along the way, while Karma Guen’s offerings are described as independent formats.

The “Portugalejo – Canillas de Aceituno” hiking route has an ascent of 1,190 metres.

For this hiking route, the change in elevation is the key distinguishing feature. Together with the cycling routes and cultural offerings, this results in different types of activity that can be considered separately according to the type of movement and how they are scheduled.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Portugalejo, travel dates, the desired room category and cancellation conditions can be considered separately. This information relates to your own accommodation decision and stands alongside the different topics of the cycling routes, the Río Bermuza, the hiking route and the cultural offerings.

For the overarching travel overview: Málaga.