Andalucia Guides

The region of Antequera and its surrounds is authentic rural Spain, an important crossroads for thousands of years. Antequera is at the very heart of Andalucía not only geographically, but in spirit too as successive civilisations have all left their mark. The landscape here is of olives and sunflowers – and perhaps because it’s off the usual tourist path, the local welcome is as warm as the sunshine.

Welcome to Spain’s Atlantic coast, the Coast of Light. Sunlight here is clear and sharp and brings the coast’s wild beauty into crisp focus. The ocean rolls in, sparkling on beaches of fine sand, dunes rise up behind the shore. This is untamed holiday paradise. But there are also historical towns to visit like Jerez and Cadiz, natural parks to hike in and even day trips to Africa – Morocco is only an hour away, on the fast ferry from Tarifa.

The Costa Tropical has all the benefits of a beach holiday location without the strident high-rise tourism of some parts of Spain. Less commercialised than the Costa del Sol, the shingle beaches are gentle and clean. The microclimate here is pleasantly sub-tropical, hence its name. There are cultural sights to see, fun attractions and traditional aspects of Andalucían life to experience. This region is so convenient to get to—Málaga airport is under two hours’ drive, Granada airport is only a little over an hour away.

This region west of Granada city is a hidden corner of Andalucía which has cultivated olives for centuries. Its easygoing way of life rubs off with sunny charm on any visitor. Here you’ll find churches perched on hilltops, winding cobbled streets, quaint plazas and cafés as far away from the busy modern world as can be. El Poniente Granadino is a good choice for visiting the cities of Granada, Antequera and Archidona while relaxing in authentic Spanish surroundings.

This region is halfway between Granada city and Las Alpujarras—a superb location for Granada sightseeing, skiing and the beach combined with a pleasant semi-tropical climate. The Lecrín Valley played an important part in the Moorish kingdom of Granada and this region is rich with historical references to it. Most of the villages of the Lecrín Valley are on the banks of the Béznar Lake and there are many clearly marked hiking trails incorporating these little towns en route.

The region east of Málaga is La Axarquía. It is often overlooked as a holiday location, but it is full of authentic little villages, mountain trails, rolling hills of olive trees and 30 kilometres of clean beaches. Inland, the pace of life is unhurried and traditional, while the coast is fun but less touristy than west of Málaga. The variety of countryside on offer, in a relatively small area, means that you can ‘get away from it all’ in a landscape that suits you best.

The region of Las Alpujarras is dramatic and varied. From the snowy ski resort of Sierra Nevada (with the highest peak on mainland Spain) to its sunny Mediterranean beaches, there is so much on offer. Here you’ll find living history in its unique mountain villages, wild beauty in its National Park and cultural riches in its city of Granada – the Granada of Lorca, of gypsy flamenco, and the Alhambra – the most romantic Moorish palace in the world.

The region of ‘the white villages’ is located inland halfway between Marbella and Sevilla in the province of Cádiz. These whitewashed villages were built on hills for safety during times of medieval unrest. Today we’re left with peaceful, pretty towns all with breathtaking views of peaks, gorges and lush green pastures. This friendly, uncrowded region offers a different experience from the coast and usual tourist sites.

Ronda and its surrounding landscape has all that is symbolic of Andalucia—the land of passion, literary inspiration, bullfighting and romantic bandit stories. Its famous Puente Nuevo bridge, spanning El Tajo gorge, is unforgettable. Ronda is a magnificent city with a rich culture and history but this region also offers beautiful countryside, picturesque white villages like Gaucín, and the sea which is near enough for a day at the beach.

The Natural Park of Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche is in the most westerly part of Andalucía, in the province of Huelva. Here the landscape is of green woodlands, mountain streams and pretty white villages. Sevilla is little more than an hour’s drive away so it’s surprising that this region is almost unheard of outside Andalucía. With surprises at every turn—Templar castles, caves, fiestas and gastronomical delights—this corner of Andalucía is uniquely beautiful and wholly original.

This region is almost exactly in the centre of Andalucía. Its sunshine makes Subbética de Córdoba perfect for olive growing, and it produces some of the finest olive oil in the world. There are interesting towns to visit and local traditions to experience. The Sierras Subbéticas Natural Park is a rugged landscape for hiking and climbing. This unspoilt region offers a cultural side of historical Andalucía, outdoor activities and peaceful countryside.

There is more to the Costa del Sol than at first glance. Although the sunny, sandy beaches are famous, step inland a few kilometres and it’s a different world. You’ll find whitewashed villages full of flowers and vast expanses of Natural Parks with rare wildlife. These contrast with sophisticated resorts and golf courses – all basking in the glorious sunshine, the watchword for this region.