Malaga El Chorro Itinerary
Total length of the trip: 175km.
Malaga is left by the CN 402 in the direction of Alora. After
19km it approaches the Guadalhorce which it will follow as far
as the reservoir.
Alora (40km from Malaga) lies on a rugged projection on the left
of the road. A visit to the village, which, by the way, consists
of a series of very steep slopes, is worth the travellers while
for many reasons. The village spreads over a neighbouring hill,
on which an old Moorish castle stands. The whitewashed streets
are sometimes lined with lemon trees and converge on a square
in the lowest part, over which a church towers. The power of this
building is the backbone of the village. From there it is possible
- on foot or by car - to climb to the castle where the cemetery
of Alora is and from where there is a splendid panorama of the
Guadalhorce river basin. Among the tombs there is a small Gothic
chapel.
The road forks on the outskirts of Alora, but both branches lead
to the same place: El Chorro gorge and Bobastro. The difference
between them is considerable. The left hand road (the longer:
31km as far as Bobastro and a little more to El Chorro) passes
through lonely countryside before reaching Carratracaz; that on
the right hand is the more logical way if one does not mind omitting
that lovely mountain village. The best solution is probably to
go on one and return on the other.
El desfilader (ravine) de los Gaitanes lies at a distance of 20km
from Alora. There, the Guadalhorce begins its journey towards
the sea between two breathtaking rock walls which are 40m high
at some points. Half way up one of the walls, there is a kind
of footbridge called Camino del Rey (The Kings Walk), but it is
not sure whether it is safe to sue. The road continues towards
the Guadalhorce reservoir. After less than a kilometre, there
are signposts for El Chorro and for Bobastro, an interesting Mozarab
church hewn out of the rock.
Skirting the reservoir from there for a short time (the reservoir
should always be on the right), Ardales is reached shortly afterwards.
This is a small village surrounded by corn fields and olive groves.
Carratraca lies at a distance of 7km. It's most outstanding feature
is the old spa dating from 1847 and occupying a Neo-Classical
building. The glazed tile patio with a pavilion in the centre
still preserves unchanged all the 19C charm of this kind of establishment.
It is only open in the summer. Near the spa there is the Town
Hall occupying a Neo-Caliphal building with a more fantastic than
historicist decoration.
There are only 18km left to be back in Alora.