Hiking El Torcal de Antequera in Southern Spain
El Torcal de Antequera is a nature reserve I visited while road tripping around Andalucia in southern Spain. With its unusual karst formations, it feels like you’ve stepped onto another planet. Located just outside of Antequera, this magical-looking landscape makes for a wonderful place to visit for an hour to explore some of Andalucia’s fantastic scenery. If you’re looking for a great easy hike, this is the place to be. You can also check out my post on the nearby El Caminito del Rey.
I visited while driving from Seville to Granada to break up the mundane highway driving. The drive up winding mountain roads into the Sierra del Torcal mountain range offered wide-sweeping views of the farms and villages below. Upon approaching the nature park, the landscape changed from grass-covered mountains to karst formations everywhere. It looked like we had suddenly driven onto the moon.
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Getting to El Torcal de Antequera
This is one of those locations you need a car. From Antequera there are signs that will point to towards El Torcal de Antequera Natural Park. Follow the A-7075 road up the mountain and turn off at the Torcal Alto Visitor Center. I used a rental car to access El Torcal de Antequera that I booked through Discover Cars.
There is no public transit available to get to the park. If you don’t want to rent a car you are limited to renting a taxi from Antequera or joining a day trip. Tours typically leave from Malaga and include a visit to the town of Antequera as well. This tour to Antequera from Malaga looks like it would make a good day trip, while this guided hiking tour would be perfect if you are already in Antequera.
Practical Information for El Torcal de Antequera
Location: Near Antequera. Easy half day trip from Antequera or day trip from Malaga, Seville, Granada. I visited while transiting from Seville to Granada.
Distance/Time: The easiest trail is 1.5 km and 45 minutes, can spend up to 4 hours hiking.
Rating: Easy to moderate. Very little elevation gain but some steep sections that can be slippery and rocky. Can view formations without hiking.
When to Visit: Year-round
Cost: Free, only pay if taking a guided hike
Amenities: Visitors Center has a bathroom and restaurant
El Torcal de Antequera is worth it for non-hikers!
Even if you don’t have time for hiking here, you can drive up to the El Torcal de Antequera parking lot and view some of the formations. By walking past the visitors center, there is a
Hiking El Torcal de Antequera
When I was there, I saw only one other group hiking off in the distance so it felt like I had the place to myself. It’s a very easy hike to do as it is mostly flat, though has some steep parts. The most difficult part was that it had just rained and the trail was muddy. There are some small hills that get very slippery when it is muddy. Even though it is fairly flat, I would not want to do this in sandals.
Walking though El Torcal de Antequera I almost felt like I had walked back through time. This ancient looking landscape really lets your imagination go crazy. At some points I felt like the scenery could be used in fantasy films and shows like Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones.
After finishing your hike, make sure you walk to the lookout point to get views of the valley below. It’s right at the end of the green and yellow route and worth the short walk down the boardwalk.
Hiking Routes at El Torcal de Antequera
Hiking at El Torcal de Antequera is free for most of the trails. There are three main trails that you can take through the sights here and all of them are suitable for beginners. You can check out maps of the hiking routes here.
The Green Route is the one I had time for and gave me a taste of what the park had to offer but I wish I had time to do the longer trail. At 1.5 km, the Green Route will take only 45 minutes. Both this and the Yellow Route start at the upper parking lot before returning to the Visitor Center. The point where the route breaks off into the Yellow Route is clearly marked. The Yellow Route is also circular and is 3 km, taking about 2 hours to hike.
The Orange Route is a one way hike that starts in the lower parking and ends in the upper parking. It’s 3.6 km one way and takes about 4 hours to hike back and forth. This route takes you through old canals and viewpoints.
In addition to the free hiking trails, there is a guided Red Route that takes you to see ammonites as well as the Karstic Labyrinth at Torcal de Antequera. It isn’t offered daily so you will have to book this in advance, you can see dates and costs here.
Because of its mountain-top karst landscape, Torcal de Antequera also has lots of plants growing in all the cracks of the rocks.
What to Bring
As this park is located on a mountain top, it is quite a bit cooler than nearby towns like Antequera. I ended up having to wear a puffy jacket here instead of short sleeves that I was wearing before. A windbreaker or rain jacket could also be useful here. Because the ground is uneven and stony, hiking shoes would be useful. If you only have sandals you can skip out on the hiking and just go to the viewing platform and nearby formations.
- Rain Jacket/Windbreaker/Puffy Jacket
- Hiking Shoes/Athletic Shoes
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Camera
- Water and snacks
Where to Sleep for El Torcal del Antequera
This location is easily accessible from many places in Andalucia. Antequera would be the most convenient place to stay for a visit here and is also very close to the Caminito del Rey. You can search for accommodation for Antequera here.
In Seville, I stayed at La Casa de San Lorenzo, which was a huge centrally located apartment. I loved this place for its location and ambiance, highly recommend it.
In Granada I stayed at Hostel Verona, which was a reasonable walking distance to the sights and was very affordable.
For a trip from Malaga, I stayed at the guesthouse La Casa Mata Central. I enjoyed how close it was to restaurants and was centrally located.
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More Articles on Spain:
7 Day Road Trip through Southern Spain’s Andalucia Region
Hiking El Caminito del Rey near Malaga
How to Spend 2 Amazing Days in Seville
Visiting Ronda and Spain’s Gorgeous Pueblo Blancos
What an incredible landscape to hike in! Sadly I’ve not heard of this park, but it’s now on my hiking bucket list. I’m looking to go to Spain either later this year or next year…so I’ll making time for this park. Thanks for a great post!
It’s a good quick stop to balance out the gorgeous cities 🙂
El Torcal de Antequera looks like such a lovely and easy day hike! The landscape is so different. We considered stopping here on our road trip through Andalusia but we didn’t have time. It is nice that there are a variety of hiking trails but also view points for non-hikers as well. I will have visit when I go back to Spain!
There is so much to do in Andalusia it’s definitely hard to pick and choose what to do. I have so much on my wishlist for next time!
I’ve been to the region before and absolutely enjoyed my time there – even though the weather was awful! I should make a plan to go back and keep my finger’s crossed for some great wheather!
I guess I lucked out for weather! It had rained before this but only while driving. Hopefully next time you visit Andalucia you have better weather 🙂
Well, your photos sold me on this hike! This place has utterly unique formations! And plus the fact that you stated that this is a hike for non-hikers … yes yes yes! I’m all about fairly easy hikes! I’ll have to add this to the Andalucia bucket list when I do make it down south of Spain!
I’m glad I sold you on it! Hiking is all well and good but sometimes my itineraries just can’t fit in the long hike so it’s nice that for Torcal de Antequera you can see some of the formations or hike through them if you want to explore.
What a cool spot! It reminds me of Alberta’s badlands, but more lush and green. haha! I think this would be fun to explore for sure!
It’s definitely more lush and green than Alberta’s badlands! It was fun to explore 🙂
Wow!! Never knew this place was in Spain! So incredible!
Ya it really is! I didn’t know about it before researching my trip to Spain
Very pretty park! I never would have guessed Spain had such good hiking destinations! Is this a suitable hike for beginners?
Spain is a fantastic hiking destination! Torcal de Antequera is a great beginner hike. It’s quite short and beyond being a bit rocky and slippery here and there its really easy with great scenery.
I love hikes that have different options – I’ve showed up to places that had only one trail that was really tricky for a beginner/intermediate hiker like me. And those stone formations are really interesting and beautiful…. seeing the different terrains is a major perk of seeing nature in new places!
I love hiking and this El Torcal de Antequera Hiking Trail looks like so much fun! Not too hard, but a fantastic view!
It does offer up fantastic views 🙂
This reminds me of the crazy rock formations in iceland (can’t remember what those ones are called but they were used in Game of Thrones). This looks like a great hike. Question – is the Red hike only able to be done guided? Do you know what the fee is to do it guided? Thanks!
They are a little bit like the rock formations of Thingvellir in Iceland! The red hike seems to only be done guided, I believe this is because the area they take you it is easy to get lost. The cost is around 15euros for it.
Such a picturesque hike! You are right this can definitely make for a perfect backdrop for one of those fantasy movies. Thanks for this post now I have another bucket list in Spain 🙂
It’s so pretty, glad it made your bucket list 😀
This looks a lot like the rock formations in Utah..wow! I would love to visit
Spain and explore….I have never been abroad or even to the east part the country I was born in..Canada… ha ha
Valerie
Utah looks like it has a lot of interesting rock formations! Spain is a lot of fun to explore. Canada is so huge you could spend a lifetime exploring here 🙂
Your post is interesting and well-detailed! The pictures are stunning and make me want to just pack and go! You make me want to travel to so many places I never knew existed before. Thanks for sharing!
I’m glad you enjoyed the post 🙂 Spain is a wonderful place to explore
Wow, El Torcal de Antequera looks like another world! What an interesting place to hike, a great guide too!
El Torcal was a great place to hike, glad you enjoyed the guide 🙂