Pueblos Blancos

The location of the Pueblos Blancos offers a wide variety of outdoor activities. The municipalities, located in the Sierra region and part of them in the Sierra of Grazalema Natural Park, are surrounded by a natural environment ideal for outdoor sports, hiking trails, water activities, caving or even paragliding.

The aim of the Sports Route is to establish an itinerary through the different localities where these outdoor activities can be carried out, all under the stunning views offered by the Sierra of Cádiz. Due to the large number of villages that make up this route, it has been divided between the towns to the north and south.

Thus, we would have on the one hand the Sport Route to the north, made up of Arcos, Bornos, Puerto Serrano, Algodonales, and El Gastor; and the Sport Route to the south, which is made up of Arcos, El Bosque, Ubrique, Benaocaz, Grazalema, Villaluenga and Zahara de la Sierra.

67.1 km
1h y 6 min
87.5 km
1h y 52 min

Sports Route to the North

Sports Route to the South

Sports Route to the North

Arcos de la Frontera

It should be noted that, due to its geographical position, Arcos de la Frontera will be our starting point in both directions, and it will be from here that we will take one direction or the other. In the vicinity of this small village in the hill region is the Paraje Natural Cola del Embalse de Arcos. In this natural area you can find the artificial beach “La Playita”, where you can enjoy water sports such as kayak polo, water skiing, sailing or rowing among others. Local companies such as Arcos Lake Activities or Turismo Activo Arcos offer these activities, which can be booked from their website.  In addition to the hiking routes around the municipality, Turismo Activo Arcos and the Centro Hípico Las Nieves offer horseback riding through the most beautiful landscapes of the area.

Sitios de interés
Arcos Lake Activitie
Turismo Activo Arcos
Centro Hípico Las Nieve

Espera

If we opt for the northern route our first stop from Arcos is Bornos. This municipality is home to the Bornos reservoir, a calm water environment ideal for water sports such as canoeing, sailing, windsurfing, water skiing, fishing, kite surfing, kayaking, parasailing, stand up paddle, fly board or banana boat. The Club Deportivo de Vela Lago de Bornos and the Centro de Actividades Turísticas Bornos Activo offer their facilities and equipment for these activities. The Malaga-based company Aventura Ronda also offers the possibility of canoeing, archery, aquatic zip-lining and paddle surfing. Aerial activities such as kitesurfing and paramotoring are also available in the jetty area.

On the other hand, the network of natural trails in Bornos and the Sierra area offers a variety of activities such as cycling and mountain biking routes, offered by Club Ciudad del Lago. Bornos also offers a wide range of equestrian routes.

Sitios de interés
Club Deportivo de Vela
Lago de Bornos
Centro de Actividades
Turísticas Bornos Activo
Aventura Ronda
Club Ciudad del Lago

Bornos

After visiting Bornos, our next destination is Puerto Serrano. The municipality is located between the Sierras Subbeticas and the Guadalete river and is also the starting point of the Vía Verde. This route follows the itinerary of the old railway line that used to connect Jerez de la Frontera with Almargen. Due to the fact that it is currently in disuse, the path has been used for hiking and mountain biking routes, the latter offered by Horizon Aventura.

Along the Vía Verde there are a total of 36 tunnels and 6 viaducts. In the area known as La Toleta there are a multitude of natural caves such as La Palilla, La Murciélagos or Las Palomas, where you can practice abseiling.

As a novelty, in 2021 the Trail La Toleta-Puerto Serrano, a mountain race organised by the Town Council of Puerto Serrano, has been included in the calendar of activities.

Sitios de interés
 Horizon Aventura

Algodonales

Puerto Serrano is only 20 km away from our fourth stop, Algodonales. The town is located in the heart of the Grazalema Natural Park and close to the Sierra de Líjar, which makes it one of the best flying areas in Europe. Every year, the municipality becomes the destination chosen by thousands of pilots from all over Europe for paragliding and hang gliding, activities that are favoured by the easy access, take-offs in all directions and the atmospheric conditions of the area.

The Centro de Vuelo Sierra de Líjar Sur, the Centro Integral de Vuelo Algodonales and the local company Zero Gravity provide users with all the information about this sport  from accommodation services in the area to the possibility of booking learning courses.

Algodonales has a hamlet located to the north of the municipality, just over 7 kilometres from it. La Muela is a small village in which we can find a climbing area, situated on a large crag in the Sierra de Líjar. Its surroundings are protected as a Paraje Natural, so the activity is only limited to two open sectors. The climbing, made up of more than 40 open and equipped routes, takes place on limestone rock with good holds, slides, columns and plenty of streams.

Sitios de interés
Centro de Vuelo
Sierra de Líjar Sur
Centro Integral de
Vuelo Algodonales
Zero Gravity

El Gastor

Our final destination is El Gastor, where two local sporting events are held every year. On the one hand, we can participate in the Carrera Urbana Villa de El Gastor, which runs through the streets of the town for 9 km and with different categories; or sign up for the Trail Dolmen del Gigante, a 16 km route that runs through the Tajo Algarín, the Cima de las Grajas and around both massifs.

In the La Puente Recreational Area, located in the Zahara-El Gastor reservoir, the local company El Mogote offers visitors the chance to rent kayaks, canoes, pedal boats and paddle surf boards by the hour.

Sitios de interés
El Mogote

Sports Route to the South

Arcos de la Frontera

It should be noted that, due to its geographical position, Arcos de la Frontera will be our starting point in both directions, and it will be from here that we will take one direction or the other. In the vicinity of this small village in the hill region is the Paraje Natural Cola del Embalse de Arcos. In this natural area you can find the artificial beach “La Playita”, where you can enjoy water sports such as kayak polo, water skiing, sailing or rowing among others. Local companies such as Arcos Lake Activities or Turismo Activo Arcos offer these activities, which can be booked from their website.  In addition to the hiking routes around the municipality, Turismo Activo Arcos and the Centro Hípico Las Nieves offer horseback riding through the most beautiful landscapes of the area.

Sitios de interés
Arcos Lake Activitie
Turismo Activo Arcos
Centro Hípico Las Nieve

El Bosque

On the other hand, if we choose the southern route, taking Arcos de la Frontera as our starting point, we will go to El Bosque. The municipality, being at the gates of the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, is an ideal area for free flying. The take-off area is located in the Cerro del Albarracín, where you can practice motorised flight, hang-gliding, gliding or paragliding. The company Zero Gravity  offers these activities, which can be booked from the same website.

The company Reservas Sierra Grazalema offers a fun group activity, paintball. The facilities, located in an open field, allow us to have unique views of Sierra Margarita while we enjoy this game of strategy.

Sitios de interés
Reservas Sierra Grazalema

Ubrique

From El Bosque, we take the A-373 to our next destination Ubrique. The municipality has several sporting events on its calendar that we can join. If we visit Ubrique in May, we can sign up for the Ubrique Pentathlon Raid, a competition that features different sporting disciplines such as running, MTB, obstacles and swimming, among others. In September the Ultra Travesía de Resistencia Gibraltar Ubrique is held, a route of almost 21 hours that connects the two municipalities. On the last Sunday in October, the traditional “Carrera Popular Nutrias Pantaneras” takes place, a 11.5 km run between Ubrique and the surrounding area. Finally, you can also take part in the DH Barada, a very complete MTB competition, where you will find 160 metres of negative gradient, areas of track, thriathlon and stream beds, changes of pace and irregular terrain.

In Los Alcornocales Natural Park, we can go mountaineering at the Aljibe or Picacho peaks, caving in Ramblazo-Motillas or canyoning in La Garganta de Buitreras. Thanks to the grazalemeña company Horizon Aventura we can go canyoning in the Buitreras Canyon on the Guadiaro River, in the south of Ubrique. On the other hand, Reservas Sierra Grazalema  proposes a kayak route on the Embalse de los Hurones. In the same area of the Alcornocales, Experiencia Outdoor offers cycling routes adapted to all ages. The same company also offers horse riding routes around the Garganta de Barrida, in the same municipality.

Sitios de interés
Horizon Aventura
Reservas
Sierra Grazalema

Benaocaz

Our next stop will be in Benaocaz, a municipality located on the western side of the Baetic Mountain Ranges, in the Sierra del Endrinal and in the heart of Grazalema. Its position is ideal for climbing, as there are 65 routes of medium difficulty, with a maximum height of up to 35 metres. In addition, Reservas Sierra Grazalema and Experiencia Outdoor organise canyoning day trips on the banks of the Arroyo del Pajaruco or climbing in La Veredilla, near Benaocaz.

Sitios de interés
Reservas
Sierra Grazalema
Experiencia Outdoor

Villaluenga del Rosario

From Benaocaz we head towards Villaluenga del Rosario, only 10 minutes away by car. In the vicinity of the municipality is the Sima de Villaluenga, a reference point for caving in its different modalities due to its wide entrance canyon and its location. The company VillaluengAventura  offers different activities in Villaluenga and its surroundings such as climbing (also available in Grazalema and Benaocaz), cycling routes, adventure raid, paintball, etc….

After visiting Villaluenga we will head to Grazalema, a village of great beauty located in a unique scenic setting. During the annual ‘Cagarría’ Days we go on outings to the Sierra where we will explore the area with mycological experts, who will help us to collect these traditional mushrooms.

On the other hand, the company Horizon Aventura allows us to cross part of Grazalema through a 70-metre-high zip line, from which you can enjoy spectacular views. The local company offers a wide variety of activities such as canyoning, zip-lining, hang-gliding and paragliding in the Sierra of Grazalema. A unique opportunity to connect with the natural environment in a less conventional and fun way.

Sitios de interés
VillaluengAventura
Horizon Aventura

Zahara de la Sierra

The last stop that will put the finishing touch to our route will be Zahara de la Sierra, where we can go canyoning, kayaking on the Zahara-El Gastor reservoir, zip-lining, adventure raid and tree climbing with VillaluengAventura. On the other hand, Experiencia Outdoor offers the possibility of abseiling down the Garganta Verde.

In the Arroyomolinos Recreational Area, an artificial beach in a natural environment of more than 60,000 square metres, there are different types of activities for all ages. Zip-lining, suspension bridges, suspended climbing, kayaking and horse riding are just some of the activities offered in this unique location.

Sitios de interés
VillaluengAventura
Experiencia Outdoor

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