Fitness 2016 – Hiking La Concha

Hiking La Concha, Marbella’s most famous mountain, can be started from Juanar just 25 minutes from central Marbella and could mark a perfect start in your fitness year 2016!

At 1.200 meters above sea level, the mountain of La Concha is one of Marbella’s most recognized landmarks with its chiseled shape and deep grooves. The hike starts at the natural park and resort hotel Juanar and continues 8 km to the top. You can see olive groves, pine trees, berry bushes and walnut trees along the trek as well as Spanish goats, eagles and owls.

How to get there: Take highway A-7 direction Benalmadena-Algeciras. Exit “Centro Comercial La Cañada – Ojen” (A-355). Continue 11 km along road and turn left at sign indicating “Refugio de Juanar”. Continue another 5 km.

Parking: You can park at the hotel or continue further 0.5 km to the entrance gates. Refugio de Juanar is the hotel where the hike could easily start.

If you have really small kids or babies, you can still visit Juanar and have a nice stroll even with strollers until you get to a rocky point where you need to somewhat climb. You can then turn back and still count in an hour or two of walking.

We suggest you start as early as possible. Park your car as far up as you can. You’ll get to a gate where you can no longer drive and have to start walking. Choose a day that’s not too hot and not too cold. Spring and fall are probably the best times to walk up. Look out for posts indicating the way as it’s not always clear; however the path is pretty straightforward. You must absolutely wear comfortable shoes and maybe even bring along blister pads or band-aids in case you reach this point. Overall, it’s a wonderful place to go as a family that includes exercise, nature and it’s free! Hiking la Concha from Juanar with children should take about 6 hours up and down (including a break). This hike is easier than the one starting from Istan as the path at the beginning is very wide, well marked and does not offer much difficulty for about two hours (there are only 2-3 steep, not too long segments). After that, the path gets narrower and requires much more attention. If you are walking with younger children, it is a good time to turn back. If you keep going, watch for loose stones and admire the view as you reach the top. It is worth the effort as you will dominate the entire Costa del Sol and clearly see Gibraltar and Morocco across the stretch. Don’t forget to take a snack and enough water.

If you visit La Concha take this advice from the Citizens Security delegation: “Anyone who wishes to visit this beautiful mountain zone needs to take the necessary precautions: wearing adequate clothing, taking enough water and a mobile phone with charged batteries. In case of emergency, you should contact emergency services by calling 112 and stay in one place until you are found.”
In the internet you will find professional Costa del Sol mountain guides to hire.

Our fine selection of properties with view into the beautiful mountains of Andalucia and to “La Concha” you can find here.

Merken