Attractions and Places To See around Cártama - Top 20

Álora, a Spanish municipality in the province of Málaga, Andalusia, is located in the Guadalhorce Valley and covers an area of 169.62 km². Its history dates back to prehistory in Hoyo del Conde, with influences from the Turdetani, Phoenicians, and Romans, who fortified the castle, whose foundations are of Phoenician origin. The inhabitants are known as aloreños or perotes, the origin of this latter name being attributed to the first mayor, Don Pero. Álora lies between hills on the banks of the Guadalhorce River and on the railway line towards Málaga, Seville, Córdoba, and Granada. The municipality includes the natural area of El Chorro with the famous Caminito del Rey and a landscape of pine forests and hills with cereal and olive plantations. The landscape is characterized by the Guadalhorce Valley and the hills of the Sistema Bética, with citrus and olive cultivation.

Álora, a Spanish municipality in the province of Málaga, Andalusia, is located in the Guadalhorce valley and has an area of 169.62 km². Its history dates back to prehistory in Hoyo del Conde, with influences from the Turdetani, Phoenicians, and Romans, who fortified the castle, whose foundations are of Phoenician origin. The inhabitants are known as aloreños or perotes, with the origin of the latter name attributed to the first councilman Don Pero. Álora lies among hills on the banks of the Guadalhorce river and on the railway line towards Málaga, Seville, Córdoba, and Granada. The municipality includes the El Chorro natural area with the renowned Caminito del Rey and a landscape of pine forests and hills with cereal and olive plantations. The landscape is characterized by the Guadalhorce valley and the Sistema Bético mountains with citrus and olive cultivation.

Álora, a Spanish municipality in the province of Málaga, Andalusia, is located in the Guadalhorce valley and covers an area of 169.62 km². Its history dates back to prehistory in Hoyo del Conde, with influences from the Turdetani, Phoenicians, and Romans, who fortified a castle whose foundations are of Phoenician origin. Its inhabitants are known as aloreños or perotes, with the origin of this latter name attributed to the first councilman, Don Pero. Álora lies between hills on the banks of the Guadalhorce river and on the railway line towards Málaga, Seville, Córdoba, and Granada. The municipality encompasses the natural area of El Chorro with the famous Caminito del Rey and a landscape of pine forests and hills with cereal and olive plantations. The landscape is characterized by the Guadalhorce valley and the mountains of the Sistema Bético, with the cultivation of citrus and olives.

The Álora Town Hall (Casa Consistorial) is the seat of the city's municipal administration. The current building dates from the late 19th century, after the municipality acquired the land in 1898 to establish a permanent administrative center. Architecturally, the Town Hall is simple and functional, typical of smaller Andalusian towns of that era. It is not intended as a monumental structure, but rather as a practical administrative building that blends harmoniously into the historic town center.

Álora is a small town in the province of Málaga in Andalusia, about 40 kilometers northwest of Málaga city. It is located in the Valle del Guadalhorce, an agricultural region, and has a population of around 13,000. The town is known for its typical Andalusian architecture with white houses and narrow streets. Álora has a long history dating back to Roman times. Later, under Moorish rule, it was of strategic importance, as can still be seen today in the Castillo de Álora – a castle located on a hill above the town. Today, Álora is primarily a starting point for visitors to the Caminito del Rey, a well-known hiking route through the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes gorge. Despite its growing tourist importance, the town remains relatively quiet and has retained its traditional character. There are a few bars, small shops and a few sights such as churches and museums, but overall, Álora is a rather tranquil place.

The trail can be done on an enduro bike, but unless you're a pro, you'll often have to push the bike, as the narrow trail is often blocked. However, you can ride quite well where possible. The uphill trail is definitely not doable by bike unless you want to carry the bike for miles.

Puerto de la Encina is well signposted, with a wide esplanade and signs making it clear that we have arrived. It offers views of Malaga city and the mountains of Granada, which we can sometimes see snow-capped (very far away, of course 😅). By bike it is inevitable to continue down towards Alhaurín el Grande or towards Firme de Jarapalos, on foot we can go up a path towards "La Bola", an antenna with this shape at the top of the mountain with incredible views of the coast, which is highly recommended. The distance to La Bola is not very long but it is steeper, going up by bike means carrying it a good stretch (I did it once, but it is not highly recommended).

Emblematic crossroads