El Colmenar, Estación de Gaucín

The Valley of The River  Guadiaro

(Garganta de las Buitreras)

Prologue:

The river Guadiaro runs from near Ronda past the villages of

Benaojan, Jimera de Libar, Cortes de la Frontera, through the gorge (Gatganta de las Buitreras) and Colmenar, Estación de Gaucín, then enters the Mediterranean at Guadiaro near Sotogrande. Total length of 183 km. The whole valley is of outstanding beauty.

        Directions:

• Leave the Autovia Ap-7 by Manilva/Casares A-377 and head direction Casares towards Gaucín.
• In Gaucín at the roundabout take the left turn onto the road    A-405. 
• After 5 minutes you come to the turn off to El Colmenar Estación de Gaucín, from here it is 15 minutes to El Colmenar.
•  From Marbella it takes about 1h30 minutes.
• The hiking route SL-A 34 Cañon de las Buitreras Gaucín.
• The hike to Puente Alemanes is good 2h hike, one way. 1st half goes a long a narrow path but not too difficult. 2nd half goes steep 100 meters up and is certainly more difficult but well worth it.

The drive to the village of El Colmenar is very scenic, especially in springtime.

You enter El Colmenar over the bridge and the river Guadiaro.

Then you take a right turn and drive towards the white water pipe where you leave the car.

The hike will start from here.

  The track leads along the river on a narrow, well trodden path.

At times you see the river way down below, and at other times you will be next to it.  This is a good area to stop for a picnic and refreshment.

Early spring the first wild flowers are in bloom.

Dwarf Periwinkle/Boas-noites (Vinca minor)

Daffodils/Narciso (Narcissus wilkommi)

The valley is very lush and it is advisable to wear long pants because of prickly shrubs.

A small hanging bridge leads over a mountain stream.

The railway line from Algeciras to Ronda you will see at times to your left.

Sometimes above, and sometimes below.

At about 400 meter height the railway line is on the left and far below the river.

You are able to see many Griffon Vultures (Buitres Grifon).

 From the small plateau, you descend down to the 

Puente de Los Alemanes.

A dark, low tunnel leads to the bridge.

The bridge El Puente de Los Alemanes was constructed in 1918.

Take care because the bridge has only a low wall each side and deep down you see the gorge.

The river Guadiaro squeezes itself through the narrow gorge of 

(Garganta de Buitreras) 

We returned the same way back to Colmenar but if you carry on you come to La estaión de Cortes de la Frontera.

                       

 The Guadiaro valley direction coast.

As we drove home we witnessed a beautiful sunset. Over the faraway hills of Tarifa.

How to get to El Colmenar Estaión de Gaucín

Map of the hike:

Related links: Garganta Buitreras

                         Mr. Henderson's railway