Rock climbing in Andalusia

One of the most beautiful areas in Europe for rock climbing is El Chorro. It is located about fifty kilometers northwest of Málaga and the airport. Finca Las Nuevas is a nice starting point to visit this area.

Garganta del Chorro

The Garganta del Chorro with walls of up to four hundred meters high forms a beautiful backdrop for rock climbing in Andalusia. The Guadalhorce River flows through this beautiful gorge. The gorge is four kilometers long and in some places only ten meters wide. Which means you sometimes have to walk a bit to the start of the route. But it’s definitely worth the walk. The surroundings are really beautiful.

Caminito del Rey

La Garganta del Chorro is ook de locatie van het het beroemde koningspad, oftewel de Caminito del Rey. Ooit aangelegd voor de waterkrachtcentrale die daar werd aangelegd. In 2015 is dit oude vlonderpad langs de steile wanden volledig vernieuwd, waardoor het nu een belangrijke toeristentrekker voor de regio is.

Rock climbing in El Chorro.

There are hundreds of routes to climb in the area around El Chorro. Some say there are more than eight hundred. Well-known steep rocks in the area are; Las Encantadas, Los Cotoes, Makinodromo and Las Frontales.

The routes vary in difficulty, making the area suitable for both novice and advanced climbers.

If you want to spend a day climbing in another area, there are still beautiful places to be found at El Torcal or the more distant Cahorros gorge.

Best time for rock climbing in Andalusia

Southern Spain has a wonderful Mediterranean climate. The summers are therefore warm, but too hot for climbing. But the mild winters make this area ideal for climbing in spring, autumn and winter. October to April is the best time to come rock climbing. In winter it can be quite chilly in the morning, especially in the gorge where the sun has difficulty reaching. But in this area there is always a route in the sun.