Sierra de Aracena Short Break
- A relaxed walking short break between the sleepy villages of Sierra de Aracena
- Sample gastronomical delights like the famed jamon iberico
- Stay overnight in a charming posada in the traditional village of Alajar
- The undiscovered villages of Linares de Sierra, Fuenteheridos and Cortelazor
- Almonaster la Real, with its magnificent 10th century hilltop mosque
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive AlajarFly into Seville Airport, which is easily reached from destinations across UK and Europe, from where you will be picked up and transferred to Alajar (1h 30m).
After checking in enjoy a wander round this charming whitewashed village with its small paseo and cobbled streets steeped in tradition and with several lively restaurants serving fantastic food.
If you have time, it is also possible to book an optional short guided walk for today (cost €95 for 2 people). Explore the natural beauty and rich culture of Andalucía with your host Ángel on a guided walking along the river. Immerse yourself in the local environment and discover the fascinating flora, fauna, agriculture, and history of the area. With 3-4 hours of expert guidance and knowledge from Ángel, you'll gain a deeper appreciation for the region and a better understanding of what makes it special, preparing you for the rest of the week. This would also be possible to do the following morning if you prefer.
Lucy and Angel offer you the warmest of welcomes to their beautiful posada hotel in the centre of Alajar, the Posada San Marcos. Priding themselves on their completely sustainable hotel, Lucy and Angel are a fountain of local knowledge and provide a personal service to every guest who stays with them. Enjoy a swim in their pool after a day’s walking or sit on the terrace with a coffee or glass of sherry looking out onto their beautiful gardens. Picnic lunches and evening meals can also be provided at Posada San Marcos – please let them know the day before if you require this.
The gorgeous village of Almonaster la Real with its magnificent hilltop mosque dating from the 10th century is a must-see in any tour of the Sierra de Aracena. Today’s walk takes you on a circuit high above the village for wonderful views right across the sierra and beyond.
Return to the posada in Alajar for your final night, where your hosts Lucy and Angel will entertain you with a special tasting sampling some of the finest olive oils in Spain.
+547m Ascent / -545m Descent
Lucy and Angel offer you the warmest of welcomes to their beautiful posada hotel in the centre of Alajar, the Posada San Marcos. Priding themselves on their completely sustainable hotel, Lucy and Angel are a fountain of local knowledge and provide a personal service to every guest who stays with them. Enjoy a swim in their pool after a day’s walking or sit on the terrace with a coffee or glass of sherry looking out onto their beautiful gardens. Picnic lunches and evening meals can also be provided at Posada San Marcos – please let them know the day before if you require this.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before being transferred to the sleepy and untouched little village of Cortelazor. Walk on an ascending path which winds its way up the valley before being rewarded with the most wonderful views over the lush green countryside. Walk through farmland where farmers tend to their cattle with laden donkeys. Accompanied by only the sound of birdsong, this is a day to take your time and soak up the peaceful surroundings of truly authentic rural Spain.
Stop for lunch in the lively little village of Fuenteheridos, home to several tapas bars, before continuing through the rolling hills and then down into Alajar.
+400m Ascent / -448m Descent
Lucy and Angel offer you the warmest of welcomes to their beautiful posada hotel in the centre of Alajar, the Posada San Marcos. Priding themselves on their completely sustainable hotel, Lucy and Angel are a fountain of local knowledge and provide a personal service to every guest who stays with them. Enjoy a swim in their pool after a day’s walking or sit on the terrace with a coffee or glass of sherry looking out onto their beautiful gardens. Picnic lunches and evening meals can also be provided at Posada San Marcos – please let them know the day before if you require this.
Today’s walk is sure to be a high point of your holiday —a delightful stroll through farmland, orchards and the forgotten little hamlet of Madroneros to Linares de Sierra.
As well as its traditional bull-ring another highlight here is the amazing Meson Arriero restaurant, where the strawberry gazpacho is sure to be one of the finest things you have ever tasted!
Head back to Alajar on shady tree-lined paths lined with citrus groves which ascend gradually before they open up for great views down to the white houses of Alajar. Descend gradually to Alajar alongside a trickling stream.
You may like to take part in a cheese-tasting this afternoon where you can sample some of the regions different tasty artisanal cheeses!
+324 Ascent / -324m Descent
Lucy and Angel offer you the warmest of welcomes to their beautiful posada hotel in the centre of Alajar, the Posada San Marcos. Priding themselves on their completely sustainable hotel, Lucy and Angel are a fountain of local knowledge and provide a personal service to every guest who stays with them. Enjoy a swim in their pool after a day’s walking or sit on the terrace with a coffee or glass of sherry looking out onto their beautiful gardens. Picnic lunches and evening meals can also be provided at Posada San Marcos – please let them know the day before if you require this.
You will be transferred back to Seville at a time of your choice.
This trip has a carbon score of 14kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 14kg is equivalent to 7 bottles of champagne. That’s a lot of bubbles!. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information about how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?If you are looking to discover a truly authentic part of Andalucia but are a bit short of time, this is the perfect way to get out in the countryside quickly from Seville. The walking is easy-moderate with daily walks of between 11 and 16km and up to 400m of ascent. The hills here are rolling and the ascents and descents are mostly very gradual so nothing is too strenuous! You will be based in a traditional posada (small hotel) which offers warm Andalucian hospitality and great local cuisine!
Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.
Single Centre Walking | Stay in one location throughout your trip, exploring the region with a mix of loop and point-to-point walks and with time to discover an area, town, or village in-depth.
Solo Travellers, Families with Teens
The minimum age for this tour is: 18 Years
This walking tour is graded Easy-Moderate. Walks are between 2-5 hours and there is an ascent/descent of between 130m to 400m each day. The paths can become slippy when wet but luckily this area experiences very little rain so that shouldn't happen too often!
4 nights accommodation is included in your trip in a lovely traditional posada hotel.
The accommodation we normally use is detailed below. We may sometimes have to use alternative hotels subject to availability but if this is the case we will always let you know when confirming your booking.
Single Rooms & Solo Walkers
This trip is available to solo walkers although there is a supplement applicable. Single rooms are also available and a single room supplement is payable.
Meals
4 breakfasts are included. Lunches and evening meals on the other days are not included. You can pick up lunch in the villages you pass by or stop along the trail for a picnic. Evening meals can be taken in Posada San Marcos (please pre-book with us in advance) or there are also a small selection of restaurants in Alajar offering fantastic regional cuisine. Your route notes have details for each day.
The routes on this trip are generally way-marked but can be unclear at times so you will need to follow the route notes and maps provided. You will also have access to the Macs Adventure Smartphone App enabling you to follow the route using your phone’s GPS so using this combined with the provided route notes and maps means you should have no problems finding your way.
- 4 Nights in a posada hotel
- 4 Breakfasts
- Baggage transfers as per itinerary
- Transfers as per itinerary
- Return transfers from Seville Airport to Alajar
- Olive oil tasting in Alajar
- Detailed route notes, maps and pre-departure information pack
- GPX tracks and access to our smartphone app
- 24/7 emergency telephone support
- Travel insurance (required)
- Travel to and from Seville
- Taxi from Almonaster la Real to Alajar on Day 2 (payable locally)
- Lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks
- Personal equipment
- Additional nights before, during or after the tour
- Optional cheese tasting in Alajar
- Optional guided walk in Alajar
You can start this tour on any day of the week between January and June, and then again between September and December. We do not offer it in July and August as it is simply too hot for enjoyable walking then.
The climate in this part of the world makes for perfect walking conditions most of the year round. Winters are very mild although you may experience slightly more rainfall during this time. Springtime is beautiful with a profusion of wild flowers on display.
It starts to heat up in June and by July it is too hot for walking. However, when autumn arrives it is once again perfect conditions with the chestnut trees and orchards filling the countryside with beautiful orange and red colours. This is also when the acorns start to fall, which is what the famous Iberian Black Pigs graze on.
By Air: Seville is the easiest airport to fly into, which is easily accessed by flights from across the UK and Europe. Airlines flying from the UK include the low cost carriers such as Easyjet and Ryanair as well as British Airways. Coming from the US you would fly via Europe with airlines such as Vueling, TAP, Lufthansa and Iberia Airlines.
On arriving in Seville, an included transfer will collect you and bring you to Alajar (1h 30min). You will also be transferred back to Seville at the end of your break.
Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight stay. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.
The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.
Your detailed information pack will be sent to you after you book. This has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, waterproof clothes and a day pack.
We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised as the accommodations we use have limited rooms and therefore fill up quickly. However, we will always try our very best to accommodate your plans.
This walking tour is graded Easy-Moderate. Walks are between 2-5 hours and there is an ascent/descent of between 130m to 500m each day. The paths can become slippy when wet but luckily this area experiences very little rain so that shouldnt happen too often!
-
Hiking14 tips for walking in The SunRead More2 Min Read28 June 2018
-
Hiking4 Foods You'll Eat on the CaminoRead More2 Min Read26 January 2018
-
Camino23 Essential Camino de Santiago FAQsRead More7 Min Read26 January 2021
-
HikingThe Basque Country: 15 interesting things to knowRead More3 Min Read20 July 2017
-
HikingDiscover: Spain’s fabulous feriasRead More2 Min Read24 January 2022
-
HikingHiking in Style - You're Worth it!Read More3 Min Read26 August 2019
-
Tips & AdviceEssential Phrases for SpainRead More1 Min Read24 January 2022
-
HikingWhich part of Spain is right for me?Read More2 Min Read24 January 2022
-
Hiking9 Reasons to Visit CataloniaRead More2 Min Read24 March 2016
-
Hiking5 Must-See Salvador Dalí sites in CataloniaRead More1 Min Read01 February 2022
-
5 reasons I loved the Sierra de Aracena!Read More1 Min Read15 February 2022
-
10 dishes you have to try in Andalucia!Read More1 Min Read15 February 2022
-
8 Postcards from the Pueblos Blancos!Read More0 Min Read15 February 2022
-
Top 8 Beaches of the Balearic IslandsRead More1 Min Read22 February 2022
-
An Insider's guide to MallorcaRead More3 Min Read01 March 2022
-
HikingWhere to go on your hiking vacation in NovemberRead More2 Min Read15 September 2023
-
Camino & PilgrimagesHow to Choose a Camino de Santiago RouteRead More3 Min Read01 July 2024
-
HikingBest Hiking Vacations in ItalyRead More5 Min Read28 August 2024
-
HikingThe Best Time to go Hiking in ScotlandRead More4 Min Read22 October 2018
-
Tips & AdviceThe Best Time to Visit Ireland: A Seasonal GuideRead More4 Min Read14 August 2024
-
Tips & AdviceFive of the Best Hikes in IrelandRead More3 Min Read09 March 2019
-
HikingTips for hiking in Cape Breton, Nova ScotiaRead More1 Min Read17 April 2019
-
West Highland WayFrequently asked questions on the West Highland WayRead More6 Min Read28 October 2021
-
Tips & AdviceWhat to Pack for hiking in the CotswoldsRead More3 Min Read08 February 2018
-
Hiking3 reasons to visit NewfoundlandRead More2 Min Read16 April 2019
-
Hiking25 Frequently Asked Questions on the Tour du Mont BlancRead More6 Min Read20 January 2018
-
HikingHow fit do I need to be for the Tour du Mont Blanc?Read More4 Min Read20 January 2018
-
HikingWeather Conditions on the Tour du Mont BlancRead More2 Min Read19 January 2018
-
West Highland WayWhat to Pack for the West Highland Way?Read More4 Min Read13 January 2011
-
HikingTop 5 Hiking Trails in ColoradoRead More1 Min Read18 April 2019
-
CaminoEating and Drinking on the Camino Frances - Sarria to SantiagoRead More3 Min Read11 December 2017
-
Meeting the people behind the scenery - Minna & Classic RoutesRead More2 Min Read01 February 2023
-
Hiking15 Interesting Mont Blanc FactsRead More3 Min Read27 June 2024
-
HikingPacking List for the Tour du Mont BlancRead More3 Min Read22 January 2018
-
Hiking13 Things you can do in the Bernese Oberland (besides the epic hiking!)Read More2 Min Read22 June 2017
-
HikingWhere to walk in Southern Europe… for the best weatherRead More2 Min Read26 April 2017
-
HikingFriluftsliv: A Norwegian PhilosophyRead More3 Min Read20 October 2016
-
Hiking27 fascinating facts about the Maltese islandsRead More2 Min Read21 June 2016
-
BikingBest destinations for winter sunshine cyclingRead More2 Min Read22 February 2013
-
Hiking6 reasons to visit West SwedenRead More3 Min Read02 February 2023
-
HikingBest Hikes in EuropeRead More3 Min Read14 August 2024
-
BikingThe Best Biking Tours in Europe: The Ultimate Guide for US TravelersRead More2 Min Read14 August 2024
-
HikingBest Hikes in the Italian AlpsRead More5 Min Read18 November 2024
-
Save %8 Days 7 Nights
Inn to Inn Walking in the Sierra de Aracena
Follow ancient tracks and cobbled paths between the sleepy villages of the Sierra de Aracena.Highlights- The ancient villages of the Sierra de Aracena.
- An area rich in gastronomical delights.
- Overnight stays in charming fincas and posadas.
-
Save %5 Days 4 Nights
Ronda and the Sierra de Grazalema Short Break
Enjoy a short break exploring the famed “Pueblos Blancos” (White Villages) of Andalucia.Highlights- White villages of the Sierra de Grazalema.
- Vibrant Ronda and the famous El Tajo gorge.
- Spectacular walking amidst limestone peaks.
-
Save %8 Days 7 Nights
Trails of Las Alpujarras
Follow trails through olive groves and berber-style villages in laid-back Las Alpujarras.Highlights- Discover a land steeped in Moorish history
- Stay in rural hotels in idyllic mountain locations
- Sample delicious local food like