Inn to Inn Walking in the Sierra de Aracena
- Follow ancient Roman tracks linking timeless villages of the Sierra de Aracena
- An area rich in gastronomical delights including the famed jamon iberico
- Walk past idyllic pastures filled with flowers and grazing Black Iberian Pigs
- The undiscovered villages of Aracena, Cortelazor and Alajar
- Overnight stays in charming fincas and posadas offering tasty local cuisine
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Los MarinesFly into Seville Airport, which is easily reached from destinations across UK and Europe, and from there an included transfer takes you to the lovely Finca Buenvino in Los Marines (90min).
With it's idyllic location in the middle of the hills near Los Marines, Finca Buenvino combines a truly relaxed atmosphere with fantastic food and beautiful scenery. The perfect start to your Aracena adventure!
Finca Buenvino is one of those places where you instantly feel at home! Run by the lovely Chesterton family who have lived there for the past 35 years it is set amongst 40 hectares of forest with their own Iberian pigs, sheep and chickens as well as a lovely saltwater infinity pool in which to relax.
A beautiful convent which has been restored into a 4* hotel located just below Aracena Castle.
A short transfer is included to Aracena this morning (10min) where you may like to visit the Grutas de las Maravillas with its wonderful stalactites and underground lakes, before starting an easy walk to the nearby village of Corteconcepcion.
Leaving Aracena, follow cobbled paths and mule tracks above an idyllic valley lined with cork trees, passing by several farms to the tiny village of Corteconcepcion. Have a look at the 16th century Our Lady of Concepcion Church and a great example of traditional Spanish rural life, the plaza de toros (bullring). A fairly steep climb will bring you out of the village where you walk through farmland filled with grazing Iberian black pigs, cattle and the occasional donkey!
Arriving back in Aracena, take your time to soak up the atmosphere of this authentic little town before taking a taxi back to Finca Buenvino (payable locally, approx 10 Euros).
+182m Ascent / -132m Descent
Finca Buenvino is one of those places where you instantly feel at home! Run by the lovely Chesterton family who have lived there for the past 35 years it is set amongst 40 hectares of forest with their own Iberian pigs, sheep and chickens as well as a lovely saltwater infinity pool in which to relax.
A beautiful convent which has been restored into a 4* hotel located just below Aracena Castle.
Leave Finca Buenvino and head towards Cortelazor on paths running through quiet forests, taking your time to stop and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the beautiful wooded valleys. From the hamlet of Corterrangel cobbled trails (lined with wildflowers during the spring) will bring you to Cortelazor.
Arriving in this sleepy and little explored village gives you a taste of authentic rural life, as you perhaps enjoy some tapas at one of the quaint little bars lining the square.
+478m Ascent / -522m Descent
An exceptionally comfortable rural house, the La Flamenca Inn is in a large building typical of regional architecture and decorated with cast iron bathtubs, mosaic floors and stained-glass windows. A unique place where you will be sure of a warm welcome from the owner Lola.
Located just outside Cortelazor centre, the Finca el Chaparral has a beautiful setting with views right over the valley and a beautiful infinity swimming pool in which to relax. You will stay in an apartment here which is equipped with cooking facilities but meals are also available in the lovely El Meson restaurant attached to the finca.
A delightful loop walk today goes high above Cortelazor for wonderful views across the whitewashed village. Cross ravines and mountain streams to arrive at Valdelarco and then Navahermosa. Continue on paths lined by orchards and olive groves in a fertile river valley to arrive back at Cortelazor.
Enjoy another night in the cosy La Flamenca Inn where the owner Lola makes you feel right at home. Dinner can be taken at one of the local restaurants serving typical regional dishes such as the mouthwatering Aracena goats cheese and desserts steeped in honey.
+596m Ascent / -596m Descent
An exceptionally comfortable rural house, the La Flamenca Inn is in a large building typical of regional architecture and decorated with cast iron bathtubs, mosaic floors and stained-glass windows. A unique place where you will be sure of a warm welcome from the owner Lola.
Located just outside Cortelazor centre, the Finca el Chaparral has a beautiful setting with views right over the valley and a beautiful infinity swimming pool in which to relax. You will stay in an apartment here which is equipped with cooking facilities but meals are also available in the lovely El Meson restaurant attached to the finca.
Leave Cortelazor 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 bustling little village of Fuenteheridos, home to several tapas bars, before continuing through the rolling hills and then down into Alajar.
Your base for the next three nights, this attractive whitewashed village with its small paseo and cobbled streets is steeped in tradition and has several lively restaurants serving fantastic food.
+400m Ascent / -456m 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.
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.
An included private transfer will take you back to Seville Airport - let us know your flight times so that we can arrange that accordingly for you.
We also highly recommend adding on 1 or 2 extra nights in Seville, which is a beautiful city to explore further with its amazing gothic cathedral and the Alcázar palace.
This trip has a carbon score of 7kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 7kg is equivalent to 1 single running shoe (not even a pair!). 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 with easier walking, and count yourself as a bit of a foody, this is the trip for you! The walking is easy-moderate with daily walks of between 10 and 16km and up to 500m of ascent. The hills here are rolling and the ascents and descents are mostly very gradual so nothing is too strenuous! Overnight stays are in a traditional finca, rural inn and a charming posada (small hotel) which offer 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.
Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.
Solo Travellers
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 500m each day. Take extra care on paths during or after rainfall as they can become slippery and muddy when wet. This shouldn't happen often because this area of Spain experiences very little rain! Walking poles may be a great addition to provide balance, and help with the ascents and descents.
7 nights accommodation is included in your trip. 2 nights are in a large countryside finca, and the other 5 nights are split between a traditional rural inn and a lovely posada hotel.
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
7 breakfasts and 2 dinners (days 1-2) 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. There are also a small selection of restaurants in both Cortelazor and Alajar offering fantastic regional cuisine. Your route notes have details for each day.
Accommodation Location
We will always try and accommodate you at the locations detailed in your itinerary. Occasionally, because of limited availability, there is the option to be accommodated at an alternative location. In the unlikely event that we have to accommodate you elsewhere we will advise you of this before confirming your booking.
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. On some days there may be other walking routes marked along the same way so it's important keeping an eye on the route to make sure you're heading in the right direction. Using this combined with the provided route notes and maps means you should have no problems finding your way.
- 7 Nights in a mixture of stylish fincas, rural inns and posadas
- 7 Breakfasts
- 2 Dinners (days 1-2)
- Olive Oil Tasting in Alajar
- Baggage transfers as per itinerary
- Transfers to and from Seville Airport
- Detailed route notes, maps and pre-departure information pack
- Access to route notes, maps, and GPS tracks via the Macs Adventure navigation app
- 24/7 emergency telephone support
- Travel insurance (required)
- Travel to and from Seville Airport
- Taxi from Aracena to Los Marines on Day 2 (payable locally)
- Taxi from Almonaster la Real to Alajar on Day 7 (payable locally)
- Lunches, dinners (other than days 1&2), snacks and drinks
- Personal equipment
- Additional nights before, during or after the tour
- Optional cheese tasting 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 Finca Buenvino in Los Marines (90min).
By Air: Seville Airport is again the best airport to leave from. An included private transfer will take you back there from Alajar. Let us know your flight times so that we can arrange this accordingly for you.
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.
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.
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.
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!
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Save %5 Days 4 Nights
Sierra de Aracena Short Break
Enjoy a relaxed walking short break based in the traditional village of Alajar, close to Seville.Highlights- Stay in a lovely posada in the village of Alajar.
- Sample the delicious
- Almonaster la Real with its 10th century mosque.
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Save %8 Days 7 Nights
Ronda and the Sierra de Grazalema
Walk the quiet trails of the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park between the famed "Pueblos Blancos".Highlights- White villages of the Sierra de Grazalema.
- Zahara de la Sierra, perched on a mountain.
- The vibrant city of Ronda and the El Tajo gorge.
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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.