4 Andalucía Walks You Must Go On (Before It Gets Too Hot In Summer!)

My top Andalucía walks on the Costa del Sol

´Tis the season to be sporty

People in the know will tell you that now is the best time of the year to lace up your walking boots and head out to discover the natural beauty of southern Spain. Daytime temperatures are mild and humidity is about average, so you won’t have to contend with the heat like you would between June and September, for example, when temperatures edge their way above 30°C. In the spirit of being active, then, I’ve put together a list of 4 Andalucía walks I reckon you should try out in the coming weeks and months if you live on the Coast.

Importantly, I’ve been on every one of these walks myself; hence why I can tell you from personal experience how knackering (or not) they are and can give you an idea of how many beers are required for re-hydration afterwards.

So, in order of least taxing to higher difficulty walking trails, I’ll kick off this list of wonderful Andalucía walks…

1. Senda Litoral: Cabopino to La Cala de Mijas

Distance: approx. 6.5km | Difficulty: Easy (flat as a pancake)

The senda litoral is the fancy name the Spanish give to the wooden boardwalk that runs along the beachfront, whose main stretch is from the border between Cabopino marina and Calahonda all the way up to La Cala de Mijas.

While plans have recently been approved by the local council to extend the pathway round the headland towards Fuengirola, at the moment we’ll have to make do with the (already generous) 6km+ promenade.

It’s an excellent, low-impact walk that takes you past beach bars and restaurants; all the while with the beach essentially beneath you and the shoreline just metres away. You’ll never tire of admiring the glistening Mediterranean waters and counting the boats you wish you were on instead of being on dry land.

Furthermore, of all of the walks I list here, it’s arguably the most sociable. The fact that it’s nice and flat means people of all ages walk, run or cycle along it, while it’s also a popular route for dog-walkers.

The beauty of this walk, of course, is that you’re under no obligation to bash out the whole length of the senda litoral. You can dip in and out of it at any time, thanks to the great number of urbanisations with ample parking and places to grab a refreshment and relax.

What I would say, though, is that the pathway that extends through the sand dunes at Cabopino is definitely worth a visit – as well as the area’s classy marina – hence why I’ve suggested this as a starting/finishing point. Also, in my opinion, the beaches at Artola and Cabopino are among the best quality in this part of the Coast, so all the more reason to pack a towel and some sun cream for this Costa del Sol walk!

2. Acequia del Guadalmina trail

Distance: 4.6km | Difficulty: Pretty easy (not a lot of ups and downs)

If you can draw yourself away from the multiple attractions of the Mediterranean coast and you want slightly more of a challenge, the Acequica del Guadalmina trail is a nice step up (no pun intended).

Located between the exclusive neighbourhoods of Guadalmina – home of VIVA’s Exclusive project, Oasis de Guadalmina Baja – and Benahavís, this was one of the first Andalucía walks I did shortly after moving down to the Costa del Sol.

I’d heard it was a really pretty five-kilometre hike in the country, crossing gorges and the Guadalmina River valley and only a mile or two inland from the main highway, so I thought “why not?”.

Thankfully, it did not disappoint. Starting from the iconic wooden bridge (above) over the Angosturas Canyon, the path follows an ancient Moorish irrigation watercourse that leads you in and out of woodland and eventually down to the riverbank, before looping back round along the outer limits of El Higueral Golf Course and back to where you started.

This route will keep you entertained for the best part of an hour and offers stunning views back down the valley, past the golf courses and beyond. It’s also great for getting close to nature and I seem to remember the hundreds of unique species of trees and plant life being very well pointed out along the way.

3. La Malagueta beachfront up to Gibralfaro Castle

Distance: approx. 3km | Difficulty: Tough (you’ll likely get a sweat on)

“There are walking routes in the centre of Málaga?”, you may be asking in disbelief. Well, not only is there one extremely popular route in particular, but it’s the key to seeing the city from its best angle: high up.

Yes, to get that photo of Málaga (below) – the one you’ll find on postcards, mugs and fridge magnets in every souvenir shop you’ll visit, including at the airport – you have to get to the best vantage point in the grounds of the Gibralfaro Castle.

At an altitude of 130 metres above sea level, the ancient fortress can be reached on foot, however requires no small amount of effort. Once you get to the Alcazaba (Moorish arms house), which is quite close to the city centre and just behind the bullring, you’re only about 750 metres away from the summit as the crow flies, but a series of winding paths and ascents via steep steps make that feel like 750 miles.

If this is too challenging (or you’re just lazy), you can take the shuttle bus, but I would definitely recommend walking it. You’ll see what I mean when you get to the top. And I’m not talking about the castle museum, which is (I’ll be honest) rubbish… the views are to die for.

Once you’ve made your way up to the top, taken your selfies and feel the need for some refreshment, my recommendation is to walk from the castle “the back way” – ie. away from town – and head down to the Malagueta Beach that way. It’s about the same distance as the way you came, there tend to be fewer people going in that direction, plus you’ll see a part of the city you haven’t encountered before.

Less than two kilometres – or half an hour – later, you’ll be walking along Málaga’s best and widest beach, no question. You’ll notice the contrast in perspective from down there looking up compared to up at the castle looking down, which for me, at least, gives a sense of achievement.

What’s more, I’m not gonna lie, it’s one of my favourite Andalucía walks because it ends on the beach and when you get to that beach you’re very thirsty. Say no more.

4. Ermita de San Miguel to Istán

Distance: approx. 5km | Difficulty: Strenuous (not for the faint-hearted)

OK, so this last one is a bit of a curveball. You probably won’t have seen it on any other top Costa del Sol walks lists and I myself stumbled upon it (again, no pun intended) by complete mistake.

My mother came over to visit late last year, so, for a change, I decided to take her to the mountain village of Istán (somewhere I had never been before) to have a look around, since I’d heard good things about it. I was especially keen to check out the picturesque views over the Embalse de la Concepción (widely known as simply "Istán Lake").

While various walking routes exist in the area, we thought we'd go a little off-piste and decided to walk from a tiny rural hermitage seemingly in the middle of nowhere (but had a car park) up to the beautiful white village. The way there was fine... despite elevations of 74 metres and depressions of 82 metres - meaning it was a little hilly - most of the way was at least recognisable as a trail.

Having got to Istán and taken a stroll through what is a newly-restored village centre - it was obvious that the local council had invested heavily in the rehabilitation of the community - we thought we'd go a different way back to the car. Not realising we were in for some hazardous hiking terrain, narrow paths and sheer drops, we decided to take a route right on the fringes of the lake and in amongst the thick woodland you can see in the photo above.

Perhaps it might have been easier with professional walking poles, decent shoes and a little more experience? Why, yes, of course.

The whole fun of it...

But that's what made it really fun. Pretty much lost somewhere in inland Costa del Sol, surrounded by nature, with the sun shining, in good company and with conversation flowing: that's what makes Andalucía walks like this unforgettable.

The important thing is that we got back to the car in one piece and had a cracking day out. If that sounds like your cup of tea, I'd urge you to try one of these walks and discover more of beautiful Andalucía!

Are there any other Andalucía walks on the Costa del Sol you would have included in this list? If so, I’d love to hear from you – just leave me a message in the comments below!