Maro to Alcaucin – Andalucia

Thursday 27 February 2020: Nerja

We travelled by train from Galicia to Madrid and Malaga and then bus to Nerja where we spent the night before starting the Andalucian Coast to Coast walk – 420 km from Maro on the Mediterranean to Bolonia on the Atlantic traversing the region’s mountainous interior.

We’d been here 5 years ago and were looking forward to a paella at El Chiringuito de Ayo, a beach shack on Burriana beach. The same men have been making the same paella over a wood fire for years and it was exactly as we remembered. Same price – 8€ ($13) for as many plates as you can eat (there are no half plate refills).

Friday 28 February 2020: Maro to Frigiliana

Distance: 16.4 km Time: 6:30 Ascent: 1000m Descent: 680m – Wikiloc

It’s about a 10 minute taxi ride from Neja to Maro Beach where the Coast to Coast walk begins. We left at 8am in cool (12C) perfect walking conditions.

Easy going for the first half, there’s a steady 500m climb along a wide dirt forest road. Following the GR249 it then descends, zigzaging down a narrow gravel track to cross a small stream before climbing steeply to the first pass. The next two passes are a little easier, nevertheless a hard day.

Frigiliana (pop 3000), recognized as “Spain’s most beautiful and well-preserved village”, was occupied by the Moors before and after the Reconquest. Today was the Dia de Andalucia long weekend holiday with the town full of excited Spanish tourists. We were here in 2015 – photos.

An early start from Maro Beach – 420km to go

17th century *Our Lady of the Wonders* Church in Maro

An old threshing platform at the El Pinarillo picnic area, about 7km along

Soon after the track descends steeply, slow going

The Moors brought irrigation to these mountains

We were delighted to see the wildflowers out so early in the year

The old town fountain (1640) shows wear from animal use over centuries

Saturday 29 February 2020: Frigiliana to Competa

Distance: 18.9 km Time: 5:40 Ascent: 950m Descent: 640m – Wikiloc

Rather than following a narrow overgrown path up the hill, we took the “easy” way to Acebuchal using the Gran Senda de Malaga – GR 249 which did involve about 3km of road walking but without much traffic at 8am on Saturday morning.

After Acebuchal there’s a massive climb of 500 meters in 4km. It’s all on a dirt road though so not as hard as yesterday. Competa is then about 5km and 300 meters downhill from the Puerto Collado. Our Competa photos from 2015 are here.

These hillsides were originally terraced by the Romans

El Acebuchal – a 17th century hamlet within the mountains and natural park of Sierra Tejeda
In 1948 the Guardia Civil cleared it of its 200 inhabitants and it became the “*Lost Village*“
In 1998 the son of one of the original villagers returned to restore the village

We met a local man making a rope catapult from pine needles
He explained his ancestors used it to throw rocks at goats but he justs makes it for fun

Looking down at where we had walked – Puerto Collado, about 900 meters

Main Plaza – taken from our room in Salamandra Plaza
The Church was built in 1505

The famous moscatel wines of Competa
We developed a taste for the dry and fruity *seco* after a few sips

One of Competa’s Ceramic Murals
This one shows *Moriscos* (converted Moors) selling raisins and wine in the 13th century

Sunday 01 March 2020: Sedella to Competa

Distance: 19.5 km Time: 6:45 Ascent: 980m Descent: 1020m

The Andalucian Coast to Coast walk would go from Competa to Sedella but we decided to stay in Competa, take a taxi to Sedella and walk back via the Ruta Mudejar. We like the villages of Sedella, Salares, Canillas de Albaida and Árchez with their Moorish history and architecture. 2015 photos here.

This route could probably be walked in less than 15km but we made it up as we went and took a few “short cuts” so it turned into almost 20km but without packs fairly easy on a beautiful day.

Casa-Torreón in Sedella: a magnificent example of 16th century civil Mudejar architecture
The bunting is for Andalucia Day

After the bridge we walked along a lovely hillside path – pity it was the wrong one!

La Maroma at 2069 meters is the highest peak of the Sierra de Tejeda

Looking back at Sedella with the Mediterranean coastline behind

Salares tower – 13th century, was the minaret for the mosque, now the bell tower for the Church

… the Roman Bridge on the way into Canillas de Albaida

The red brick Mudejar tower stands out in the white town of Canillas de Albaida

Hermitage of Santa Ana in Canillas de Albaida
16th-century Mudejar, built by the Arabs at the time of the reconquest serving them as a fort

Mudéjar Tower of Árchez, one of the most important historical monuments in the region

Monday 02 March 2020: Sedella to Alcaucin

Distance: 16.3 km Time: 4:30 Ascent: 480m Descent: 650m – Wikiloc

We woke to rain, wind, cloud obscuring the 2,069m peak of La Maroma and a forecast for storms in the mountains. In any case we wanted to go via the Mudejar village of Canillas de Aceituno. The footpath, GR249, was temporarily closed for maintenance so we walked on the road after taking a taxi back to Sedella.

This turned out for the best as although the rain stopped as we started walking the wind got stronger as the cloud built up. We had a fine view in clear weather below the cloud, almost no traffic and easier walking.

*Orzas* (giant olive oil jars) outside a restaurant in Canillas de Aceituno

In Canillas de Aceituno, typical Mudéjar building Casa de la Reina Mora
The place from which the Moors oversaw the silk worm and mulberry leaf trade (Aceituno is derived from the Arab word “Azeytuni” – woven and dyed silks)

With dark clouds building up over Canillas de Aceituno …

… we decided not to follow the attractive looking GR 249 up into the mountains

Fountain of the five pipes in Alcaucin dates from Moorish times and never dries up
According to tradition, if you drink from the middle pipe, you will marry a young person from the village

Tuesday 03 March 2020: Alcaucin

A rest day in Alcaucin (pop 2300) at an altitude of 500m, a town with a typical Moorish layout, steep narrow streets and white houses.