Things to do around Alhaurín el Grande and Málaga
Rancho Pancho is in Alhaurín el Grande, in the heart of the Guadalhorce Valley at the foot of the Sierra de Mijas. From here you are quickly on the Costa del Sol, up in the mountains or in one of the most beautiful cities in Andalusia. Below you will find the best days out in the area, with the distance and driving time from Rancho Pancho. The times are a guide and depend on traffic.
In Alhaurín el Grande itself
The centre of Alhaurín el Grande is about five minutes’ drive away. It is a genuine Andalusian white village with narrow streets, the Iglesia de la Encarnación and the Arco del Cobertizo, an old Moorish town gate. In the village you will find tapas bars and restaurants frequented mainly by Spaniards themselves. If you are here around Easter, don’t miss Semana Santa: it has been declared a Fiesta de Interés Turístico de Andalucía and is known for the friendly rivalry between the brotherhoods of the Morados and the Verdes and for the Passion play on Good Friday. Golfers will find Alhaurín Golf just a few minutes’ drive away.
Beaches and the Costa del Sol
The nearest beaches are in Fuengirola and Benalmádena, about 25 kilometres and around 25 minutes’ drive away. As well as a long seafront promenade, Fuengirola is home to Bioparc, a zoo where the animals live in natural surroundings. In Benalmádena, right next to Torremolinos, the cable car takes you some 3 kilometres up to the summit of Monte Calamorro, at around 800 metres. From the top you look out over the whole Costa del Sol and on clear days even as far as Gibraltar and the coast of Africa, and you can go walking and watch a birds of prey show. Marbella is about 40 kilometres away, just over half an hour’s drive, and Puerto Banús with its marina about 50 kilometres. Torremolinos and the beaches of Málaga itself are also within half an hour.
Málaga and the white villages
The city of Málaga is about 30 kilometres away, around 30 minutes’ drive. There you can visit the Moorish fortress of the Alcazaba, the cathedral, the Picasso Museum and the harbour with the Muelle Uno promenade. For shopping, head to Plaza Mayor near Málaga airport, about 25 minutes’ drive away. Set around a series of lively squares, it has more than 180 shops, including the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet with well-known brands at lower prices, plus over 50 restaurants and a cinema. The white village of Mijas Pueblo is about 20 kilometres away along the mountain road through the Sierra de Mijas, and from the village you look out over the entire coast. Coín is just 10 kilometres away, and Álora, a hilltop white village with a Moorish castle, about 25 kilometres.
Nature and adventure
Andalusia’s best-known walking trail, the Caminito del Rey, is about 45 kilometres and around 45 minutes’ drive away. The path runs along wooden walkways clinging to the sheer walls of the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes gorge. Book your tickets well in advance, as they often sell out quickly. Fancy something more adventurous? In the mountains around Mijas and towards Marbella you can take a guided off-road buggy tour along unpaved mountain tracks with stunning views over the coast. Tours range from one hour to half a day. The Sierra de las Nieves National Park, with villages such as Tolox and Yunquera, is about 35 kilometres away. Near Antequera, about 70 kilometres away, you will find the El Torcal nature reserve with its remarkable limestone formations, and the Antequera dolmens, which are on the UNESCO World Heritage list. And of course you can also explore the area on horseback during a trail ride with Annemieke.
Day trips further afield
Ronda, with its spectacular bridge over the El Tajo gorge, is about 90 kilometres away, around 1 hour 15 minutes’ drive along a beautiful mountain road. Nerja is about 85 kilometres away, just over an hour’s drive. As well as the famous Nerja caves, you can take a kayak trip along the cliffs of Maro here, with clear water, hidden coves and small waterfalls. Gibraltar is about 1 hour 20 minutes away. If you want to visit the Alhambra in Granada, allow about 150 kilometres and 1 hour 45 minutes’ drive. Seville is about 2 hours 30 minutes away.
Getting out and about in our hire car
Many of these places are easiest to reach by car. If you are staying on our motorhome site or in the apartment, you can hire our Opel Mokka by the day or longer. If you are staying in the apartment, we can pick you up from Málaga airport on request, about 25 minutes’ drive away. Feel free to ask Annemieke for tips, as she knows the loveliest spots in the area.
Contact and booking
Would you like to stay with us and explore the area? Get in touch with Annemieke via WhatsApp or by phone on +34 608 78 46 14. You can also email [email protected] or fill in the contact form below.
ADDRESS
Lugar Quilin 498
Alhaurín el Grande
29120 Málaga, Andalucía
