8 Days & 7 Nights

4.6

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

Follow ancient mule tracks and cobbled paths through the rolling hills, woodlands, pastures, and orchards of the Sierra de Aracena National Park, with overnight stays in the sleepy and undiscovered whitewashed villages of Los Marines, Cortelazor and Alajar. Your tour begins with two nights in the lovely Finca Buenvino, in its beautiful hilltop location amongst the chestnut and cork forest, offering fine regional cuisine. Walk from Aracena to the nearby village of Corteconcepcion on quiet, easy trails, and past meadows where the Black Iberian pigs graze. Pass through the village of Fuenteheridos with its lively tapas bars lining the square, and then on to the sleepy village of Cortelazor for two nights, where time truly seems to stand still. Your final stopover is one of the prettiest villages in the sierra, Alajar, with its 16th century church and small paseo (square). Enjoy a walk to Linares de Sierra, with its Michelin rated restaurant, and explore the nearby village of Almonaster la Real with its magnificent 10th century hilltop mosque.

From £899.00

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Itinerary

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Day 1 Arrive Los Marines

Fly 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!

Overnight Los Marines

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Finca Buenvino | Country House

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.

Hotel Convento Aracena | Hotel

A beautiful convent which has been restored into a 4* hotel located just below Aracena Castle.

Day 2 Transfer to Aracena, Loop walk to Corteconcepcion 5.5 miles / 9.5 km

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

Overnight Los Marines

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Finca Buenvino | Country House

Hotel Convento Aracena | Hotel

A beautiful convent which has been restored into a 4* hotel located just below Aracena Castle.

Day 3 Walk to Cortelazor 12 miles / 19.5 km

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

Overnight Cortelazor

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

La Flamenca Inn | Bed and breakfast

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.

Finca el Chaparral | Bed and breakfast

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.

Day 4 Loop Walk from Cortelazor 10.5 miles / 16.5 km

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

Overnight Cortelazor

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

La Flamenca Inn | Bed and breakfast

Finca el Chaparral | Bed and breakfast

Day 5 Walk to Alajar 10 miles / 15.5 km

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

Overnight Alájar

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Posada San Marcos | Bed and breakfast

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.

Day 6 Loop walk to Linares de Sierra 7 miles / 11 km

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

Overnight Alájar

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Posada San Marcos | Bed and breakfast

Day 7 Transfer to Almonaster la Real, Loop Walk to Cerro San Cristobal 7 miles / 11.5 km

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 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

Overnight Alájar

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Posada San Marcos | Bed and breakfast

Day 8 Onward Travel

THIS TRIP'S CARBON SCORE

This trip has a carbon score of 11kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 11kg is equivalent to 2 Neapolitan margherita pizzas. Buon appetito!. 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 on how we've carbon counted our trips.

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Other Information

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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!

Trip Type:

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.

Activity:

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.

This trip is suitable for:

Solo Travellers

The minimum age for this tour is: 18 Years

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Off the Beaten Track

Grade & Terrain

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.

Accommodation & Meals Navigation What's Included

Included

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

Excluded