Baños de Vilo
The waters of Baños de Vilo, in the municipality of Periana, have been known for centuries for their properties in the treatment of skin diseases. In fact between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the spa was considered one of the most important in Andalusia, to the point that in 1892 its medicinal mineral waters were declared.
There is a program that includes Baños de Vilo and among its objectives, is to promote the integral use of medicinal mineral water springs of Andalusia as a natural resource and promote the recovery of ancient spas, to help the growth of rural tourism. The municipality of Periana is negotiating with the Ministry of Innovation of Andalusia, to protect the source of the medicinal mineral waters and to reopen facilities and spa. The water flow of Baños de Vilo is about 20 litres per second.
Jeep Safari
Where better to enjoy the stunning scenery of the Axarquia than from a Land Rover? We offer a range of tours; from mountain tops to river beds. Heading to the spectacular Lake Vinuela, then on to Puente Don Manuel, Alcaucin and up in to the beautiful Natural Parque of Sierra de Tejeda on the slopes of Mount Maroma.
There are plenty of opportunities for even the most amateur of photographers to take some stunning photographs. Whilst in the Parque we could be lucky enough to spot some of the wild-life that includes; mountain goats, red squirrels, snakes, eagles, buzzards and vultures. Back on the road we head through the ‘Gap’ and on to the now disused Granada/Malaga railway. Following the old line through a magnificent tunnel cut through the living rock, before heading down into Periana, stopping off for a quick coffee and tapas at the most stunning restaurant in the Axarquia
Alhambra Palace of Granada
A trip to southern Spain should not be without a visit to this fantastic place. Recently given the official accolade of the eighth wonder of the world it was built by a bloody and threatened dynasty of Muslim Spain. Its highly sophisticated decoration is not just random but full of hidden meaning.
We always suggest to guests visiting during the summer to book your tickets on-line in advance, to avoid the inevitable queues,it also allows you to choose your own times, as upon entry to the Alhambra you will have been assigned a time slot for the Palace Nazaries.
If you fail to enter during this half hour time slot you will be denied entry to this stunning complex. It therefore makes sense to enter the Alhambra well before your assigned time, we recommend that you book on-line before you come in the summer months. You can then visit other sections of the Alhambra beforehand. Logically it is best to visit first the Alcazaba then the Palace of Carlos V (with museums) before the Palace Nazaries. Then you can walk along the North wall towards the Generalife (gardens). To visit everything at a leisurely pace will require at least 3 hours.
El Torcal Nature Reserve
El Torcal Park Nature Reserve is known for it’s unusual limestone rock formations. It takes a little over an hour to get here from our villas heading through Casabemeja,near the village of Villanueva de la Concepcion, within El Torcal Park’s 17 square km are some of the most beautiful and impressive limestone landscapes in Europe. The whole area was under sea until one hundred million years ago.
Then the violent movements of the Earth’s crust forced it upward into hills and mountains up to 1.300 m, the limestone still kept its layered horizontal formation. Because of this, over the millions of years the rain and wind have been able to chisel away at these layers to form incredible shapes. To reach the heart of the park it is possible to drive up to 1.100 m. above sea level along a good access road into the park. Simply go to the village of Villanueva de la Concepcion and follow the sign to El Torcal out of the town about 1 km.
At the parking area you will find an information centre, small museum, giving interesting information of the wildlife, flora and fauna of the park. Orchid enthusiasts will be captivated by the 30 varieties of the plant growing in the park. Three routes through the park for walkers have been marked out with different coloured arrows on wooden sticks. The green route is the shortest and easiest, 1,5 km. and takes about 30 minutes. The yellow route covers most of the green area, is 2,5 km. long and takes you to “Las Ventanillas” The Windows, at 1.200 m. for panoramic views of the valley of Malaga. Finally the red route is the longest and most difficult, 4,5 km. taking about three hours, with a viewing point 1.339 m. up where you can see the whole of the El Torcal Park and the Africa Coastline (on a clear day). Please bear in mind these timing s are approximate and the footing is not always the easiest, wear good shoes, definitely not flip flops or backless sandals.
Nerja
The town of Nerja is on the coast some 35 minutes from most of our villas. Once a sleepy fishing village, the town now has a population of over 12,000, which probably quadruples during the summer months. Nerja boasts 16 kilometres of beaches with powdery sand and sparkling clear water. All major water sports are available here, including water skiing, scuba diving and sailing. Flanked by a dramatic mountain range, Sierra Almijara, to the east, the town has, fortunately, managed to avoid being blighted by the concrete high-rise scenario which has been the inevitable result of the tourist boom in some of the coastal resorts.
The old quarter of the town is still virtually unchanged with narrow, winding streets, whitewashed houses with wrought iron terraces overflowing with geraniums. However, the heart of Nerja is its spectacular Balcon de Europa, the “Balcony of Europe”, a magnificent promenade along the edge of a towering cliff, once the site of the great Moorish castle, with sweeping panoramic views of the Mediterranean and the small coves and beaches below, against an awesome backdrop of hazy blue mountains. Nerja caves are not quite in Nerja, but a couple of kilometers away in Maro, buses frequently run between there and town, or it costs about a Euro to use the caves car park.
Marbella
More than just a playground for the rich and famous, Marbella has a unique personality lying behind its ritzy facade that makes it much more than a simple resort. It has received numerous awards, both nationally and internationally, for its contribution to tourism and for the city?s cleanliness and security.
It is a dazzling, cosmopolitan jewel of the Costa del Sol. It can certainly give the famed Monte Carlo a run for its money! Indeed, this is where the creme de la creme have the time of their lives.