Although it must be recognized that the identity and traditions of the Andalusians are a real attraction for tourists who visit this community in southern Spain, the truth is that Andalusia is much more than its folklore. And it is that in its eight provinces you will be able to find from spectacular natural landscapes to beaches of great beauty, passing through important historical monuments, charming towns, impressive cities, an exquisite gastronomy and a lot of leisure and culture offer.
Today we want to tell you about one of the many wonders of Andalusia: the Sierra de Grazalema . Considered one of the natural areas of greatest ecological value in the entire community, it is located halfway between Cádiz and Malaga, and is dotted with small and pretty white villages. Do you want to know more about this spectacular corner of Andalusian geography? Well, do not miss anything that we tell you below!
The rainiest place in the Iberian Peninsula
Located in front of the ocean, the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park is located between Cádiz and Málaga, welcoming the so-called “White Villages”: Algodonales, Banaocaz, Benaoján, Cortes de la Frontera, El Bosque, El Gastor, Grazalema, Jimera de Líbar, Montejaque, Prado del Rey, Ronda, Ubrique, Villaluenga del Rosario and Zahara de la Sierra. Believe it or not, it is the place where it rains the most in the entire Iberian Peninsula, since it receives the storms that arrive from the Atlantic. Due to the precipitations and the limestone nature of the terrain, a very steep mountain range has been formed, being able to find numerous rugged landscapes, caves and caves. Therefore, it is a true paradise for lovers of caving and climbing. The Sierra de Grazalema has numerous points of interest , such as the Garganta Verde, a 400 meter deep canyon, and the Hundiero-Gato complex, an underground labyrinth of caves and chasms considered the longest cave in Andalusia; the summits of El Torreón or El Reloj; the upper course of the Majaceite river; or the botanical garden of El Castillejo.
Flora and fauna
One of the great attractions of this place is to be able to contemplate the flora and fauna of the mountains. And it is that although holm oak forests predominate, other species can also be seen, such as mastic, hawthorn, gorse, gall oak, cork oak, heather, rockrose, myrtle and fern. Of course, beyond these species, the Spanish firs stand out, descendants of the Central European firs that in glacial times formed large forests here. However, today they are only found in the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park and in Sierra Bermeja. Of course, we also want to talk about its floristic variety, being able to contemplate more than 1,300 species, seven of them exclusive to this natural corner. As for the fauna, mammals such as the mountain goat, otter, marten, deer, genet, badger, roe deer, rabbit or mongoose coexist. In addition, bats, partridges, griffon vultures, Egyptian vultures, golden owls and Bonelli’s eagles are very common.
What to do in the Sierra de Grazalema
As we have just mentioned, one of the great attractions of the Sierra de Grazalema is to be able to contemplate the flora and fauna. For this, nothing better than hiking, horseback riding or cycling along some of the many forest trails and tracks that can be found in the area. On the other hand, you should know that this natural park is perfect for practicing sport fishing, especially in the Majaceite River; taste mountain products; practice free flight; perform water activities; practice caving; do canyoning; or do the White Villages Route. In addition, you should know that the Sierra de Cádiz has an important archaeological heritage.
Then we leave you with our gallery , where you will find more photographs of the beautiful Sierra de Grazalema. Do not miss it!
