Magic in its purest form – hiking in Spain’s Sierra de las Nieves

There’s one place in Andalusia that can meet all the expectations of nature lovers: Malaga. This province offers something for everyone: with the crystal-clear sea, turquoise waters of the reservoirs, incredible karst landscapes, white villages that are hidden in the folds of the mountains, breathtaking gorges and endless forests of Spanish firs. Nine regions make up this incomparable corner of Andalusia, and all of them deserve to be appreciated and explored from beginning to end.

The star of this Collection is the region of the Sierra de las Nieves, located in the national park of the same name. This natural area was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1995, but you don't need to know what titles it holds to understand what a privilege it is to walk through these mountains.

On this route, you walk among the oldest inhabitants of the region: the Spanish firs. This species of fir tree was abundant in Europe and North Africa millions of years ago. They favour extremely cold and wet conditions, which became a challenge when the climate started to become milder. The Spanish firs retreated to the coldest, wettest and most shady places and, today, only the provinces of Cádiz and Málaga – and specifically, the Sierra de las Nieves – are lucky enough to be home to this relic.

This Collection brings together the seven stages of the GR 243, totalling 113 kilometres (70 mi). This version of the GR includes the variant that leads from Monda to Istán, passing first through Ojén. Each day begins and ends in a different village, so by the end of the adventure you’ll have visited seven of the nine municipalities that make up this beautiful region. All of them have accommodation, shops and restaurants.

The route is not technically difficult. However, it does require good fitness to tackle the long distances and considerable inclines. Add to this the weight of your backpack, in which you should include water for each day, snacks such as energy bars and dried fruit and a waterproof jacket. You’ll also need warm clothing, depending on the season you visit.

Although the province of Malaga enjoys a mild climate all year round, it’s best to avoid summer because of the high temperatures. I recommend that you undertake the walk between autumn and spring.

The starting point is in Ronda, which is easily reached by train or bus. Istán, the last village on the GR 243, has a bus line to Marbella (see timetables here: transandalucia.com/en/marbella-%c2%b7-istan ). From there, you can head back to Ronda or Malaga, where there are more public transport options.

Remember to help preserve these unique places by not leaving a trace and, of course, respect the rules of each park. I hope the Sierra de las Nieves captivates you as much as it did me. Happy walking!