Marbella launches ten nature trips to explore the province’s landscapes and natural heritage

Marbella is once again turning towards its mountains and natural landscapes with a new edition of the municipal ‘Salidas a la Naturaleza’ programme. Between 25 October 2026 and 9 May 2027, the Town Hall will organise ten excursions through Sierra Blanca, the Genal Valley, Sierra de las Nieves, Fuente de Piedra Lagoon, the Guadalmina River, the Caminito del Rey and the Sierra de Mijas.

The initiative will offer 500 places, divided into groups of 50 participants per outing.

Five routes will be aimed specifically at families and will feature more accessible itineraries, while the other five will be designed as hiking trips for people used to walking in natural environments.

The first route will explore Sierra Blanca

The programme begins on Sunday 25 October with a route through one of Marbella’s closest natural areas.

The itinerary will connect Nagüeles, Mina de Buenavista and Los Monjes, within Sierra Blanca.

The route will cover approximately 6 kilometres and has a moderate-low level of difficulty.

In addition to Mediterranean landscapes, the first outing will also include a historical element through the surroundings of Mina de Buenavista, one of the remains of Marbella’s mining past before the city became the international tourist destination it is today.

Ten excursions between October and May

The full programme combines routes within Marbella with excursions to other parts of Málaga province.

The scheduled outings are:

25 October 2026: Nagüeles – Mina de Buenavista – Los Monjes, Sierra Blanca. 6 kilometres, moderate-low difficulty.

15 November 2026: Juanar – Ojén via the La Virgencita trail. Family route, 7 kilometres, moderate difficulty.

29 November 2026: circular route between Igualeja and Parauta. 12 kilometres, moderate difficulty.

17 January 2027: Fuente de Piedra Lagoon. Family route, 6.2 kilometres, low difficulty.

7 February 2027: San Pedro Alcántara – Benahavís via the Guadalmina River irrigation channel. 12 kilometres, low difficulty.

21 February 2027: Conejeras trail in Sierra de las Nieves National Park. Family route, 5 kilometres, low difficulty.

14 March 2027: Juanar – Istán via Cañada de Juan Inglés, Sierra Blanca. 10 kilometres, moderate difficulty.

11 April 2027: Caminito del Rey. Family route, 8.7 kilometres, easy difficulty.

25 April 2027: circular route to Pico de Mijas. 12 kilometres, moderate-high difficulty.

9 May 2027: Antiguo Vertedero – Mujeres en las Veredas viewpoint – Puerto Rico Bajo, Sierra Blanca. 5 kilometres, moderate-low difficulty.

Autumn colours in the Genal Valley

One of the November excursions will explore the area around Igualeja and Parauta, in the heart of the Genal Valley.

The date has been chosen to coincide with one of the most characteristic moments of the year in this part of Málaga: the changing colour of the chestnut trees.

During autumn, the landscape known as the Bosque de Cobre transforms parts of the valley into shades of yellow, red and brown.

The circular route will cover around 12 kilometres and is aimed at participants with some basic hiking experience.

Flamingos at Fuente de Piedra Lagoon

The programme resumes after Christmas with a particularly family-friendly outing.

On 17 January, participants will visit the Fuente de Piedra Lagoon Nature Reserve, one of Andalusia’s most important wetlands.

The route will cover 6.2 kilometres and has a low level of difficulty.

The timing will offer the chance to discover the area during a period when different waterbirds can be seen, including flamingos, one of the species most closely associated with this Málaga nature reserve.

From the Guadalmina River to Sierra de las Nieves

February will include two very different routes.

On 7 February, participants will walk from San Pedro Alcántara towards Benahavís following the Guadalmina River irrigation-channel trail.

The route covers 12 kilometres, although it is classified as low difficulty.

Two weeks later, on 21 February, the programme will visit Sierra de las Nieves National Park.

This time, participants will follow the Conejeras trail, a family-friendly walk of approximately 5 kilometres.

Caminito del Rey returns to the programme

One of the best-known outings will be the visit to Caminito del Rey, scheduled for 11 April.

The route returns to the programme after being one of the most popular activities in previous editions.

The itinerary will cover around 8.7 kilometres and is classified by the organisers as an easy family route.

Unlike the other activities, this excursion will not be completely free.

Participants will need to pay the entrance fee to Caminito del Rey, while transport and organisation will be covered by the municipal programme.

Pico de Mijas, one of this year’s new routes

One of the main new additions for 2026/2027 will be the climb to Pico de Mijas.

The outing will take place on 25 April and consist of a circular route of around 12 kilometres.

It will also be one of the most demanding trips in the programme, with a moderate-high level of difficulty.

The route will explore the Sierra de Mijas and offer wide panoramic views across much of the Costa del Sol.

Sierra Blanca will close the programme in May

The final excursion will return to Marbella’s own natural surroundings.

On 9 May 2027, the programme will finish with a route between Antiguo Vertedero, the Mujeres en las Veredas viewpoint and Puerto Rico Bajo.

The walk will take place in Sierra Blanca, cover around 5 kilometres and is designed as a family activity.

The programme will therefore both begin and end in one of the natural areas most closely associated with Marbella.

Five family routes and five hiking trips

Marbella Town Hall has designed the programme to appeal to different types of participants.

Of the ten planned excursions, five are specifically designed as family-friendly routes and the other five as hiking trips.

Children under 18 can take part, although they must be accompanied by an adult.

For more demanding routes, organisers also recommend that participants have a level of fitness appropriate for the itinerary.

How to register for the routes

Each outing will have 50 places available.

Registration will open on the Monday of the same week as each activity at 10:00 am and remain open until Friday at 1:00 pm.

Applications must be sent by email to:

actividades.medioambiente@marbella.es

Participants will need to provide their full name, identification document, date of birth, telephone number, email address and chosen pick-up point.

Family applications may include up to five people, subject to the conditions established by the organisers.

For the first excursion on 25 October, registration will open on Monday 19 October at 10:00 am.

Free bus transport from Marbella and San Pedro Alcántara

Transport is included as part of the activities.

The organisers will provide buses with pick-up points in both Marbella and San Pedro Alcántara.

The programme also includes specialised guides and accident insurance.

Pets are not permitted on the excursions.

Priority for those who have not recently taken part

The Town Hall has also established a system to distribute places when demand exceeds availability.

If there are more applications than available places, priority will be given to people who have not taken part in the previous two activities.

The aim is to allow as many different residents as possible to enjoy the programme throughout the season.

Around 500 people participated in the previous edition, with available places eventually selling out.

Nature, landscapes and history across Málaga

The purpose of the excursions goes beyond physical exercise.

The routes are also designed to explain the wildlife, vegetation, geology and history of the places visited.

Sierra Blanca will play a particularly important role, but the programme will also cover very different ecosystems, from a large wetland such as Fuente de Piedra to the forests of the Genal Valley and the mountain landscapes of Sierra de las Nieves.

The initiative therefore offers a chance to discover another side of Marbella and the Costa del Sol, away from beaches and urban areas.