The lost village in Malaga where the only noise is the water flowing through its green surroundings and with a hidden inn in a cave-house

Among the more than a hundred towns that make up the geography of the province of Málaga, there are also a good number of districts, localities, and villages that we cannot overlook. Today we talk about a village lost in the vicinity of the Sierra de las Nieves National Park, between the towns of Yunquera and Alozaina, a hidden corner where the only noise heard during autumn and winter is the water flowing through its surroundings. We are talking about Jorox, a village deeply connected to the water course among its multiple ravines, natural pools, springs, channels, and mills from other times.

A moist and cool landscape during autumn, a unique spot to visit at any time of the year for the tranquility it offers, for the soundtrack provided by the water and its flow through each of the streams that make up the surroundings of Jorox, always green. The main driver of this story is the Jorox River, which originates precisely in a spring located in this village that bears its name. For centuries, this spring has been a precursor of civilizations, as reflected by the caves in the area, although it was the passage of the Muslim culture that enhanced and developed the management of the spring and water, with channels, pools, and conduits that we can see throughout Jorox.

Waterfalls, pools, and a ravine that defines the landscape

The Jorox River shapes the geography of this lost village in Málaga, forming ravines like the one that covers Jorox. Here appears the Cascada de la Caldera, a unique spot in the province of Málaga, whose flow varies depending on the time of year, which features a waterfall about 25 meters high, surrounded by lush, abundant greenery, with a pond suitable for swimming.

Around this waterfall, near the river, we can find other beautiful areas, among pools and spaces to contemplate nature, places where the use of water in this village since ancient times is evident, such as some of the mills, now out of use, most of them practically destroyed, remnants of a distant but crucial past for the economy of the time.

But Jorox is more than water. Its surroundings feature various caves and sinkholes that speak of the past, of human presence in this place since prehistoric times. On one hand, the Cueva del Algarrobo, where clear evidence of Paleolithic occupation is preserved. Also in the Cueva de La Mesa, where elements and pieces dating from the Bronze Age were found and are now on display at the Museum of Málaga.

A village that shelters from the heat among vegetation and water

The small village of Jorox is one of those exceptional places particularly in the summer months, mainly because of its ability to maintain cooler temperatures given its environment and the prominence of water, an enclave filled with waterfalls, pools, and channels, where country houses, rural homes, and vacation rentals offer the opportunity to disconnect in a setting where nature sets the pace.

Especially for nature lovers, hiking or canyoning, Jorox is a strategic point due to its numerous ravines, water springs, and rocky walls, a perfect natural space for these activities, including climbing, especially in the canyon area along the river course.

To all this, we must add the opportunity to enjoy the local cuisine in a magical place like Venta Rivita, a unique inn located in a cave-house, where you can eat and unwind. Among its dishes, the Plato de Los Montes cannot be missed, nor can others like the Plato de Jorox (pork cheek, chorizo, egg, pepper, and potatoes) or the Plato Sierra de las Nieves (substituting chorizo for mushrooms). Its breadcrumbs, paellas, snails, tripe, or meats also comfort the soul (and the stomach...).