Get away from the hustle & bustle of coastal resorts and discover the real Spain..!
Enjoy direct contact with nature, walk through the village streets, meet the locals, taste the typical Andalucian food.
Vista del Torcal is situated just on the outskirts of the hamlet La Higuera shown on the map below.
Our location map co-ordinates are 36.938728,-4.586513.
To see an image of our exact location please search for 'Vista del Torcal' on Google Maps.
We provide free, off-road parking.
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Here's a selection of places to visit near Vista del Torcal...
Villanueva de la Concepción
Our local village, just 10 minutes drive from Vista del Torcal. Villanueva offers plenty of local bars and restaurants, shops and plazas and the locals are so friendly and welcoming. We celebrate a variety of fiestas and ferias throughout the year...
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January 5th Eve of Three Kings Day - parades through the village
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January 6th Three Kings Day - public holiday, main gift giving day
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Feb / March Carnival Season - a variety of celebrations held over 3 days
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April Semana Santa - Holy Week - religious processions through the village
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May Romeria - during a mid May weekend locals and visitors gather at the foot of 'El Torcal' and enjoy picnics and BBQs in the natural park.
*** June / July / August -Ferias and Fiestas take place in the surrounding villages throughout the summer months - great family nights with amusements for the children, traditional music & singing, dancing, food & drink... there's seldom a summer weekend without a feria within driving distance of the hotel. ***
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July Verdiales - a day & evening of traditonal music - groups of musicians, dancers and singers perform in the streets amoungst crowds of spectators and food stalls. The Verdiales celebration in Villanueva de la Concepcion was made a 'Festivity of National Tourist Interest' in 2001.
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August Feria de Villanueva de la Concepcion - a three day party starting with the 'Ruta de Tapas', a drink and tapa in 13 bars during the Friday afternoon/evening. Flamenco, bull-fighting, music, fireworks on the Saturday. Sunday afternoon visitors are invited to finish the weekend off with an afternoon of free paella and music in the main square.
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September Vendimia - grape harvest celebrations
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October Various food festivals to celebrate the autumn harvest.
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November The 'birthday' of the village is celebrated on 3rd November.
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December 25th public holiday - the 'Ermita de Jeva' (pictured above right), attracts crowds of hundreds of visitors on Christmas morning, to worship Our Lady of the Purification. This festival of National Tourist Interest includes local 'verdiales' folk groups playing music whilst sweet treats are offered to all visitors in the form of homemade Christmas cakes and doughnuts, along with coffee and anise. These refreshments are followed by as many people as possible squeezing into the tiny hermitage for mass.
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El Torcal de Antequera
El Torcal National Park is an ideal location for... walking, hiking, birdwatching, observing wildlife, rock climbing, photography and painting.
El Torcal Park's 17 square km includes some of the most beautiful and impressive limestone landscapes in Europe. The visitor entrance of the park is a 20 minute drive from the hotel, climbing up the hills above our nearest village Villanueva de la Concepcion.
Geologists have concluded that the area of the park was under the sea millions of years ago, until the violent movements of the Earth's crust forced the whole area upwards to form hills and mountains 1,300 m above sea level. The limestone formations have kept their unusual appearance, and over millions of years the rain and wind have been able to chisel away at these layers to form some really fascinating shapes.
There are two walking routes around the park, both clearly marked out by maps at the visitor centre and different coloured wooden posts along each route path (pictured below). The green route (ruta verde) is the shortest and easiest, 1,5 km and takes about 40 minutes. The yellow route (ruta amarilla) 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 Málaga.
When visiting El Torcal and considering taking one of the walking routes you will need good walking shoes or trainers, and a bottle of water. The park is still a great place to visit even if you'd rather just stroll around the upper area taking in the magnificant views and watching the eagles circle above, without partaking in any strenuous hiking!
There are plenty of convenient parking spaces situated at the visitor entrance. Here you will also find an information centre and small museum providing a more indepth insight into the natural development of the rock formations and the wildlife found within the park.
Car Park Visitor Centre
El Torcal is beautiful all year round... In spring and autumn the rain showers result in a display of colourful plant life including rare lilies, peonies and orchids. Summer brings out the lizards who sunbathe on the grey rocks, whilst vultures and eagles soar up above and the mountain goats rest in the shade of the caves. In the cold winter months mist and snow fall over the landscape providing a fantastic photo opportunity. All in all, really worth a visit!
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Antequera - "Ciudad de Arte" (City of Art)
It is known as the heart of Andalucia, (el corazón de Andalucía) because of its central location between Malaga, Seville, Cordoba and Granada.
The first sighting of Antequera in the distance is that of many church spires and the walls and towers of the Moorish castle. This historical city offers its visitors fascinating Bronze age burial mounds, Roman baths, Gothic churches, Renaissance fountains and baroque bell towers. Also, the city's bullring is considered as one of the most attractive in Spain. 
Spread out in the valley below the city centre are rich farmlands. One of Andalucia's most fertile, the Antequera area is currently a leading producer of asparagus, cereals and olives. In summer, its fields turn bright yellow with sunflowers.
Visit Antequera to:
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explore one of the many historical sites that the city has to offer
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wander the streets and visit a selection of the dozens of museums, art galleries and churches
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follow Washington Irving's steps on two wheels - via the city's well known bicycle route
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take time out for some retail therapy... Antequera's centre is full of boutiques offering a selection of clothes, shoes, leather goods and typical Andalucian foodstuffs
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sample tapas in one of the many shady plazas
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El Chorro Gorge & Ardales Lakes - "Malaga's Lake District"
El Chorro gorge & Ardales lakes are ideal locations for... hiking, picnics, mountain biking, rock climbing, swimming, fishing, canoeing and lots more.
The journey takes around 40 minutes from Vista del Torcal. On entering El Chorro you will first see the dam which created the three huge artificial lakes. This dam was built 200m high over the Guadalhorce river gorge, in 1921.
There is a small bridge across the middle of the gorge and a walkway which is literally 'pinned' to the vertical face of the gorge, 100m above the water. This walkway, "El Camino del Rey" (The King's Path), was named after King Alfonso XIII of Spain, who originally opened the dam. The walkway has been closed and re-opened many times in recent years due to safety issues. Needless to say, rockcliming here is strictly for experienced climbers with all the necessary equipment!
The lakes are found by travelling across the dam and following the scenic road for around 4kms. When they first come into view and you see their bright turquoise colour and the surrounding pine forests, it really is breathtaking. Visitors are able to drive all the way around the lakes, but there are also dozens of hiking routes branching off from the winding roads.
Tourists and locals visit the lakes for the beauty and tranquility of the area. Families set up camp in the shade of the pine trees to have picnics, and nearer the shores of the lakes groups are seen fishing and swimming. There are also many spots where you can rent pedalos and canoes, and there are a few restaurants along the main roadway for a really authentic Andalucian lunch.
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'The Pink Lagoon' at Fuente de Piedra
Around a 30 minute drive north from Vista del Torcal is the village of Fuente de Piedra, and it's huge salt lagoon.
Measuring more than six kilometres long and nearly three kilometres wide, it's one of the largest natural lagoons in Spain. The lagoon provides an ideal breeding spot for pink flamingos, who spend the warmer months here before their winter migration to Africa. The birds can easily be seen in the lagoon any time between late January and late August. The lagoon is also home to other birdlife such as the Black-Winged Stilt pictured below.Being a salt lagoon, a further attraction occurs in the springtime when increased water evaporation leaves crystals of salt on the lagoon surface - a great photo opportunity, especially when captured with the sun´s reflection.
The lagoon has a visitor centre where you can pick up literature and a map. You can choose either to walk around the lagoon via the marked routes, or drive and admire the lagoon from various parking viewpoints.
