Walking or strolling through these lands is an enjoyable and rewarding activity for visitors. Following the routes we suggest is an invitation to discover the great diversity of landscapes and natural surroundings our municipality has to offer.
Centuries-old olive groves, streams carved into deep and breathtaking gorges, dense oak forests, peaceful pastures, and cool water springs await. Visiting these lands with all your senses open to the endless colors, sounds, and shapes found in this variety of habitats will evoke sensations and awaken deep emotions through direct contact with this wonderful natural environment.
Any time of year is ideal to explore these places, allowing you to experience the surprising changes in the landscape from one season to the next.
Main natural spaces and reserves
Hoz del Arroyo Marín
The Hoz del Arroyo Marín is the ultimate example of Archidona’s natural excellence. It is a natural sanctuary featuring native Aleppo pine forests, a riverside gallery forest that shelters the stream, steep slopes formed on gypsum-rich terrain, natural springs, and caves — all arranged in a striking half-moon-shaped landscape.
Encinar Archidona - Salinas
The Encinar Archidona – Salinasis a vast area stretching east of the municipality of Archidona, reaching the outskirts of the village of Salinas. It is one of the best-preserved holm oak forests in the province of Málaga. The landscape is generally varied and is crossed by waterways such as the Marín Stream and Fuente Fresno, which begin to carve into the terrain here, eventually forming the karst river gorge known as the Hoz de Marín further downstream.
Garganta del Guadalhorce
This is another natural area of high ecological value, through which the Guadalhorce River flows. Over time, the river has carved out a deep gorge, similar to that of the Marín Stream. In addition to its rich wildlife, the area features notable geological formations known as mogotes—rock outcrops more resistant to erosion than the surrounding terrain. Among them, the Peñón del Mediodía stands out for its striking appearance. From this viewpoint, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the fertile plains of Archidona and Antequera, and on clear days, even the Sierra de las Nieves.
Parque periurbano Sierra de Gracia
At the foothills of the Virgen de Gracia mountain range lies the Sierra de Gracia Peri-Urban Park, officially designated as such in 1999 by the Andalusian Regional Ministry of the Environment. The park offers an unbeatable panoramic view of the town of Archidona. Its vegetation consists mainly of extensive shrubland, interspersed with patches of holm oaks and areas of rock-dwelling plants on the steeper slopes. The tree cover, however, is predominantly made up of reforested pine woodland.
Cueva de las Grajas
The Cueva de Las Grajas is located on the western slope of the mountain range that bears its name, which is part of the larger Sierra de Archidona. A prominent landmark at the regional level, it consists of a massive rock shelter with a small cave at its highest central point. The walls of the shelter, some of considerable height, feature numerous cavities and recesses of varying sizes that provide refuge for many bird species.
Cueva del agua
The Cueva del Agua in Archidona, Málaga, is a natural monument of karstic origin located in the Sierra de Gracia. It stands out for its interior lagoon fed by underground springs, its geological formations such as stalactites and stalagmites, and its historical and archaeological value due to prehistoric remains found inside. Additionally, it is an ecologically rich area of great natural beauty, home to characteristic flora and fauna.
El Brosque
El Brosque is a karstic landscape located between Archidona and Villanueva del Rosario, characterized by rolling terrain with numerous dolines formed by the dissolution of gypsum. Its landscape combines hills and flat areas, allowing the coexistence of natural Mediterranean woodland and shrubland with olive and cereal cultivation.
Lagunas de Archidona - Los Hoyos
Los Hoyos is an impressive gypsum karst landscape featuring numerous dolines and two permanent lagoons, the Laguna Grande and Laguna Chica of Archidona. Designated as a Nature Reserve since 1989, these endorheic lagoons are unique in Andalusia and hold high ecological and geological value. They support a biodiverse aquatic ecosystem, particularly important for waterfowl, including endangered species such as the white-headed duck and the ferruginous duck. Additionally, the area preserves one of the few remaining patches of virgin Mediterranean forest in the province of Málaga.
