El Torcal is magnificent. We stayed a week at the costa del sol and craved some nature. A real hidden gem as it didn’t pop up too much as things to do from Malaga, we found out that this national park is only 50km drive from this city which makes it the excellent distance for a daytrip from Malaga!
What is there to see in El Torcal National Park?
El Torcal National Parkis renowned for its distinctive karst landscape. Named after the Spanish word “torcal,” which signifies limestone hills or karstic formations, the park beautifully showcases its geological wonders. Over millions of years, wind and water have intricately sculpted El Torcal’s unique rock formations from limestone deposited during the Jurassic period, creating dramatic peaks, cliffs, and valleys. To us, it looks like stacks of pancake rocks! The beauty of these rocks constantly left me speechless. We’ve done a lot of hiking, but this national park completely blew us away with its stunning scenery.
What routes to Pick?:
You can visit the information center to get more details, but finding the three routes is quite straightforward:
The three walks are all fairly easy:
- Green walk: a short route of only 1.5km (0.93 mile)
- Yellow route: a loop of 3 km (1.83miles) with magnificent views.
- Orange route: a back and forth with a small loop of 3.8km (2.36miles)
A short 300m viewpoint is accessible from the parking lot. On clear days, you can enjoy views of Malaga from here. This path is fully pram-friendly. It is not recommended to do only the viewpoint route without exploring further. The routes are not too difficult with a child however with a toddler or baby you need a carrier.
Tip: You can rent a backpack carrier at the visitor center which is super convenient!
Come here early enough (before 10 o’clock) to have a place in the parkinglot near the visitor center, places are limited. If you are late, there is a bus that goes back and forth the lower parking lot. Arriving around 9:30 (thank you early toddler mornings) in March, we walked mostly alone on the path which made it even more spectacular to walk amongst these rockformations that are formed ages ago.
Visit Antequera, a picturesque town
Take a morning in El Torcal and go have lunch the idillic town nearby, Antequerra. This is a super cute town with also plenty things to do! Just walking around you see nice old buildings. After some well deserved lunch we strolled around town and visited Alcazaba.
Alcazaba
Alcazaba of Antequera, a Moorish fortress crowning the town’s skyline gives you an excellent view over town while immersing yourself in centuries-old tales of conquest and culture. Our little one was most interested in the cats passed by or climbing on the small windows. When we were there, entrance fee was free.
The dolmens , UNESCO heritage site
As it was our toddlers nap time, we decided to drive back but with more time we would’ve definitly done the Dolmen’s of Antequera. There are three notable dolmens, which are large stone structures:
- Menga Dolmen (Dolmen de Menga): is the largest of the three, with a corridor leading to a central chamber, and it is aligned with the summer solstice.
- Viera Dolmen (Dolmen de Viera): is characterized by its circular shape
- El Romeral Dolmen (Dolmen de El Romeral): features an oval layout
These dolmens, over 4,000 years old, served as collective burial sites and are among Europe’s largest and best-preserved megalithic structures. They offer insights into the beliefs and rituals of prehistoric societies. In 2016, UNESCO designated them as World Heritage sites, highlighting their architectural, cultural, and historical significance. Another great reason to visit!
This guide makes for an amazing daytrip from Malaga when you want to do something a little bit more adventurous than just a citytrip. Visiting El Torcal with kids is something you will definitly remember!