Cortes de la Frontera: Gorges, Nature and Historic Trails

Cortes de la Frontera is the starting point of the Route de Levante, which leads, among other places, to the Roman ruins of Saeponta.

Find more destinations here: Casabermeja, Torremolinos, La Cala del Moral, Alhaurin De La Torre, Istán, Yunquera, Cajiz and Alhaurin El Grande.

Nature and Wildlife

The Cañón de las Buitreras is a geological natural monument covering an area of 21.9 hectares. In the Province of Málaga, it lies within the municipalities of Cortes de la Frontera, Benalauría and Benarrabá.

The Guadiaro River formed the narrow gorge with its karst passages, caves and numerous waterfalls. A significant colony of griffon vultures breeds on the steep cliffs of the Cañón de las Buitreras. Otters also live in its waters.

The Laguna del Moral is a seasonal habitat for newts and frogs. Los Alcornocales Natural Park is a mountain complex containing the largest cork oak forest on the Iberian Peninsula, which is in an excellent state of preservation.

This means that different living conditions exist side by side in the surrounding natural area: the steep cliffs of the Cañón de las Buitreras provide nesting sites for the griffon vulture colony, while the waters of the gorge are inhabited by otters. The seasonal Laguna del Moral adds a habitat associated with newts and frogs to this landscape.

Hiking Trails and History

The La Sauceda hiking trail passes through a small valley formed by the Arroyo Rosada Llana, also known as Pasadallana. It passes by the old Molino del Mondo grain mill.

The former settlement of La Sauceda lies along the route. The remains of a chapel can be found there, which also served as a school for a time. For centuries, La Sauceda was a refuge for bandits.

People who had been driven from their homes also found refuge there. During the Spanish Civil War, the settlement was severely affected by Francoist troops. The settlement was even bombed from the air.

The trail therefore passes places where the valley’s former use and the settlement’s eventful history can be read. The history of La Sauceda includes both the chapel’s use as a school and the various groups who sought refuge there. The events of the Spanish Civil War form a further period of contemporary history.

Official authorization is required for the La Sauceda hiking trail. The Route de Levante begins in Cortes de la Frontera and leads, among other places, to the Roman ruins of Saeponta.

Culture and Events

The parish church of Nuestra Señora del Rosario is located in Cortes de la Frontera. It is associated with a significant pilgrimage.

The XXII Jornadas Micológicas of Cortes de la Frontera have been held since 2002. They were awarded the designation Fiesta de Singularidad Turística Provincial.

Excursions into the countryside were planned for the event on 3 and 4 February 2024. Workshops on identification and cultivation, as well as Micotapas or Micotapa routes, were also planned.

Live cooking, tastings, photography competitions and exhibitions were also planned.

The event program thus combined the study of mushrooms in the countryside and in workshops with culinary, photographic and exhibition-based formats. The designation Fiesta de Singularidad Turística Provincial also indicates the special event status of the Jornadas Micológicas, which have been held since 2002.

For the broader travel overview: Málaga.