Walking in the area
Walking routes
Walking holidays
Maps
Other activities
Tours
Cómpeta Walking Forum
The Axarquia is a great place to get out and about, and where better than in the Sierras Almijaras. Finding your way around can be a bit tricky, as guide books often give vague descriptions such as “turn left at the rock with the lizard on it”. Walking World have devised a system of using a combination of walk descriptions and photographs taken at points where decisions need to be taken. There are some for the Axarquia at http://www.walkingworld.com. We are currently working on more routes which you can order and can pay for on line using Paypal. All routes have been walked and plotted with a GPS, there is an accompanying map and instructions with photos. The authors are veteran walkers of Kilimanjaro and the Highlands of Scotland, and have been walking in the Axarquia for over 20 years!
Routes are updated with further information on an annual basis with information about other aspects of the routes such as archaeology, history, accommodation etc.
Walks available - or we can make a bespoke route for you for €5. Routes currently available are as follows. Cost €3 each payable by Paypal. If you do not have / wish to use a Paypal account, please contact us and we can discuss other methods of payment.
Route 1 - An easy but very pretty walk from Cómpeta to Canillas de Albaida. Duration: 1 hour. Distance: 4km. Grade: Easy. Terrain: Good track. A very popular track with the locals. Views down to the coast and of Canillas de Albaida with its church high on a promontory are superb. (1.5MB)Route 2 - Competa - Canillas de Albaida via Mosquin. Duration: 2 hours. Distance: 7 km. Grade: Moderate. Track: Good track. Magnificent views to the coast - watch out for the bees! (1.9MB)
Route 3 - Cómpeta - Archez - Canillas de Albaida - Cómpeta. Duration: 4.5 hours (long route), 2 hours (short route). Distance: 10km (long route), 6.5km (short route). Grade: Easy. Good track, some road walking. Lots of good "watering stops" in the villages! (1.7MB)
Route 6 - Cómpeta - Acebuchal - Cómpeta. Duration: 6 hours round trip from Cómpeta village. Grade: Easy. Terrain: Forest tracks. A walk to the "lost village" of Acebuchal on the border with Frigiliana. Great place for lunch! (726kb)
Route 9 - Cómpeta - Casa de Mina - Fábrica de Luz - Cómpeta. Duration: 6 hours. Duration: 6 hours. Distance: 15km
Grade: Moderate. Terrain: Good tracks, stony on the track to Puerto Collado. A beautiful walk to Casa de Mina (where copper was mined in years gone by) and down to the newly renovated Fábrica de Luz. You will need to be fit for this walk, as it is very long, and the last part is uphill! (1.4MB)Route 20 - Casa de Mina - Puerto Blanquillo. Duration: 3 hours from Casa de Mina – 4.5 hours from Cómpeta
Distance: Round trip: 19km from Casa de Mina, 11.5km from WP2 Horse watering spot shown on map. (1.4MB)
Keep an eye on this page - we are adding new walks all the time!
We can provide all you need for a great self guided walking holiday in the Sierras Almijaras - routes, restaurant recommendations, accommodation for up to six people, recommendations on further accommodation as required.
Join the Cómpeta Walking Forum and let us know about your walking experiences in Cómpeta. If you are a walking provider and lead walks, you are welcome to put your information here. No self catering accommodation though!
Interpretive panels and advice about walking in the area are starting to appear courtesy of the local townhalls which are great starting points, although the majority of walks start in Plaza Almijara. At the time of updating, the town hall were placing new village signs which makes navigation around the village easier. There is a sign in Plaza Carmen which was placed there after we updated the walk (January 2009) - this is on routes 2, 9 and 20.
Good walking boots are recommended, take a mobile phone and contact number of either someone you know who can rescue you in an emergency, or the emergency services number. Always let someone know where you are going if you are walking alone. Taking a bottle of water is also recommended, even in the winter time.
If you find other versions of these walks on other web sites, they may not be authentic, except for http://www.walkingworld.com. The walks are updated annually between November and February.
Contact us if you have any queries.
Maps
Good walking maps are very difficult to find in Spain but to get a general feel of the area you can buy military maps of the area are available in Marco Polo – sheet number 18-43 Zafarraya. Sheet number 18-44 Velez Malaga gives the area to the coast. All Spanish maps are based on the Hayford grid system (possibly dating from Wellington and the peninsular wars) as opposed to the European 1950 grid. The Hayford Grid approximates to the European 1950 grid that is effectively WGS84 but Hayford has a slight shift in the Northing and Eastings. The shift varies across Spain and can even change from sheet to sheet. The shift In the Axarquia region is about 202m N and 110m East.
Maps of the village are available from the tourist information office (open 10:00 to 15:00 Wednesday to Sunday, Mondays and Tuesdays in the town hall on the Rampa) route of how to get to the football pitch is available free from Todo Papel, Cómpeta and other outlets.TOURS
We can organise walking tours through the Sierras calling at places personally recommended by us. Overnight at a local B&B or guest house. Alternatively we can organise trips to local fiestas using our preferred suppliers. Contact us for a quotation!
Keep an eye on this page - we are adding new walks all the time! Contact us for further information or place an order.
Contact us for further information or place an order.
All in all, Cómpeta is a great place to be at any time the year.