4 full days in Ronda
Dec 10th, 2022, 11:12 AM
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4 full days in Ronda
During our trip to Spain in late April next year, we'll have 4 full days in Ronda. We're planning 1 day to visit Ronda, and 3 day trips:
- Caminito del Rey
- Olvera + Setenil de las Bodegas
- Zahara de la Sierra + Grazelma
We will have a car, and I'm wondering if 2 days for the white villages is too much, too repetitive? Should we replace one of these days with something else? If so, which one and with what?
The rest of the trip will include stays in Seville, Granada, Cordoba, Toledo and Madrid, so please don't suggest any of these.
Thank you
- Caminito del Rey
- Olvera + Setenil de las Bodegas
- Zahara de la Sierra + Grazelma
We will have a car, and I'm wondering if 2 days for the white villages is too much, too repetitive? Should we replace one of these days with something else? If so, which one and with what?
The rest of the trip will include stays in Seville, Granada, Cordoba, Toledo and Madrid, so please don't suggest any of these.
Thank you
Dec 10th, 2022, 11:51 AM
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Hi xyz99,
We have in the past based for 4 days (actually 4 nights) in Ronda to explore the white villages, to do some wine touring, visit the Reserva Tauro (my husband's thing), the Acinipo Roman ruins and to tour the pre-historic cave of La Pileta (a fascinating, very memorable visit).
At night in Ronda you might be able to attend a guitar concert.
https://rondaguitarmusic.com/eng/daily-concerts/
https://www.cuevadelapileta.es
And there's the LA Organic Experience of olive oil tasting in Ronda.
https://www.laorganic.es/en/experiences/
More about the Acinipo ruins here-
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2...pain-andalucia
We've also stayed in Arcos several times, but just on an overnight at the Parador.
While we've yet to do the Caminito del Rey (would probably do that from Málaga), we have visited all the neighboring pueblos blancos: Olvera, Zahara de la Sierra, Grazalema, Ubrique, Benaoján (where La Pileta is located)
Some will say that they all to some degree "look alike", but each has its individual attractions.
Grazalema, in the Parque Natural Sierra de Grazalema, is extremely pretty (has won awards for its beauty), has a lovely Baroque church and is a producer of woolen blankets (with a Museo Textil) and award-winning Payoyo cheese. Interestingly, it has the distinction of being the rainiest town in Spain, but I've never been there in the rain. Here hikers walk the 12 km. Ruta de El Pinsapar, the route of the Spanish firs.
https://www.andalucia.org/en/routes-...alema-pr-a-347
https://www.andalucia.org/en/grazale...eza-y-aventura
Zahara has an ancient olive oil mill, a castle in ruins above the town and faces the beautiful Zahara-Gastor reservoir and is also good hiking country.
To drive from Grazalema to Zahara via the Puerto de las Palomas is one of Andalucía's most scenic mountain drives.
Ubrique is the "leather" town, producing leather goods for high end leather companies (Loewe),
Setenil de las Bodegas is famous for its unique houses built into the rocks and Olvera has a Moorish castle, a church built by the Duke of Osuna and a Vía Verde greenway, walking path. Olvera was named "capital of rural tourism" last year.
We love this area.
Here are some photos of the "10 prettiest villages" of the Cádiz province- (we weren't that impressed with Medina Sidonia)
https://viajes.nationalgeographic.co...os-cadiz_14698
We have in the past based for 4 days (actually 4 nights) in Ronda to explore the white villages, to do some wine touring, visit the Reserva Tauro (my husband's thing), the Acinipo Roman ruins and to tour the pre-historic cave of La Pileta (a fascinating, very memorable visit).
At night in Ronda you might be able to attend a guitar concert.
https://rondaguitarmusic.com/eng/daily-concerts/
https://www.cuevadelapileta.es
And there's the LA Organic Experience of olive oil tasting in Ronda.
https://www.laorganic.es/en/experiences/
More about the Acinipo ruins here-
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2...pain-andalucia
We've also stayed in Arcos several times, but just on an overnight at the Parador.
While we've yet to do the Caminito del Rey (would probably do that from Málaga), we have visited all the neighboring pueblos blancos: Olvera, Zahara de la Sierra, Grazalema, Ubrique, Benaoján (where La Pileta is located)
Some will say that they all to some degree "look alike", but each has its individual attractions.
Grazalema, in the Parque Natural Sierra de Grazalema, is extremely pretty (has won awards for its beauty), has a lovely Baroque church and is a producer of woolen blankets (with a Museo Textil) and award-winning Payoyo cheese. Interestingly, it has the distinction of being the rainiest town in Spain, but I've never been there in the rain. Here hikers walk the 12 km. Ruta de El Pinsapar, the route of the Spanish firs.
https://www.andalucia.org/en/routes-...alema-pr-a-347
https://www.andalucia.org/en/grazale...eza-y-aventura
Zahara has an ancient olive oil mill, a castle in ruins above the town and faces the beautiful Zahara-Gastor reservoir and is also good hiking country.
To drive from Grazalema to Zahara via the Puerto de las Palomas is one of Andalucía's most scenic mountain drives.
Ubrique is the "leather" town, producing leather goods for high end leather companies (Loewe),
Setenil de las Bodegas is famous for its unique houses built into the rocks and Olvera has a Moorish castle, a church built by the Duke of Osuna and a Vía Verde greenway, walking path. Olvera was named "capital of rural tourism" last year.
We love this area.
Here are some photos of the "10 prettiest villages" of the Cádiz province- (we weren't that impressed with Medina Sidonia)
https://viajes.nationalgeographic.co...os-cadiz_14698
Last edited by Maribel; Dec 10th, 2022 at 12:34 PM.
Dec 10th, 2022, 01:56 PM
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Maribel, thank you so much! LOL, I was hoping you'd help me make up my mind 🤣 but I think you're trying to convince me to add a couple more days here, and sadly, I can't.
The original plan was to drive from Seville to Ronda via Arcos de la Frontera, but I've changed it via Jarez, because of horses. We're happening to do this drive on a Thursday, and that's one of the days when they have the show, at least that's what I saw in 2022. I would love to see it, waiting for the 2023 schedule, which they told me will be available mid-December. If no show on Thu, we'll go back to the drive via Arcos. Would you agree with that? Arcos vs horses, tough decision, what would you pick?
The drive between Grazalema to Zahara is the reason these 2 are included in the current itinerary.
Now, I need to somehow figure out how/when to have time for La Pileta and the the LA Organic Experience. I'm thinking that the LA Organic Experience can be done on our way back from the Caminito del Rey? Their web site says it's a 45 min tour, does that sound about right?
La Pileta sounds amazing, we saw Lascaux IV and Font de Gaume in France, and would love to see more similar art.
Great links, thanks again. I'm not closer to making any decision about these days in Ronda.
The original plan was to drive from Seville to Ronda via Arcos de la Frontera, but I've changed it via Jarez, because of horses. We're happening to do this drive on a Thursday, and that's one of the days when they have the show, at least that's what I saw in 2022. I would love to see it, waiting for the 2023 schedule, which they told me will be available mid-December. If no show on Thu, we'll go back to the drive via Arcos. Would you agree with that? Arcos vs horses, tough decision, what would you pick?
The drive between Grazalema to Zahara is the reason these 2 are included in the current itinerary.
Now, I need to somehow figure out how/when to have time for La Pileta and the the LA Organic Experience. I'm thinking that the LA Organic Experience can be done on our way back from the Caminito del Rey? Their web site says it's a 45 min tour, does that sound about right?
La Pileta sounds amazing, we saw Lascaux IV and Font de Gaume in France, and would love to see more similar art.
Great links, thanks again. I'm not closer to making any decision about these days in Ronda.
Dec 10th, 2022, 02:45 PM
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That's funny! I'm really not trying to convince you to add extra days, just noting all there is to do in the Serranía de Ronda. I'll be doing your same itinerary the month before but by myself, and depending on buses and trains for once.
Arcos vs horses/sherry/flamenco in Jerez? That's a tough one, but I'd probably pick Jerez, where I'll have a 5-night stay for the March International Flamenco Festival (and no, I'm not trying to convince you to add 4 nights to Jerez, LOL
).
Does your trip coincide with Holy Week? If so, since Maundy Thursday is a bank holiday in Jerez, there wouldn't be a horse show, I don't think, but on other Thursdays in April, traditionally there always is a spectacle. I would splurge for the Preferential Seats.
If you can "squeeze" in La Pileta, the visit is really memorable (Upper Paleolithic).
I've also seen Lascaux (II), Font de Gaume, Grottes de Rouffignac and Grottos des Combarelles in the Dordogne, plus the Cantabrian and Asturian caves (I'm a huge fan; my husband, not so much)
Now advanced reservations for La Pileta are required, and a car (or taxi) is necessary to reach it from Ronda. It's a bit under a 30-minute drive. The visit when we. went was limited to 25 persons each tour but because it was low season we had the tour with only 4 more persons.
There is a steep up hill to climb from the parking area (about 150 steps) to reach the check-in booth and cave entrance, so allow for 5-10 minutes more.
Our tour, conducted by a member of the Bullón family (descendants of the discoverer), lasted almost 90 minutes, was done in English, as the members of our small group was predominately English-speaking.
We were given battery powered lanterns and told to wear very sturdy shoes with non-slip soles. Our guide moved fast, very fast, and it was quite slippery inside, so not for anyone with serious mobility issues.
About the LA Organic Experience: I thought it was an hour tour. The views here make it really special.
There's also an ancient olive mill, an almazara, El Vínculo, (dates from 1755) on the outskirts of Zahara de la Sierra on the road to Grazalema that can be toured and it has a shop.
https://www.andalucia.org/en/zahara-...ino-el-vinculo
https://routinelynomadic.com/zahara-...a-cadiz-spain/.
Arcos vs horses/sherry/flamenco in Jerez? That's a tough one, but I'd probably pick Jerez, where I'll have a 5-night stay for the March International Flamenco Festival (and no, I'm not trying to convince you to add 4 nights to Jerez, LOL
).Does your trip coincide with Holy Week? If so, since Maundy Thursday is a bank holiday in Jerez, there wouldn't be a horse show, I don't think, but on other Thursdays in April, traditionally there always is a spectacle. I would splurge for the Preferential Seats.
If you can "squeeze" in La Pileta, the visit is really memorable (Upper Paleolithic).
I've also seen Lascaux (II), Font de Gaume, Grottes de Rouffignac and Grottos des Combarelles in the Dordogne, plus the Cantabrian and Asturian caves (I'm a huge fan; my husband, not so much)
Now advanced reservations for La Pileta are required, and a car (or taxi) is necessary to reach it from Ronda. It's a bit under a 30-minute drive. The visit when we. went was limited to 25 persons each tour but because it was low season we had the tour with only 4 more persons.
There is a steep up hill to climb from the parking area (about 150 steps) to reach the check-in booth and cave entrance, so allow for 5-10 minutes more.
Our tour, conducted by a member of the Bullón family (descendants of the discoverer), lasted almost 90 minutes, was done in English, as the members of our small group was predominately English-speaking.
We were given battery powered lanterns and told to wear very sturdy shoes with non-slip soles. Our guide moved fast, very fast, and it was quite slippery inside, so not for anyone with serious mobility issues.
About the LA Organic Experience: I thought it was an hour tour. The views here make it really special.
There's also an ancient olive mill, an almazara, El Vínculo, (dates from 1755) on the outskirts of Zahara de la Sierra on the road to Grazalema that can be toured and it has a shop.
https://www.andalucia.org/en/zahara-...ino-el-vinculo
https://routinelynomadic.com/zahara-...a-cadiz-spain/.
Last edited by Maribel; Dec 10th, 2022 at 03:04 PM.
Dec 10th, 2022, 03:15 PM
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We're going for 3 1/2 weeks all together, so adding more days is not possible. We're going after Easter, landing in Seville a week after Easter, so hopefully crowds will go down by then. The stop in Jerez will be on 4/20.
We'll only do horses/sherry in Jerez, and save the flamenco for a different venue. If you had to pick one, Seville, Ronda, Granada, Cordoba, which one would you pick? Does it actually matter? Or should we just pick based on our schedule?
Maybe eliminate the 1/2 day visit to Zahara, and visit La Pileta in the morning (thanks for all the info), then visit Grazelma, have lunch there and just drive back to Ronda via Zahara? Maybe just with short stops for views and pictures? Detour to El Vinculo because the views are amazing?
We are not going to Malaga. From Ronda is Granada (drop off car there), then Cordoba, Toledo, Madrid, all by train.
We'll only do horses/sherry in Jerez, and save the flamenco for a different venue. If you had to pick one, Seville, Ronda, Granada, Cordoba, which one would you pick? Does it actually matter? Or should we just pick based on our schedule?
Maybe eliminate the 1/2 day visit to Zahara, and visit La Pileta in the morning (thanks for all the info), then visit Grazelma, have lunch there and just drive back to Ronda via Zahara? Maybe just with short stops for views and pictures? Detour to El Vinculo because the views are amazing?
We are not going to Malaga. From Ronda is Granada (drop off car there), then Cordoba, Toledo, Madrid, all by train.
Dec 10th, 2022, 03:34 PM
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it's wonderful to have those 3 1/2 weeks! I thought that you would probably be going after Easter.
For flamenco, it would do it in Sevilla, definitely, with better choices, and choose a small, intimate venue that doesn't offer meals/drinks--just an hour or so of pure, non distracted flamenco.
In Sevilla we've enjoyed the Casa de la Memoria, the Casa de la Guitarra, the Tablao Alvarez Quintero (better, ime, than Los Gallos, which is the first tablao I ever attended in Sevilla, WAY back in the day....). There are now 20 flamenco venues there!
https://www.casadelamemoria.es/en/.
https://casadelaguitarra.es
https://www.tablaoalvarezquintero.com/en
I meant that the views at the LA Organic Experience are amazing.
Sorry! I missed that Málaga isn't on your itinerary, so a day trip to the Caminito del Rey from there wouldn't work, of course. The rest of your itinerary, dropping the car off before entering center city Granada, then Córdoba, then Toledo, then Madrid sounds great, all perfectly doable by train. Sounds like a great trip.
For flamenco, it would do it in Sevilla, definitely, with better choices, and choose a small, intimate venue that doesn't offer meals/drinks--just an hour or so of pure, non distracted flamenco.
In Sevilla we've enjoyed the Casa de la Memoria, the Casa de la Guitarra, the Tablao Alvarez Quintero (better, ime, than Los Gallos, which is the first tablao I ever attended in Sevilla, WAY back in the day....). There are now 20 flamenco venues there!
https://www.casadelamemoria.es/en/.
https://casadelaguitarra.es
https://www.tablaoalvarezquintero.com/en
I meant that the views at the LA Organic Experience are amazing.
Sorry! I missed that Málaga isn't on your itinerary, so a day trip to the Caminito del Rey from there wouldn't work, of course. The rest of your itinerary, dropping the car off before entering center city Granada, then Córdoba, then Toledo, then Madrid sounds great, all perfectly doable by train. Sounds like a great trip.
Last edited by Maribel; Dec 10th, 2022 at 03:39 PM.
Dec 10th, 2022, 05:09 PM
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Thank you, I think I have a plan for the 3 days now:
- Ronda
- Olvera + Setenil de las Bodegas
- La Pileta + Grazelma + drive back to Ronda via Zahara + El Vinculo stop for photos
Flamenco in Seville 💃
I'll be back with more questions later, for the rest of the trip. Thanks again.
- Ronda
- Olvera + Setenil de las Bodegas
- La Pileta + Grazelma + drive back to Ronda via Zahara + El Vinculo stop for photos
Flamenco in Seville 💃
I'll be back with more questions later, for the rest of the trip. Thanks again.
Dec 10th, 2022, 05:20 PM
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xyz99,
I'm so sorry I missed your initial planning thread while on summer "sabbatical" from Fodors! I just found it----duh!
I think you'll really enjoy the La Pileta visit, given your Dordogne experiences. It's unique.
Ronda's unique perch atop the gorge is spectacular.
If you're an art lover, the Museo de Joaquín Peinado in the atmospheric La Ciudad (the ancient Arab quarter) of Ronda is quite interesting, housed in the Moctezuma Palace with beautiful carved artesonado ceilings. Joaquín Peinado was a good friend of Picasso, and the museum is an easy see and worth the time, ime.
MUSEO UNICAJA JOAQUÍN PEINADO [COLECCIÓN PERMANENTE] - Unicaja Fundación Ronda l Entrance
I'm so sorry I missed your initial planning thread while on summer "sabbatical" from Fodors! I just found it----duh!
I think you'll really enjoy the La Pileta visit, given your Dordogne experiences. It's unique.
Ronda's unique perch atop the gorge is spectacular.
If you're an art lover, the Museo de Joaquín Peinado in the atmospheric La Ciudad (the ancient Arab quarter) of Ronda is quite interesting, housed in the Moctezuma Palace with beautiful carved artesonado ceilings. Joaquín Peinado was a good friend of Picasso, and the museum is an easy see and worth the time, ime.
MUSEO UNICAJA JOAQUÍN PEINADO [COLECCIÓN PERMANENTE] - Unicaja Fundación Ronda l Entrance
Dec 11th, 2022, 03:27 PM
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No worries, things are falling nicely into place, I think this will be another great trip. Did I mention how much we loved Portugal this fall?
Anyway, thank you for the Museo de Joaquín Peinado tip, I'll add it to the list. Our list is usually more than we can see/do, but it's nice to have options and decide based on mood and weather.
Anyway, thank you for the Museo de Joaquín Peinado tip, I'll add it to the list. Our list is usually more than we can see/do, but it's nice to have options and decide based on mood and weather.
Dec 15th, 2022, 05:09 PM
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Dec 15th, 2022, 05:55 PM
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If you need a place for a nice lunch stop in one of your white villages, I can recommend-
In Grazalema, Casa Martín 1920
https://www.martin1920.com
Outside of Zahara de la Sierra, Hotel-Restaurante Al Lago with views of the reservoir
https://al-lago.es
In Olvera, La Tarara Neotaberna
https://latararaolvera.com
https://routinelynomadic.com/olvera-cadiz-spain/
In Grazalema, Casa Martín 1920
https://www.martin1920.com
Outside of Zahara de la Sierra, Hotel-Restaurante Al Lago with views of the reservoir
https://al-lago.es
In Olvera, La Tarara Neotaberna
https://latararaolvera.com
https://routinelynomadic.com/olvera-cadiz-spain/
Dec 16th, 2022, 04:27 PM
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Oh, yes, thank you! These are wonderful, needed and much appreciated.
The Routinely Nomadic is one of the web sites I've read a lot when planning this, so I'm happy to see it gets your endorsement. It's hard to know who to trust on the internet...
The Routinely Nomadic is one of the web sites I've read a lot when planning this, so I'm happy to see it gets your endorsement. It's hard to know who to trust on the internet...
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