One week in Andalusia (group of 4)
 

Hi all!

I am planning a trip to Southern Spain in June with three of my friends, and am trying to put together a week-long itinerary so we can book flights while they're still cheap. We've been to Spain before but have not had a chance to see Andalusia, and are really looking forward to it! That said, our style of travel is less tourist-oriented and more exploratory. Do you guys have any suggestions on a good route to do and some cool places we could see, including:

* Where are the best beaches to go to?
* What Some cool less-touristy activities that are off the beaten path
* Some "nature activities" (any cool hikes, bike rides, etc.)


Since we have just started the planning, any suggestions you could offer would be really helpful. Also, would you suggest renting a car or using public transport for our trip?

Thanks!
Kevin

I admit to being a bit of a beach snob, but I don't think of southern Spain as a beach destination. Some of the beaches near Vejer de la Frontera looked appealing.
With a week, I suggest the Ronda-Grazalema-Zahara region, but there are other even more off the beaten path options (though you will hardly be the only tourists in those places).
If you want to go to small towns and do lots of outdoor activities, a car would be best--and economical with 4 people.
andalucia.com is a helpful site, and the Rough Guide to Andalucia is excellent.
Where are you thinking of flying in to/out of?

The best beaches are on the north coast. In the south they are on the Cadiz side. Don't miss Granada. El Torcal de Antequera is a great park for hiking. Antequera is great too. Nearby is the Lobopark which is like a zoo for wolves, very interesting.

> Some "nature activities" (any cool hikes, bike rides, etc.)

There are some good hiking trails in the Poqueira Gorge in Las Alpujarras a few hours outside of Granada.

I second the non-touristy and genuine Antequra (the so-called heart of Andalucía), the close by spectacular El Torcal for hikes and the woolfs park just north of underrated Málaga city. The best beaches in the Cádis region or east of Málaga.
http://www.andaluciacoastandcountry.com/antequera.html

What about further north, Jaen is a city not visited much and Ubeda and Baeza the UNESCO cities are great.

http://www.andalucia-for-holidays.com/Jaen.html
http://www.andalucia-for-holidays.com/Ubeda.html

Rachel

Hi Kevin,

There are several nice nature parks with marked walking routes. In June, the temperatures are still pleasant on the mountains of Sierra Nevada, but along the coast it is rather hot. For June I would recommend routes starting from Alpujarra or Puerto de la Ragua.

My favourite hikes in Sierra Nevada:

Alpujarra:
- Route of Seven Lagoons
- Hoya del Portillo - Refugio de Poqueira
- Cepadilla - Sendero del Toril

Puerto de la Ragua:
- Morrón Sanjuanero - Morrón del Mediodia
- Laguna Seca

Güéjar Sierra:
- Vereda de la Estrella - Puente del Río Real

Pradollano:
- Mulhacén

Jeres del Marquesado
- Majada del Puerco

There are some beautiful, sandy beaches south of Cadiz. Novo Sancti Petri is a new tourist resort, but south of this town, you find many natural non-crowded beaches. My favourite is the beach of Cap Trafalgar.

The southern coast is different: cliffs with sandy coves in between (e.g. Marbella). However this section of the coast is highly developed and pretty crowded with mass tourism.

If you go to Jaén, read Michael Jaobs "The Factory og Light" and visit the little village Frailes which he turned upside down and placed in the center of both national and international attention for a short while in 2001.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Factory-Ligh.../dp/0719561736

Jacobs' "Andalucía" is also probably the best introduction to the region in general:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Andalucia-Pa.../dp/1873429789

I enjoyed a 3-hour horseback ride at dawn in Ronda (yep, even at dawn I enjoyed it!)

I love all of Andalucia, even Algeciras and the Costa del Sol!