Best outdoor activities in and around Málaga
Looking for fun outdoor activities beyond the beach? Here are my tried-and-tested recommendations for the best outdoor activities in Málaga province.
The cliffs of El Cantal
Málaga has all the ingredients of a fabulous city break, but if you want to balance the beaches, monuments and tapas with some outdoor adventures, good news - you’re spoiled for choice there, too!
After three years living in the capital of Spain’s Costa del Sol, I’ve been lucky enough to have the time to explore a lot of what this region has to offer. From dolphin watching off the coast to a thrilling gorge walk, here are my recommendations for the best outdoor activities in Málaga province.
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Walking the Caminito del Rey
It might be more famous as a coastal destination, but the rugged interior of Málaga province has some truly spectacular landscapes, and this historic cliffside walkway is a case in point.
The Caminito del Rey (little path of the king) was first created to give workers access to a remote hydroelectric plant in the early 20th century. A marvel of engineering for the time, it was given its name after a royal visit by King Alfonso XIII.
Legendarily dangerous (in fact, forbidden for public use) prior to its refurbishment in 2015, the Caminito today is a safe and low-to-medium difficulty walk of about two to three hours, with fabulous views of the Guadalhorce River gorge and the valley beyond.
Book Caminito del Rey guided tour + transport
Read my full review of the Caminito del Rey
Canyoning in the Guadalmina River
This is a great hot weather activity and particularly convenient if you’re staying around Marbella or Estepona, though it’s also easily reached by car from Málaga city.
The stretch of the Guadalmina River near the town of Benahavís passes through shady canyons, forms a series of small pools and even has some natural rock slides. The guided river walk in small groups is great if you’ve never done canyoning before, and suitable for anyone with average fitness.
It’s a perfect activity for small groups of family and friends, but you could also book a spot as a solo traveller.
Book the Guadalmina River canyoning trip
Read my full review of the Guadalmina canyoning trip
Boat trip to the Maro waterfall, Nerja
A boat trip to the waterfall at the cliffs of Maro near Nerja is one of the best day trips you can do from Málaga. When I did this trip, we were lucky enough to be accompanied part of the way there by a pod of playful dolphins, which was an amazing experience.
Paddle-boarding under the waterfall of Maro, Nerja
We booked the boat trip with optional paddle boarding/snorkelling. The boat departs from the marina of La Caleta de Vélez, about 30-40 minutes drive from the city of Málaga. You can also get to the marina by taxi or public transport.
The sea conditions were absolutely perfect when we visited and the waterfall at Maro was in fine form thanks to a wet spring. But waterfall or not, the crystal-clear turquoise waters of this part of the Costa del Sol and the chance to explore these cliffs and rock formations (only accessible by sea) makes it a very special experience.
El Cantal tunnels and cliffs walk
Málaga’s Senda Litoral (coastal path) is an 180km-long trail that stretches from one end of the Costa del Sol to the other. There’s a particularly nice stretch of this trail east of Málaga city between Rincón de la Victoria and La Cala de El Moral, with a path that takes you through tunnels, over clifftop walkways and past shrines to the Virgen del Carmen, patron saint of seafarers.
A clifftop shrine to La Virgen del Carmen (Our Lady of Mount Carmel)
The official name for this path is the Acantilados y Túneles de El Cantal (Cliffs and Tunnels of El Cantal). It’s a nice walk to do after visiting the Cueva del Tesoro (treasure cave) in Rincón de la Victoria, another great activity in the area.
Parking can be tricky, so I recommend taking the bus or a taxi. To get there by bus from Málaga, take the M-160 or M-260 bus from Muelle Heredia (opposite the port of Málaga, €1.75 each way). The journey time is about 25 minutes.
Málaga sunset catamaran cruise
I’m a big fan of this sunset boat trip on the Bay of Málaga, so much so that I have done it twice (and would do it again!). It’s a lovely way to spend a warm evening that isn’t just sitting in a bar or restaurant.
There are other sailings during the day, but for me the sunset cruise is perfect. The catamaran departs from Muelle Uno on Málaga’s waterfront and the ticket includes a glass of cava or soft drink.
You’ll glide past the yachts docked in the harbour, out to sea and along the coast before turning back towards the setting sun and finally returning to port as the lights of the city twinkle into life. I’m not sure which part I like more - watching the sunset over the Mediterranean, or seeing the Alcazaba fortress floodlit against a twilight sky and the flashing light of Málaga’s historic lighthouse, “La Farola”.
Book the Malaga sunset catamaran cruise
Exploring El Torcal de Antequera
This small mountain range with its otherworldly limestone formations - sculpted by water and wind over millions of years - is about 30km north of Málaga. You can actually see it from Málaga airport.
View from the mirador near the visitor centre
There’s an onsite visitor site with exhibits about the natural history of the area and a decent restaurant, and three walking trails that begin just to the right of the visitor centre carpark. They range from 45 minutes to a few hours.If you just want to have a short wander, there is plenty to see in the area around the visitor centre, including a mirador (scenic lookout) with panoramic views of the valley below.
There is limited parking at the visitor centre. When it’s full, there’s more parking further down the road, and a shuttle bus will take you to and from the visitor centre for €2 each way.
There’s no public transport to El Torcal, but guided tours with transport are available departing from Málaga or nearby Antequera (check Get Your Guide for some options), or you could book a taxi to take you there from Antequera. There’s further helpful information on the official El Torcal website in English and Spanish. Take a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen and be prepared to lose phone signal (we did!).
Estepona harbour boat cruise
The Alboran Sea (as this part of the Mediterranean is called) is home to the greatest diversity of whales and dolphins in the Mediterranean. If you head out to sea here during the summer months, there’s a good chance you’ll spot dolphins, as we did on the aforementioned Maro boat trip.
I was also lucky to see some on an Estepona harbour cruise. Thanks to the small size of our boat, I was close enough to see the silvery bubbles streaming from their blowholes as they surfed the boat’s pressure wave. It helped that the water was incredibly clear too.
I did this boat trip as part of a press trip with the Andalusian tourism board, in which we also visited the fishing port of Estepona with its fish auction - a truly fascinating experience!
It looks like that exact tour is currently unavailable, but this 2-hour Estepona harbour boat trip with drinks and tapas is by the same company, and many of the reviews mention seeing dolphins, just as we did.
Jardín Botánico-Histórico La Concepción
This historic botanical garden on the outskirts of Málaga is one of my favourite green spaces in the whole Costa del Sol. Created in the 19th century by a prominent local family, it has a collection of trees and plants from all over the world and is set in beautifully landscaped grounds.
There’s an area for cacti and exotic plants, numerous ponds and fountains, a shady bamboo walk that always feels several degrees cooler than in the city, and a small gazebo on a hill with sweeping views over the valley below - the perfect photo spot!
My favourite time to visit is in the early spring when the wisteria is in bloom - walking underneath the canopy of their dreamy mauve blossoms is a magical experience. If you’re visiting Málaga over the Christmas period, it’s well worth booking for the Christmas lights experience here too (ticketed separately, be sure to book in advance).
Calle Mundo Nuevo walk
I’m wrapping up this list with a walk in the heart of Málaga that often gets missed by visitors to the city.
The Mirador de la Coracha viewpoint has some of the best views over the port and city and is a very popular spot at sunset. To get there, most people take the steep, zig-zagging path up the side of Mount Gibralfaro that faces the sea, but there’s a “back way” that is much quieter, shaded by trees and with a gentler, winding incline.
Málaga seen from Calle Mundo Nuevo, on the lower slopes of Mount Gibralfaro
This path is called Sendero Urbano Mundo Nuevo and you can reach it from the start of Calle Mundo Nuevo, to the right of the ME Málaga Hotel that faces Plaza de la Merced. As you make your way up the hill you can stop to admire views of the city and cathedral (pictured above), and once you reach the top, you can continue over the crest of the hill to the aforementioned viewpoint. From there, it’s much easier to take the steep path down the front of the hill than it would have been to walk up it!
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