by Simon John Batchelor

Andalucia is one of the most beautiful regions of Spain as well as Europe. You will find everything from mountainous landscape to ski resorts and from historical monuments to beautiful beaches. This is a region where you can have a month long holiday and still feel the need to come back for more. It is a perfect place for many activities and that includes walking and hiking.


The Costa Tropical region has several walking and hiking trails that will take you through the heart of the mighty mountains and across the rivers and into the small towns and villages. There are many tourists who prefer a nice 5-day walking and hiking tour as compared to a 1-hr rock climbing session. The truth is that through this tour, you will be able to get closer to the culture and traditions of the Andalucian people and get to know them better. The other reason for taking a walking and hiking tour is for calming your restless soul.

The rural landscape in Andalucia is breathtaking and spectacular and one of the best in Spain. The best way to enjoy it is through walking and hiking. There are two very popular trails that you can follow in Costa Tropical and they are:

The GR7

GR stands for Gran Recorrido or long Journey and GR7 is a footpath that cuts across the Andalucian landscape. GR7 is not just one route but there are many routes attaches to it and you will find several day itineraries with tour operators. There was a time when this routs was a part of the ancient trade route. The GR7 begins at the town of Tarifa situated in the Strait of Gibraltar and crosses across the coastal mountains and then goes on to cut through the Pyrenees and ends in Greece.

The GR7 in the Costa Tropical region covers almost 1,250km and towns like Malaga, Cadiz, Almeria, Granada, and Cordoba. You can find more local information from the various tourist offices and town halls that have been built all along the length of this walking and hiking route.

The Vias Verdes

The Vias Verdes in another trail that offers a great opportunity for walking and hiking. Vias Verdes stands for greenways and will take you across the lesser known towns, villages and attractions of the Andalucian countryside. There are several off-beaten tracks that will offer you all the tranquility you need.

There are 12 walking and hiking routes that have been included in the Vias Verdes trails and all of them are clearly marked by sign posts. On some of the vías verdes routes, you will pass viaducts, tunnels, and embankments.

One of the popular walking and hiking route in Costa Tropical is the Via Verde of the Hills, which starts at Alcala de Guadaira situated in the south of Seville and ends at Carmona after covering 28km. The Via Verde Huéznar River trail is another great route that passes through the beautiful and luscious Sierra Norte Natural Park.