El Torcal de Antequera is a most amazing rock formation that lies some 40km north of Malaga in southern Spain. When staying in the area to walk the Caminito del Rey, our host suggested it as a great place to visit after our main walk. (It’s about an hour’s drive between the two)
The main route through the park is not long but it is spectacular. Listed as ‘one of the most impressive karst landscapes in Europe’ (so a landscape formed by rock dissolving away), it presents an extraordinary view of what looks like thin layers of rock balancing on top of each other.
From the visitors centre, there are a range of walks from a short wander to a viewpoint to a 3-4km route through the park. None are hard but it can be a little rough underfoot and it can get hot.
It is worth taking your time to walk slowly through the formations seeing the amazing way in which rock and water can interact to create these amazing monoliths.
When you get to the southern rim, you get outstanding views out across the countryside and down towards Malaga and the Mediterranian.
El Torcal is very popular so if you go there in peak season, you may have to park at the lower car park and take a shuttle bus in. Also, because the park is high and has very little light pollution, it is very popular on nights such as the Perseids meteor shower, so do check ahead if you are visiting then. There is an informative website for El Torcal which has all the information you could need.
I would recommend trying to go at a time when there are no crowds as it is a mystical place when out there on your own.
It’s up high and can get very hot, so do make sure you take water with you on your walk even if it may seem short. The icecreams at the visitors centre are certainly well received at the end!