Did you know? Sierra Bermeja’s red tint comes from rare ultramafic rock called peridotite. Found in only a few places on Earth, this rock not only gives the mountain its signature rust-red hue—it also supports one of the rarest fir trees in the world, the Abies pinsapo, or Spanish fir. (Pictured: Sierra Bermeja)
There’s something quiet about the hills above the Costa del Sol. Not mute—just considered. A place where the birds speak more than the cars, where the land doesn’t need to sell itself. It just is.
And for many in their forties, fifties, sixties—those thinking of moving not just to a house, but to a way of life—this kind of landscape matters. You didn’t come here for another gated development and a golf course. You came to use your days better.
So here’s how you do that: you lace up your trainers and walk.
1. Sierra de Mijas
A no-fuss climb with full-blown sea views
- Trail Access: Ermita del Calvario, 29650 Mijas, Málaga, Spain
- Coordinates: 36.6032° N, 4.6377° W
- Trail Length: 2–5 km circular routes
- Elevation Gain: Light to moderate
- Facilities: No restrooms or shops at trailhead—carry water
- Closest Town: Mijas Pueblo (10-minute walk)
- Public Transport: Bus M-122 from Fuengirola to Mijas Pueblo
Park at the entrance to the Ermita del Calvario and follow the signs. It starts simple—just a dusty path, a few switchbacks—and opens up into silence. Pines line your left. On your right, the sea just sits there, enormous and blue, like it always knew this would be your view.
2. El Torcal de Antequera
Nature’s sculpture garden, no ticket required
- Address: Paraje Natural Torcal de Antequera, A-7075, km 8, 29200 Antequera, Málaga, Spain
- Visitor Centre Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (winter), until 7:00 PM (summer)
- Trail Options:
- Green Route: 1.5 km (~45 mins)
- Yellow Route: 2.5 km (~1.5 hours)
- Green Route: 1.5 km (~45 mins)
- Entry Fee: Free access to trails
- Website: https://torcaldeantequera.com
- Closest Town: Antequera (20 minutes by car)
- Parking: Free at Visitor Centre
Don’t be surprised if the rocks feel theatrical. They’ve had millennia to practice. The trails here don’t demand much from you. Just attention. You’ll want to look up a lot—the shapes above your head are baffling in the best way.
3. Montes de Málaga Natural Park
A pine-scented escape just above the city
- Main Entrance: Centro de Visitantes Las Contadoras, Carretera Colmenar MA-166, km 5, 29014 Málaga, Spain
- Closest Trail: Sendero El Cerrado
- Trail Length: 4 km loop
- Public Transport: Not direct—best accessed by car or taxi
- Website: https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/medioambiente
- Facilities: Visitor centre and picnic areas, no cafés
The Montes sit right behind Málaga, and still, they’re often empty. Pines hush the breeze. The occasional picnic table waits for lunch. Trails like El Cerrado are straightforward—a loop, a slope, a view.Tip: Bring a packed lunch. No services inside the park.
Montes de Málaga was replanted in the 20th century to prevent catastrophic floods. In the 1930s, local authorities began reforesting the hills to stop erosion and protect the city of Málaga below. That calming pine-scented air? Engineered with purpose. (Pictured: Montes de Malaga.)
4. Refugio de Juanar (Ojén)
Marbella’s back door into the wilderness
- Address: Refugio de Juanar, Paraje Juanar, s/n, 29610 Ojén, Málaga, Spain
- Recommended Trail: Mirador del Corzo
- Trail Length: 3 km round trip
- Parking: On-site at hotel car park
- Restaurant: Open to non-guests for lunch (reservations recommended)
- Website: https://www.refugio-juanar.com
- Closest Towns: Ojén (10 mins), Marbella (25 mins)
This one feels tucked away. You drive through orange groves, then forest, and finally reach a turnoff that time forgot. The trail to Mirador del Corzo is as gentle as it is scenic. The lookout gives you Marbella—but better. From a distance.
Paths here are well-marked and welcoming for all levels.
5. Sierra Bermeja (Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja)
Red rock and rare air above Estepona
- Trail Access: Refugio de los Reales, MA-8301 road, km 13, Estepona, Málaga, Spain
- Coordinates: 36.5094° N, 5.1780° W
- Trail: Mirador de Salvador Guerrero (~4.2 km out and back)
- Parking: Limited at Refugio
- Weather Note: Windy at altitude—bring layers
- Closest Town: Estepona (30 mins by car)
Bermeja doesn’t perform for the camera like Torcal. It doesn’t need to. The red peridotite soil, rare in Europe, gives it a Mars-like feel. From the Mirador trail, the sea stretches out below you, Estepona hums in the background, and you wonder why no one told you about this sooner.
No services nearby: Bring everything you need for the day.
When to Walk: The Seasons that Suit the Hills
Spring in the Costa del Sol is the sweet spot. The hills are still green from winter rains, the wildflowers are out in full show, and the temperatures hover in that rare zone where you’re never too hot or too cold. March through May is when the Sierra de Mijas smells of rosemary and the Bermeja pines give off a sharper scent in the warmth.
Autumn comes with its own pleasures. September to early November carries cooler air and quieter trails. The summer tourists have thinned out, the locals have returned to routine, and the mountains settle back into their slower rhythm. It’s the best time to go longer, to stop more, to think less.
Summer? You can walk, yes. But go early. By 10am the sun’s already got opinions. And in winter, stick to the coast-hugging hills—higher paths can get muddy and lose light quickly. Either way, it’s not about the challenge. It’s about walking often enough that the land begins to feel like yours.
Living Among the Hills
Let’s talk plainly. Owning a home here is not about status. It’s about proximity—to the sea, to the mountains, to mornings that don’t rush. These walks? They’re not bucket list hikes. They’re the kind you do on a Tuesday when you’re trying to think things through.
From your home in Mijas, Marbella, or Estepona, you can reach most of these in under an hour. Some are twenty minutes from your front gate. That’s the real pull of Costa del Sol: the ability to move—to walk, to breathe, to be—with the land. No nonsense.
Explore Your New Life with Ultimate Lifestyles
If you’re thinking about moving here—or making this your second home—we’ll show you properties that fit the way you want to live. Hillside villas. Forest-backed fincas. Quiet homes with loud views.
📍 Ultimate Lifestyles Costa del Sol
Address: Calle Jasmines 463 A, Nueva Andalucía, Marbella 29860, Spain
📞 Phone: +34 951 12 07 12
📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Website: https://ultimate-lifestyles.comFor more guides on living well in southern Spain, visit ultimate-lifestyles.com.