Breathtaking views with a spicy adventure edge
So, we want to go out for a hike. Sunny Saturday, no clouds at all. 16 degrees but a feeling of 22, a blessing for a Dutchie in November!
Picked a route on routeyou on walking distance, because we still did not find any reason to hire a car during our stay in Estepona. This means the walking from Old town to our starting point and vice versa is not included in the 9 km we chose. All-in it was about 14 kilometers.
Nice start, walking on the bridge going over the highway. Seeing Estepona from above. Walking away with the routeyou app, finding our way easily at the beginning. Soon the path seemed to lead through someone’s property, normally we would not go further, but because the routeyou app shows it so clearly, we continue. After a while the path is just a very narrow flattened bamboo, right next a high fence. Doesn’t look like a walking path at all, but hey? Let´s move on.
Later on, it really looks like someone’s garden, now also some barking dogs are involved. We had to open a fenced gate quickly before the dogs run down the hill, where we also spot a not so amused youngster, to find another amateurish fence a few steps further, now closed with a rope. We decide to untie and tie the rope after us, walk further although it does feel like we are on private property.
Maybe we were lucky and the rope means we just got out.
We arrive in some kind of bamboo jungle and see nice waters and runlets. About halfway through our route suddenly changes to a real climbing adventure. Not a path, not suited for anyone at all… Through stinging branches we follow the ¨route¨ which feels like a puzzle and a machete would have come in handy… Because we’ve got some fresh holes in our clothing.
On one point we had to climb via a big and slippery rock, well, were we still on track? What fool made this route?
After a few steep climbs and descends, we get blown away with stunning views to Gibraltar &Morocco.
So, we feel like we would never have done this route if we had known what was to come, but we are grateful for not giving up, and relieved to see the bridge where we started.
Curious about this route? Don´t say we did not warn you, you can get lost, hurt, perhaps both. But: some spots are accessible by car, so you could just do a more convenient part of this route.
Here is the link. Or PDF From the old city center: 14.5 km about 4 hours
https://www.routeyou.com/en-es/route/view/5028730/walking-route/arroyo-de-la-cala
