Ref: Sp/w/1.1

Guided
Minimum of 6 people
Departures: on request

Grade: Easy grade walking at low attitudes.

Details:

The Sierra de Aracena Natural Park, is a 186,000 hectare nature reserve of wooded hills that border Portugal and Spain's longest mountain range, the Sierra Morena. The Sierra de Aracena is one of Andalucia=s as yet undiscovered gems where an excellent network of footpaths weave their way through chestnut and cork oak woods from one tiny castle crested village to the next. A long Spring fills the valleys with wild flowers blooming until May and the companion shade of the woodland keeps walkers cool even on the warmest days. Our trip in Aracena is based at the 3* Hotel Finca Valbono, 1 km. from the whitewashed market town of Aracena dominated by the hilltop Arab castle and its 15 th century Gothic church. This comfortable country hotel is set in 20 hectares of its own woodland and gardens. A large vine covered terrace is complemented by a comfortable living room and bar. Five minutes walk away the maze of narrow cobbled streets and small tree-lined 'plazas' of Aracena all point towards the fantastic limestone grottos of the 'Cave of Marveis' that run labyrinthine under the town. Plenty of cafes and bars are to be enjoyed here. This trip has the option of spending the last night in a centrally located Seville hotel, close to the cathedral and monuments.

The Walking:

Our walks follow narrow drovers trails & footpaths through varied woodland from fruit orchards, holm oak and chestnut woods to pastures dotted with olive trees. Herds of sleek black pigs graze amongst the oak trees where in autumn they gorge on the acorns that give the local hams their distinctive flavour. A typical day includes walking for about 5 hours and on the odd day entails an ascent of up to 300m. The fauna of the area is plentiful and a keen eye will spot roe deer, wild pigs, polecats, otters and mongoose while overhead we may see griffon and black vultures, golden, booted and snake eagles, peregrine falcons, kestrels, harriers and of course storks. Just a short transfer will take us into Portugal where we take a fantastic day walk to a medieval hill-top castle near Barrancos. Our last walking day will be spent in Seville where we will walk through the maze of the Barrio Santa Cruz, visit the exotic Maria Luisa Park & amble under the palms along the shores of the Guadalquivir river.

PROGRAM

Sunday
Arrival Seville Airport. Transfer 90 min. to Aracena. Check into our rooms at the Finca Valbono. A tour of the Finca (farm) and installations followed by dinner.

Monday
Visit Aracena, walk up to the remains of the castle & visit the church followed by a coffee in the main square. From here we make a circular walk from Aracena to Corteconcepcion with a picnic on the way. Visit a typical Iberian pig farm. Return to Aracena. Free time in the afternoon. Dinner.

Tuesday
Short (15min.) transfer to Linares de la Sierra. We make a circular walk from here to Alajar. Visit the cobble stoned village, ancient bridge and lost hamlet of Los Madroneros. Picnic on the way. Return transfer to Aracena.

Wednesday
Our day's adventure starts with a 90 min. drive cross country to Portugal crossing the frontier at Barrancos. We enjoy a coffee in the square and then walk cross country along a mixture of farm tracks and sheep trails to the Ribera Murteiga (Rio Murtega in Spanish). The day finishes with a visit to the Pipa weirs and a chance to swim. If there is time we will visit the fantastic Castle of Noudar a medieval fortress lost in the Alenteijo countryside. Return transfer to Aracena.

Thursday
Todays relaxing day starts with a walk to Aracena and then along ancient bridlepaths & through a very varied selection of landscapes, forest, cultivated terraces and the classic 'dehesa' (mixed grazing/forest) of the area to Linares. We enjoy a picnic on the way. The walk is circular & on our return to Aracena there is the option of a visit to the 'Cave of Marvels'.

Friday
Short transfer to Almonaster. Visit the town, monuments and mosque. Coffee in the town square and then a circular walk leading through pretty hamlets up to the 'Cerro San Cristobal' and a return via ancient mills to Almonaster. Return transfer to Aracena. Dinner.

Saturday
Breakfast followed by a transfer at 10h00 to our Seville hotel. Some free time in the morning for shopping followed by lunch and an afternoon guided tour of sights and monuments of Seville. Option of visiting a Flamenco show. Dinner and (if you have the energy) a tour of some Seville bars.

Sunday
Breakfast. Transfer to airport (20 min.)

INCLUDED

• 7 nights full board accommodation in twin rooms, 2 - 3 star Hotel
  
• Guide
  
• Airport transfers (Seville)
  
• All transfers on routes
  
• All usual ground services.

RATES

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