Jaén, inland paradise – three Tours from Cazorla

We’re often determined to travel to the most distant and exotic places in search of incredible experiences. However, you’ll often find fantasy landscapes aren’t always as far away as you think. This is exactly what I thought when I first set foot in the town of Cazorla, in Andalusia, Southern Spain. This wonderful environment surrounds the town, including the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas Nature Reserve.

Anyone who visits this place leaves, as we say in Andalusia, "prendaíto" – in love with its rivers, myriad waterfalls, castles, green and leafy forests and karst massifs that rise imposingly, making you feel tiny in comparison. This natural park is full of trails that take you to spectacular corners and show you the great variety of landscapes hidden within. Looking for a place where you have the chance to meet wildlife? In these mountain ranges, you’re sure to spot deer, foxes, squirrels, mountain goats and vultures.

In this Collection, I’ve compiled three of the most impressive hiking routes near Cazorla. The starting point of the first route is 18 kilometres (11 mi) from the town, while the other two start from the town centre itself. Cazorla has all kinds of facilities: restaurants, bars, shops, supermarkets and bakeries, making it the perfect base for spending a few days exploring the natural park.

The Cerezuelo River Tour is the easiest of the three routes. The other two are quite long and have some steep climbs – especially the ascent to Gilillo – so you’ll need a good level of fitness to tackle them. Take appropriate clothing, depending on the season, as it can be very cold in autumn and winter. You’ll also need footwear with good grip, hiking poles and enough water and food to keep you going throughout the day.

The best times to enjoy these walks are spring and autumn. In spring, the many waterfalls and rivers carry more water and the landscape is in all its splendour while, in autumn, the landscape is tinged with spectacular colours and the leaves falling from the trees form a fairytale postcard. In summer, the waterfalls are less impressive, while winter can be very cold, with snow in some places.

It’s best to travel to Cazorla by car, as you’ll need it to get to the starting point of the first route. If you don't have a car, you can also get to Cazorla by bus from towns such as Úbeda, Jaén and Granada. Check this link for more information about available taxis and bus timetables: cazorla.es/turismo/transporte (in Spanish).

Finally, there’s one word of warning: be very careful if you decide to explore Cazorla and its sierras as you may well fall under its spell and have to come back again and again.