Ardales

Ardales is a quintessential Andalucía white village, perched on a steep hill overlocking a landscape that feels both tranquil and dramatically rugged. While the town itself, with its steep streets and whitewashed houses climbing towards the ruins of its ancient Moorish castle, offers a genuine taste of quiet inland life, its true fame lies in the breathtaking natural theater that surrounds it.

Ardales serves as the starting point for the world-renewed Caminito del Rey, a spectacular, high-altitude walkway carved into the sheer cliffs of the Gaitanes Gorge. This linear route, which runs through canyons and alongside reservoirs with emerald waters, has transformed the town into the gateway for one of Spain's most immersive and impressive outdoor experiences, connecting its history to a landscape of raw, intense beauty.

Beyond the gorge, Ardales guards secrets that date back not centuries, but millennia. The nearby Cueva de Ardales (also known as the Cueva de Doña Trinidad Grund) is one of the most significant Paleolithic sites in Europe, containing extensive prehistoric cave art. These painting and engravings offer a direct link to the early humans who sheltered in these hills, making a visit a powerful journey into deep history. From the Iron Age remnants of the Castillo de la Peña to the serene reservoirs lakes perfect for a summer swim, Ardales is a place where every layer of history and nature is exposed.