Information guide to the El Torcal nature reserve in Antequera, Malaga, Spain.

1. b-m e t .co m http://www.b-met.co m/blo g/el-to rcal-nature-reserve-antequera-malaga/#.USZNsR3vhcw
El Torcal Nature Reserve Antequera Malaga
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El Torcal, Antequera, is one of the most beautif ully rugged places in the world. Situated in the Sierra del
Torcal mountain range, in the Andalusian province of Malaga in southern Spain, this national park
provides a superb tourist attraction with its wonderf ul scenic views, its superb native f lowers, and its
unique, endemic wildlif e.
T he El Torcal, Antequera region is f ormed predominantly f rom limestone which echoes back to the
Jurassic period some 150 million years ago. T he mountain range raised itself f rom the seabed during the
time known as the tertiary era, when it rose to a height of over 1300 metres. Over the ensuing centuries
a series of cracks, f aults and f ractures were created, some of which then eroded to f orm the
characteristic alleyways that run between the rock-f aces. Further natural erosion f rom water and ice then
attacked the boulders, creating the stunning shapes that are associated with the area today.

2. T he El Torcal, Antequera national park is relatively small by world national park standards, covering an
area of some 17 square kilometres. But what it lacks in size, it more than makes up f or with its awesome
and somewhat unusual beauty, with its limestone columns that look as if they are made up f rom
individual stone slabs, that have each been meticulously shaped, and then caref ully stacked upon each
other. As is typical of many limestone mountain ranges, El Torcal also has some natural cave f ormations,
like the Cueva del Toro (Cave of the Bull), of signif icant importance due to the Neolithic artef acts that it
contains.
T he national park here at El Torcal, Antequera is easily accessible by car. You can drive up to 1100 metres
by car via a road accessed through the village of Villanueva de la Concepcion. You’ll f ind a car park as
you enter the National Park where there is an inf ormation centre and a small museum with some
f ascinating exhibits of the local f lora and f auna that can be f ound in the park.

3. T here so much to see here at El Torcal, Antequera, including 30 varieties of orchid, Grif f in vultures,
Andalusian mountain goats, and a wealth of reptiles including ocellated and spine-f oot lizards, ladder
snakes, and Montpellier snakes.
T here is some f antastic walking to be had here too. T here are 3 trails, (you’ll f ind them ref erenced in the
inf ormation centre) each of which is shown in a dif f erent colour so they are easily discernible. T he
longest walk is colour coded in red and covers some 4.7 kilometres, taking you up to a height of 1339
metres f rom where you’ll get a great view of the Af rican coastline on the horizon. You’ll need to take
some good walking shoes with you to help you negotiate the terrain, even if you take the shortest walk
(colour coded yellow) which is just 1.5 kilometres long and takes about half an hour to negotiate.
If you go walking here in the El Torcal, Antequera national park, don’t f orget to take plenty of water with
you in the summer months. It’s a wonderf ul place to picnic too, but if you pref er your f ood prepared f or,
you’ll f ind some wonderf ul local restaurants and tapas bars back in Villanueva de la Concepcion.
A trip to El Torcal makes f or a superb f amily outing. If you’re in the area, don’t miss it!
If you are planning to visit the Costa del Sol and Malaga region this summer, please consider using B-
MET Malaga Transf ers. Whether it’s f or an excursion or transf ers to and f rom the airport, we can help
deliver you saf ely to your destination. Visit us at http://www.b-met.com f or a quick no obligation quote.
Images courtesy of Amundn on Flickr and http://torcaldeantequera.com/