The Magnificent Scenery of the Rio Guadalhorce Valley

This page gives a pictorial sample of some of our stunning local scenery - all places regularly visited on our birding tours. For more details of birds to be found in the various locations, see our Itineraries page.

Alora is one of the most scenic white villages of Andalucia, built on three hills nestling beneath the towering cliff faces of the mountain of El Hacho. Raptors hunt in the valley, whilst the mountain is the haunt of Bonelli's Eagle, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Sparrow and many other rock dwellers.

Alora's hills slope down into the valley of the Rio Guadalhorce. The river is a magnet for all types of water bird and passerine, exotics such as Hoopoe, Kingfisher and Bee-eater, and the valley provides a key migratory route down to the Mediterranean at Malaga.

North-east from Alora towards Valle de Abdalajis and Antequera the countryside moves away from the river valley into the rolling hills of prairie country, where crops such as barley are grown alongside olives and almond groves. A unique mix of birds are to be found here, from raptors, shrikes and wheatears to Little Owl and Crested Lark.

To the North of Alora lies El Chorro, with its magnificent gorge running for 3 Km through the limestone cliffs of the Sierra de Huma. The southerly end where the Rio Guadalhorce flows out into out valley is the most famous and picturesque point, the vertical cliffs also being well used by climbers. All types of rock birds and raptors, as well as some forest birds such as Golden Oriole, are to be found here.

Further North the Rio Guadalhorce flows into the El Chorro gorge through this colossal cleft in the rock. Around 400 metres high, it is a stunning experience to climb (a gentle 45 minute walk in fact) to the very edge of the cliffs here and look down into the gorge itself, with Griffon Vultures flying all around and roosting on the opposite cliff face. The pine forests here are home to Crested, Long-tailed and Coal Tits, Treecreeper, Crossbill and other woodland species.

The lakes at Ardales are Malaga Province's reservoirs, set amidst beautiful pine forests and surrounded by rugged cliffs and mountain ranges. Few birds - Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant and gulls - are to be found on the deep waters, but around the margins the rocks, cliffs, scrubland and pine forest hold a wide variety of species.

The pass at Gobantes follows the edge of one cliff face and lies beneath another, with stunning views of the lakes. This is a gorse and juniper scrubland littered with large boulders, an area rich in Dartford Warbler, Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Stonechat and other rock birds, whilst the cliffs are home to Griffon Vultures, Red-billed Choughs, Peregrine, Merlin, Short-toed and Bonelli's Eagle, Crag Martins and many more.

Bobastro's high peak has outstanding views overlooking the magnificence of El Chorro. Thickly forested, the slopes are home to Southern Grey Shrike, Merlin, eagles and Griffon and Egyptian Vultures, Rock Sparrow and Rock Bunting.