Travel tips for El Torcal de Antequera: what to know before you go

Free. High up. Changeable. You drive up the narrow mountain road A-7283, park at 1,200 metres above sea level – and admission to the nature park is free. What might sound like a given at first is, by European standards, a rarity: a UNESCO-recognised natural wonder with no entrance fee, complete with a visitor centre, waymarked paths and a viewing platform. But the microclimate of the Sierra del Torcal demands prepared visitors: on the plateau, sun, fog and rain can alternate within an hour, and the temperature drops by 5–10°C compared with Antequera.

Getting there, parking and the question of the best time to visit

Travelling by car is the only sensible option: 30 minutes from Antequera via the A-7075 and then up the A-7283 to the visitor centre at 1,200 metres above sea level. Motorhomes park in the lower car park – the final bends are narrow. Admission to the nature park is free; only special guided tours and the planetarium cost money. Best time to visit: April to June and September to November – wild orchids bloom in spring, and in autumn the visibility is clear and the vultures are especially active. In summer, set off very early (before 9 a.m.), as the plateau fills up quickly. Find out more here about travelling by car and hire car, motorhome parking, admission rules, dogs, families and safety tips for walkers.