El Club · Parauta

The Enchanted Forest of Parauta is a short, family-friendly hiking trail located in the beautiful white village of Parauta, in the Genal Valley, Serranía de Ronda, Málaga. Physically, it is a trail approximately 3 kilometers long (round trip) that winds through centuries-old chestnut groves, featuring large trees and a floor covered in leaves—a place known locally as the Copper Forest, which is especially striking in the fall. The trail is adorned with figures carved from chestnut wood by local artist Diego Guerrero, in collaboration with the town council, depicting magical creatures such as fairies, elves, gnomes, wizards, butterflies, and flying horses, seamlessly integrated into the natural surroundings to create a unique and evocative experience. From the viewing point, you can appreciate the lushness of the forest, the traditional architecture of the village—which has Moorish origins—and the sculptures that give it a special charm, standing out for how well they blend into the natural surroundings. The route is easy, suitable for the whole family and children, with a path that is mostly semi-paved or concrete, and a few moderate inclines. It is located in the municipality that is part of the Sierra de las Nieves Biosphere Reserve and National Park, and Parauta is a member of the network of Spain’s Most Beautiful Villages. The best time to visit is in the fall, when the copper-colored forest is at its most spectacular, or in the spring, with pleasant temperatures and nature in bloom.

The Church of the Immaculate Conception in Parauta, in the province of Málaga, is a historic parish church linked to the town’s old quarter, located in the Serranía de Ronda and the Genal Valley. The sources consulted also refer to it as the Church of the Immaculate Conception, a name commonly used by locals and tourists alike. It dates back to the 16th century, placing it within the period of Christian consolidation that followed the repopulation of the area. Popular literature and tourist materials describe it as a building in the Mudejar tradition, with a Latin cross plan and a Mudejar tower—features that reflect a simple religious architecture yet one of great heritage significance in the rural areas of Málaga. Notable features inside include a polychrome sculpture of Saint Paschal Bailón—attributed to be a copy of a model by Pedro de Mena—and an 18th-century statue of Our Lady of Sorrows. These elements enhance the artistic value of the church, which preserves devotional pieces from various periods and exemplifies the continuity of parish worship in Parauta. Given its chronology, architectural style, and preserved elements, it is one of the most representative examples of the town’s religious heritage. Its location in the historic center of Parauta makes it a key heritage resource for understanding the local history and religious identity of the municipality.

The source of the Río Verde is a permanent spring or water emergence located at an elevation of 685 meters in the municipality of Parauta, within the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park, in the province of Málaga. Physically, it is a high-flow spring—exceeding 100 liters per second—that never runs dry and gives rise to the Río Verde, the largest river on the western Costa del Sol. The water emerges in a mid- to high-mountain setting, over carbonate rocks of the Sierra de las Nieves limestone massif, where groundwater recharge from the Llanos de la Nava feeds this iconic upper reaches of the river. From the observation point, visitors can observe the spring’s constant flow amid a landscape of great scenic and ecological beauty, surrounded by cork oaks, gall oaks, holm oaks, pines, and the occasional Spanish fir—a species endemic to the region. The area is of great interest to hikers and naturalists, as it marks the source of a 35.5-km-long river that flows into the Mediterranean near Puerto Banús. The ecological value of the river has led to the designation of a large portion of its course as a Special Area of Conservation. The spring is protected within the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park, a site designated as part of the Natura 2000 Network and a Biosphere Reserve. In the early 20th century, its flow sparked interest in hydroelectric development, with a proposed 400-meter-high dam capable of generating 2,000 caballos de potencia; the dam was built, but the entire conveyance system was never completed. The best time to visit is in the spring, when the water flow is at its peak and the surrounding vegetation is in full bloom, or in the fall, when temperatures are more moderate and there is less risk of intense heat.

The Pinsapo de las Escaleretas is a singular specimen of Spanish fir (Abies pinsapo Boiss.), an endemic fir of the Serranía de Ronda, located in Parauta, Málaga, within the Natural Park and National Park of the Sierra de las Nieves. The protected figure occupies 0.19 ha and is catalogued in Andalusia as a natural monument of biotic typology, which underlines the exceptional value of the tree and its immediate surroundings. It is one of the most remarkable Spanish firs for its size and longevity: the sources agree on a height of about 26 meters, a trunk that reaches approximately 5 meters in diameter and a very large crown of about 200 m². Its age is estimated between 350 and 550 years, so it is a living testimony of the maturity of the pinsapares of the sierra and the adaptation of this species to mountain slopes and shady areas. The visit is interesting for the contrast between the great Spanish fir and the surrounding landscape of pinsapar, holm oak and mountain relief. The site is part of an environmental complex of high interest, also integrated in the Biosphere Reserve Sierra de las Nieves and in ZEC and ZEPA areas, so it combines botanical, landscape and conservation value. In guidebooks and tourist information it appears as one of the best known references of the Sierra de las Nieves, and is accessible by trail from the surroundings of Parauta. Its relevance lies not only in the size of the tree, but in representing one of the best preserved examples of the Andalusian Spanish fir.

The Conejeras Recreation Area is a recreational area located in the heart of the Sierra de las Nieves, within the municipality of Parauta, Málaga. Geographically, it lies in a karst valley at an altitude of 1,000 meters, surrounded by a dense forest of holm oaks and scattered with Spanish firs, a relict tree species from glacial forests. The landscape is characterized by karst sinkholes, rocky outcrops along the mountain ridges, and natural meadows that form an environment of great biological and geological richness. From the observation point, visitors can see the valley’s wide, enclosed depressions, with 360-degree panoramic views of the natural landscape hidden in the heart of Málaga. The area features basic amenities such as tables, wooden benches, running water, and built-in barbecue pits, partially integrated into the natural landscape with minimal environmental impact. Its significance has grown since the Sierra de las Nieves was designated a National Park in 2021, and the Regional Government of Andalusia has planned the construction of a new snowflake-shaped visitor center to offer a comprehensive view of the landscape. The best time to visit is during fall, winter, and spring, when the weather is most favorable and the vegetation is at its most spectacular; it’s best to avoid the summer months due to the risk of wildfires.