La Garganta del Capitán is a riverside spot in the municipality of Algeciras, within the Natural Park of Los Alcornocales and the Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean. The route follows a stream shaded by alders, ashes, laurels and gall oaks, in a humid environment unusual in this coastal strip. The interest of the place is not only in the landscape: along the route there are Bronze Age tombs carved in the sandstone, the so-called "Captain's" tombstone and the remains of old flour mills by the water. From the path there are also views over the Bay of Algeciras and the surrounding cork oak forest, with stretches with a strong presence of shade. The official route is marked as a circular trail of low difficulty, with about 5.9 km and an approximate elevation gain of 125 m. The combination of gallery forest, rocky heritage and historical vestiges makes it a short but very complete excursion, common in guides and local routes in the area. The visit is especially pleasant on mild days, when the stream brings coolness and the shade makes the advance more comfortable. It is advisable to avoid the hottest periods and to keep in mind that camping and bathing are not allowed outside authorized areas.
