La Maroma which is located in the beautiful city of Malaga is a remarkable mountain that can be seen from miles away!
The famous peak, originally known as Tejada, has an insane 360% angle that gives you the ability to see the highest peak of the Iberian Peninsula.
This makes La Maroma one of the most accessible mountains to hike in Andalusia.
There are three primary ways to hike to the summit of La Maroma, they include:
- El Robledal – The El Robledal route allows you to access the La Maroma from the north side, and it’s also the most beautiful route.
- Canillas de Aceituno (from the town hall) – accesses La Maroma from the south and east face. It’s the longest hiking routes.
- Sedella – there are two basic routes from Sedella, one where you have to drive most, then have a short trek to the top. While the other route is the toughest route of all.
Measuring up to 2066 meters, the La Maroma summit is the highest in the Malaga province and if you’re a hiking enthusiast then you should add it to your bucket list.
In case you’re not aware, the word Maroma is a Spanish word which means rope when translated to English.
This nickname was given to this mountain by the workers that used to climb down the deep pit at the bottom of the mountain, so they could get ice.
With that said, in this post, we will be covering the best way to hike to the summit of La Maroma through the Canillas De Aceituno route.
If you are taking a plane, the nearest airport is the Malaga Airport
How To Canillas de Aceituno by car
If you’re driving from Vélez-Malaga at 60/KMH, it will 45-60 minutes to get to the city of Canillas de Aceituno.
You can easily park your car along the road in the village on either side. By plotting in Canillas de Aceituno on your GPS, you’ll find the way without stress.
How To Get To Canillas de Aceituno by bus
Unfortunately, there are very few bus transits that are active in Canillas de Aceituno.
However, there’s one bus that commutes between Malaga and Salares, which goes a couple of times a day. You can check out their roaster here.
With that said, a different option method that’s way more comfortable is to travel from Veléz-Malaga which also only has a couple of departures a day, one on Saturdays, and none on Sundays and bank holidays.
You can check out their timetable here
Getting to the trailhead
The hiking trail starts at the main square, beside the Town Hall.
While moving forward on the trail, you’ll see some road signs that point towards the La Maroma and the unpopular El Satillo, where you’ll see Spain’s 3rd longest hanging bridge.
If at any point you feel like you’re on the wrong trail, you can ask some friendly local to point you in the right direction.
At the summit of the village, you’ll get to a set of stairs pointing to the left, and climb the steps to the top. And continue on the trail until you pass a white barn/animal shelter.
There are basically two turns to the right.
Don’t take the first turn, you want to walk on the top road and there you’ll see a big sign with a map of the hike just a short walk from the barn.
Take this route up into the forest, and you’re on the route you’ll be following for the next 5-6 hours to the top of Malaga.
La Morama hiking essentials
Hiking from Canillas de Aceituno to the summit of La Maroma is a long hike with large parts without shade, and should not be underestimated.
Despite the fact that this trail is very easy to trek on, there are some places that are steep and rocky and that is why I recommend you get a good hiking boot that has ankle support.
Another essential item that you should bring with you on this hiking adventure is water.
If you’re someone that easily gets dehydrated, I recommend you bring at least 3 liters of water and if you have a backpack that has a lot of space for you, you can bring 5 liters.
Another essential item is a communication device, we recommend you get a CB radio so that you can contact rescue workers, authorities, or your hiking mates in case of any emergency.
Also try as much as you can to check the weather both in can check the weather both in Canillas de Aceituno and on La Maroma before you start hiking.
This will give you an idea of what the weather will be like that day.
A good CB radio also gives you the ability to know the weather and traffic conditions.
Here is a list of the essentials things you need to bring for hiking La Maroma:
- Water (min 3l.)
- Face/Hat – Keeps the sun rays away from your eyes).
- Hiking boots – I recommend boots with ankle support).
- Food and snacks (nuts, fruit, energy drinks)
- Camera – The Sony A7ii is perfect
- Shin guide
- A Touch – I recommend you get one that uses Alkaline batteries
- Wind-proof jacket
- Gloves
- Neck gaiter
Best place to lodge when hiking La Maroma from Canillas de Aceituno
If you come by car, you can easily stay in Malaga or Nerja and drive early in the morning for a day trip.
With that said, if you take the bus or just want to feel like resting after your you should definitely sleep over in Canillas de Aceituno.
If you stay a couple of days, you can even hike the half-day, El Saltillo hike which is amazing to hike and is not that tough when compared to hiking La Maroma through Canillas de Aceituno
The best places to stay when hiking La Maroma are:
Olive & Ivy Guesthouse – Canillas de Aceituno
After a long day of stressing your body physically, it’s a good idea to relax your body.
The Olive & Ivy Guesthouse is without a doubt one of the best places you can stay in Canillas de Aceituno. The guesthouse is located behind the town hall, which is a great place to start your hike in the morning.
Book your stay at Olive & Ivy Guesthouse
Hotel Sur Málaga – Malaga
The Hotel Sur Málaga is located in the center of Málaga, a trek able distance from Picasso Museum and the Mercado de Atarazanas market. This elegant hotel has a lounge and free Wi-Fi in all rooms.
If you plan to stay in Malaga, hotel Sur Malaga is a great place to stay.
Another reason why this hotel is a great choice is that if you don’t have a car, they can also help you access one for your day trip to Canillas de Aceituno.
Book your stay at Hotel Sur Málaga here.
Hotel Villa Flamenca – Nerja
This hotel is a great choice if you plan to stay in Nerja.
It is just a 7-minute walk from Burriana beach and is 8 minutes on foot from Nerja bus station and 5 km from the Cueva de Nerja cave complex.
Book your stay at Hotel Villa Flamenca here.
Hiking La Maroma
As I said before, hiking La Maroma from Canillas de Aceituno is a long hike that may last 4 hours depending on your pace.
Even though it is not physically exhausting compared to other hikes, you should not underestimate it, especially if you’re in the early stages of hiking.
The route from the trailhead is fairly straightforward. The first part route you go through is an area that is filled with trees.
Once you’re about to leave the area that is highly forested, you will see a small cave, Cueva de la Rabita.
Far back in the olden days, the cave served as a shelter for shepherds.
The Summit of La Maroma
The top of La Maroma which is over 2000 meters above sea level is large and flat.
This means that you will have a lot of space to walk around, take pictures, sit down and enjoy the view.
There has not been any generally accepted altitude. Some people argue that the altitude of La Maroma is 2000, some 2066, some 2058. It’s hard to tell.
La Maroma hike – Summary
The thought of hiking La Maroma might sound daunting at first, especially if it is your first time, but with proper planning, you can hike La Maroma
After the Sedella route, hiking La Maroma through Canillas de aceitunas might be the second-hardest routes in Malaga, this is because you’ll have to trek for hours.
It is definitely not a newbies hike, and you should be in a healthy condition before you head out on this adventure.
I recommend trying out smaller hikes that take 1-2 hours before jumping into big adventures like this one because you’ll need a certain level of endurance to pull this off.
With that said, there is no doubt that hiking the La Maroma is a wonderful adventure that every hiking enthusiast should go on.
If you’re a newbie, you can add this destination to your bucket list and hike it after gathering some experience.