Hike Sierra Bermeja

Minutes inland, the coastline gives way to red mountain, pine forest and a view that reaches Gibraltar on a clear day. A different Spain, without leaving the area.

The experience

Sierra Bermeja gets its colour from peridotite rock, a reddish stone rare enough that the mountain hosts one of the few pinsapo fir forests left in the world, a species that survives almost nowhere else on the planet.

The easiest route, Paseo de los Pinsapos, runs about 3.5 to 4.5 kilometres and takes 1.5 to 2 hours at an easy pace. The path climbs gently through the fir forest before reaching the Mirador de Salvador Guerrero, a viewpoint looking out over Estepona and, on a clear day, the Strait of Gibraltar and the coast of Africa.

The mountain is also a protected natural park, home to mountain goats and birds of prey including golden eagles and peregrine falcons. Keep an eye on the ridgeline near the viewpoints, that’s where they’re most often seen.

For a longer day, the route continues to Pico de los Reales, the highest point in the range at 1,452 metres. That version runs closer to 12 kilometres and takes most of a day, better suited to a serious hiker than a holiday stroll.

Not for everyone

This is a forest trail, not a paved walk. Even the easy route has uneven ground and some incline, so it isn’t suited to anyone who needs flat, accessible paths, or to very young children on a hot afternoon.

Good to know

• Starting point near Puerto de Peñas Blancas
• Parking at the trailhead is limited, arrive early on weekends
• Bring water, shade is inconsistent along the route
• The upper ridge is exposed and can be windy even when the coast is still

Free. No permit or booking required for the Paseo de los Pinsapos trail.

While you’re here

Sierra Bermeja rises directly behind Estepona. Golf at Valle Romano sits at the foot of the same mountain, an easy pairing if half the group hikes while the other half plays a round.