Active tourism has been implemented strongly on the Costa del Sol. Marbella and its emblematic mountain La Concha offer a unique alternative for nature lovers and hikers
All who live and visit Marbella know its mountain La Concha, which represents the most symbolic postcard of the city. Thanks to this mountain, not only does Marbella offer a unique view, but it also enjoys a fantastic microclimate. Some say its name comes from the shape of an inverted shell; another version is that years ago, a sailor found a shell on its top, as the sea once covered this area, and that’s how it got its name. Nobody knows which of the two stories is the right one, but what is certain is that this mountain is one of the things that make the city of Marbella a special place.
Some people just enjoy watching it from their home garden, the beach or one of the many terraces in the city, and then there are the lovers of nature, full of enthusiasm and ambition, that hike from Juanar to get to the top of this mountain of abrupt and singular forms.
To begin the trip, we need to take the road to the area of Refugio de Juanar and leave the car there. From here, the walking route starts towards the Cruz de Juanar from the back, to the plain that forks both ways and a post that indicates the direction of La Concha. From here you can spot the coast and the Mediterranean Sea, with wonderful views of Marbella, Gibraltar and even the African coast. These views will accompany you throughout most of the rest of the way. We follow the path to the right. There is a slight rise that leads to one of the peaks flanking the Salto del Lobo at 1,221 meters. Here is a new post that shows the way. It goes down the north slope. Once past the Salto del Lobo, the path leads back up to the ledge. The next summit is the broad, flat top of Lastonar, which at its 1,275 meters is the highest peak of the Sierra Blanca. From here, there are wonderful views of the entire valley of Istan, the reservoir of la Concepcion, the Sierra de las Nieves… that is to the north. To the south is the entire Mediterranean coast. Now, all there is left is the final stretch, through the Rio de las Piedras, an impressive gorge to reach our destination: the summit of La Concha, at 1,215 meters.
La Concha from Refugio de Juanar (Ojén)
Type: linear
Difficulty: high
Duration: 5 hours (round trip)
Distance: 11 kilometers (round trip)
