Smugglers Trails of the Sierra de Aracena - 8 Days

  • Best price guaranteed
  • No booking fees
  • duration 8 days
  • tour type Private
  • age requirement 18-99 yrs
  • max group size 20
  • guiding method Self-guided
  • Tour Code BM-16472
  • Footprint Carbonneutral CO2 emissions resulting from all trips on Bookmundi will be offset via investments in carbon reduction projects.
  • Operated in English
map
  • Starts Aracena, Spain
  • Ends Alájar, Spain
HIGHLIGHTS Download trip notes
  • Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche Natural Park
  • Historic white villages
  • Moorish Forts and ancient Arabic Acequia
  • The Gruta de Las Maravillas (Cave of Wonders)
  • Natural habitat of the Iberian Pig
The trip "Smugglers Trails Of The Sierra De Aracena - 8 Days" starts from Aracena and ends in Alájar. It is a walking trip that takes 8 days taking you through Alájar, Galaroza and Valdelarco in Spain. "Smugglers Trails Of The Sierra De Aracena - 8 Days" is a self-guided private trip that includes accommodation in hotels, transport, meals and others.

Sierra de Aracena Natural Park offers stunning walking year round through historic white villages & Moorish forts along old Smugglers' Trails surrounded by oak, elm and chestnut forests. Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche is the second largest Natural Park of Andalucía (declared a Natural Park in 1989 and awarded the European Charter for sustainable tourism), lying in the north of Huelva province, which in turn is the most westerly province of Andalucía, not far indeed from the Portuguese border. With only 40,000 inhabitants scattered over its 3.000 sq km it is probably one of the least known and visited of all the parks in Andalucia. You’ll be surprised by the lush vegetation almost all year round, the profusion of wild flowers through spring, the autumnal colours lighting up la Sierra and a gourmets feast of wild mushrooms found in masses given the right conditions. The rolling hills and white villages offer wonderful walking opportunities. The character of the villages has changed little over the centuries, their history reflected in their architecture and the landscape surrounding them. On walks you pass along Roman cobbled tracks, glimpsing abandoned watermills and ancient hill forts left by the Moors. You can still see villagers working their small allotments, hear the ringing of goat bells among the oaks and chestnuts, and the bubbling of the many streams and springs which abound in these hills. Many of these tracks are accompanied by the ancient arabian water system “acequia” and were frequently used during the Spanish Civil War and after to smuggle goods into Spain from Portugal. Herds of the black Iberian pig grazing among the groves of cork and holm oak are a common sight. The area is rich in bird life with an important population of black vultures. Other raptors are common and include the Golden, Short-toed and Bonelli’s eagles. You can see stork’s nests on almost every village church as well as the endangered black stork, and as you wander along the streams, sightings of heron and egrets are common. Andalucía suffered acutely during “La epoca negra” – the black period – or simply “el hambre” - the hunger - during the 1940’s and 50’s, after the Spanish Civil War, forcing emigration to larger cities and abroad to find work to support their families. In La Sierra some opted to join the smuggling trade and become “Mochileros” – packmen. It was a tough and risky business carrying up to 30kgs in homemade backpacks from the Portugese border village Barrancos into the Sierra to be then moved down to Sevilla. Organised by smuggling bosses, the mochileros would carry loads of main staples beans, coffee and tobacco over 100 km in a 24 hr period. Empty mule trains would be used along the wider paths to distract the Guardia Civil whilst the Mochileros would use the higher, rockier paths to stealthily enter La Sierra and deliver their goods to places such as La Posada in Alájar where hiding places where provided until the goods were moved on.
ITINERARY Expand All
  • Day 1 : Arrive Aracena
  • Day 2 : Aracena Circular walk via Corteconcepción - 11 km/6.8 miles, 3-4 h
  • Day 3 : Aracena to Galaroza - 17.5 km/10.8 miles, 6 h
  • Day 4 : Circular Walk Galaroza - Valdelarco return 13.5 km/8.4 miles, 4-4.5 h
  • Day 5 : Galaroza to Alajar -14.5 km/9 miles, 4.5-5 h
  • Day 6 : Peak Loop - 11.8 km /7.3 miles, 4 h
  • Day 7 : Alájar 10.2 km /6.3 miles, 3.5 h
  • Day 8 : Tour ends after breakfast.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Accommodation
  • 7 nights accommodation in a mixture of hotels and inns on a twin share basis with ensuite facilities
Meals
  • 7 breakfasts
Transport
  • Transfer to Aracena at the end of the tour
Others
  • Luggage transfer
  • Information pack including route notes & maps
  • Emergency hotline
WHAT'S EXCLUDED
  • 7 dinners, lunches & beverages
  • Entrance fees
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal expenses such as laundry and phone calls
  • Unscheduled transfers required during the trip
  • A supplement will apply if you are travelling solo or book a single room
  • Guide - this is a self guided holiday
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
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GOOD TO KNOW Download trip notes
CANCELLATION

No additional cancellation fees apply for this Smugglers Trails of the Sierra de Aracena - 8 Days tour. You can cancel the tour up to 70 days prior departure and avoid paying the full amount, but your deposit paid is non-refundable. No refund applies for cancellations within 69 days of departure.

Payment

For any tour departures within 05 June 2024, full payment is required. For tours that depart later than 05 June 2024, a deposit of 189 USD is required to confirm the tour, and the remaining balance will be charged 69 days before trip departure.

Travel Insurance

Smugglers Trails of the Sierra de Aracena - 8 Days tour requires that you have adequate and valid travel insurance covering medical and personal accidents, including repatriation costs and emergency evacuation. World Nomads offers travel insurance for independent travelers and intrepid families.

Visa

For this Smugglers Trails of the Sierra de Aracena - 8 Days tour getting the required visa(s) is the responsibility for each individual traveller, as visa requirements vary depending on your nationality. We recommend to check with your local embassies representing the countries that you are traveling to, as part of this itinerary.

For Solo Travelers

A twin share room may not always be available for solo travelers as it depends on the final number of people on the tour. If you have picked twin share room while booking, and that option is not available, we will get back to you after booking. A single room might then be available against an additional fee.

COVID-19 Safety Measures

This trip incorporates the following COVID-19 measures:

  • This tour has received the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Safe Travels stamp, which provides travellers with assurance that COVID-19 health and hygiene global standardised protocols have been adopted.
  • Rigorous hygiene safety measures will be followed in transportation, accommodation and meal venues.
  • All travellers 18 years and older will be required to be fully vaccinated atleast 14 days prior to departure.
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