Menu
To see this page in your own language use the following translation bar.
This is an easy path that runs along the course of the Rio de los Caballos until you reach one of the most charming places of the area, the Charco de la Virgen.
It is a route of low difficulty, about 5 kilometers, suitable for everyone. It is advisable to do it when the flow of the river is not very heavy since you have to cross it several times. It is also necessary to be attentive to road crossings because trails run off in various directions.
The trail starts from a well-known place in Tolox, the Fuente Amargosa Spa.
It follows a large part of the course of the Rio de los Caballos; along the route it passes by several cultivated fields irrigated by ditches of the Nasrid period; all under the framework of the steep slopes of the Pardo de Tolox mountain range, composed of a rock of igneous origin called peridotite, where a vigorous forest of pine trees grows accompanied by palms, junipers, mastic trees and gorse.
The path starts from the Balneario car park and goes down to the river. It ascends through the river course in a very popular area in summer because there are several pools in which to cool off.
Find on the left a path that goes up to the Casa del Hornillo. After crossing the river the road turns to the right towards a stream that ends at this point in the river. Take the path that climbs and leads to an extensive orchard of orange trees. The road runs parallel to an irrigation ditch without entering the farm, which is private property.
Cross the river again and ascend its left bank. It is the most difficult stretch of the route because the path is not clear at times and you have to follow the stones of the river, which can be very slippery.
The vegetation thins, as you climb past high stone walls and huge pits with spectacular falls.
About two and a half kilometers after the start you reach the Charco de la Virgen. A 20 meters waterfall empties into a small pool of crystal clear water, perfect to cool off on the hottest days.
© 2019 Graham G Hawker
Privacy Policy
