Tajo del Abanico and Cueva del Gato

We head out from Ronda, through holm oak woodland and to an isolated medieval cobblestone pathway. The pathway leads us into the Tajo del Abanico gorge where we find a low cave and the huge, fan-shaped rock which gives the gorge its name.

We then head into the southwestern hills, crossing high open pastures and small mountain streams. We enjoy stunning views throughout, first of all back to Ronda on its clifftop location and then forward to the dramatic mountains of the Grazalema Natural Park. We descend to the valley of the Rio Guadiaro and follow the river a short distance to the Cueva del Gato or "Cat Cave", named for the shape of the cave mouth in the mountain. A waterfall at the cave entrance flows all year round, however, dry the weather, as the mountain contains a network of water-filled tunnels and caverns. Each day thousands of liters of crystal clear (and very cold) water exit the cave via the waterfall to create a stunning, blue water pool. From the cave we return to Ronda in our minibus or an alternative finish is to walk 2km back along the river to Benaojan Estacion where you can have lunch at the Molino del Santo restaurant which serves excellent food in a beautiful location (seasonal closure during part of the winter).