La Maroma from Canillas de Acietunas, An amazing hike to the top of Malaga's highest peak at 2,069 m

La Maroma is the highest mountain in Malaga province at 2,069m (6,788feet). From the top are stunning views north to the Alpujarra’s, south to the Mediterranean, and with views to Malaga and Torremolinos. We have looked at the mountain from various locations including the beach in Torremolinos, and felt it calling us. La Maroma is actually 2069m high but our walk started at around 649m in Canillas. The path is easy to follow, being marked most of the time. There are at least 3 routes up, we have previously walked from the north starting at Robledal (see details on our website), this time we walked from the south.

There are 2 routes up from Canillas, which then meet at Puerto do los Charcones. We decided to do the slightly longer circular route as it would be more interesting, instead of a linear trip. The previous night we had left our base in Torremolinos, arriving by car in the pretty village of Canillas 75 minutes later. We stayed at Casa -de-Arriba for 2 nights, having booked it on Bookings.com. The apartment was fabulous, with cooking and clothes washing facilities.

We left at 7.45am just after dawn-this being November. The sky and views down to the ocean were fabulous, especially in the changing light. It was windy, and there was some cloud billowing around. We hoped the weather would improve.

As usual on the previous night, we had carried out a reconnoitre of the start of the walk. Our walk starts from the old football ground (not to be confused with the new one). We made our way from where we were staying going down and up the beautiful village steps and alleyways, then followed an old sign for campo de football. We went through most of the village, before passing the cemetery on Cuesta de los Picachos at 8am, continuing along the road, then left uphill passing the disused football ground. We took the road up through the trees, (8.20am one mile walked), there are various possible short-cuts through the trees, then back onto the road-but we could not decide whether they were actually any quicker. We reached a notice board at 8.30am with views to Torcal and the mountains of Torremolinos.

Following the track reaching the information board at Mirador of Castillejos, keeping an eye out for eagles and mountain goats!! Going through the trees, then back along the concrete road once more, with views of cloud on the top (8.50am, 1.8 miles, 270m ascent).

We passed a forestry commission building at 9am (2.1 miles 330m ascent), then after a further 600m walk down the road, we turned left at the large La Maroma sign, going down a path by a wooden post, descending through pine trees (9.15am), then over a bridge, which crosses a dried-up river. Ascending we passed a disused lime kiln. The path then seems to head in the wrong direction (turning left), but have faith, and after 15 minutes it turns right, then by a sign (9.30am) right again. There were plenty of thorny bushes along the obvious rocky path (perhaps shorts were a bad idea!!!), and views to an empty reservoir. We passed a second lime kiln at 9.45am, the wind was getting up and some grey clouds were rolling in. It did seem a steep endless climb along a zig zag overgrown path. We were happy when we reached the ridge at Puerto do los Charcones, meeting the alternative path coming up from Canillas at 10.30am. It had taken us at least 30 minutes longer than it had said in our

book! We followed the marker posts, then along the obvious cairned up-hill path arriving at Proa del Barco (The Ship’s Prow) at 11.40am. (11 °C with a cold wind). The path turns 90°, then goes up-hill over the rocks, with some cairns and posts. The weather had turned much colder and windier, and we were now in cloud.

Just before the summit is a 50m deep pothole, this was once a store for packed ice, which was then carried down the mountain on the path called El Camino de La Nieve-don’t fall into it. We were very happy to arrive at the large summit trig at 1pm (1410m ascent, 6.85 miles in 5 hours). The large trig point is about 10 feet high, with iron rungs on it to access a small chimney on the top. There are various small shelters, where we sat and quickly ate our sandwiches, it was now very cold and windy. We were in thick cloud, and could barely see 50m ahead of us, never mind any view. We have been to the summit before so knew what we were missing! We left at 1.20pm going quickly down in the drizzle and rain, arriving at 1.50pm at a gap in the fence. By 2.10pm we were back at prow of the boat with a cold gusty wind, and a slight view down. Walking quickly down, we were soon back at Puerto do los Charcones col at 3pm, hiding from the rain under large rock,

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