From Finca Álamo de Casares to the top of Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja is normally around a 35-50 minute drive, depending on exactly where on the property you start and the traffic through the Estepona area. Finca Álamo is located in the municipality of Casares, northwest of Estepona.
rods
- Drive towards Estepona.
- Take the MA-8301 towards Genalguacil/Jubrique.
- Follow the winding mountain road up to the Peñas Blancas pass (approx. 960 m).
- At the crossroads at Peñas Blancas, take a sharp left towards Los Reales.
- Follow the narrow mountain road for the last few kilometers to the parking lot at the top and the refuge.
Can you drive all the way to the top?
Nearby. You can park very close to the summit at the Venta El Refugio area and viewpoints. From there, it’s usually just a few minutes’ walk to the best viewpoints and trails towards the summit itself (1452 m).
Important to know
- Paved all the way.
- The last 3-4 km are in several places single-lane roads with meeting pockets.
- There are steep drops in some places, so drive slowly.
- The parking lot can get full on weekends.
- On clear days, you can see both Gibraltar and the coast of Morocco from the top.
For an ordinary car, the trip is completely unproblematic in dry weather – it’s more of a scenic mountain road than a demanding off-road route.
Height and view
The top of Los Reales is located at approximately 1450 meters above sea level. From here you have one of the best views on the Costa del Sol, with panoramic views of Estepona, the Mediterranean, the Strait of Gibraltar and often the coast of Morocco.
Tips
If you’re staying at Finca Álamo, it’s great to head up early in the morning or afternoon. In the middle of the day, it can be hot down on the coast, while the temperature at Los Reales is often 8-15 degrees lower due to the altitude. Bare peridotite mountains, pinsapo trees and the views make the drive an attraction in itself.
Venta El Refugio
When you get all the way up to Los Reales, there’s a mountain refuge and restaurant that has become a destination in its own right. At Los Reales, Refugio Agustín Lozano is a combination mountain hut and restaurant. Located at an altitude of around 1,450 meters, the building was originally established as a refuge for forestry workers, naturalists and visitors to the Sierra Bermeja. It has since become a popular destination for hikers, cyclists and motorists who want to experience the view from the mountain.
The place is known for its rustic atmosphere, fireplaces in winter, local food and one of the best views on the Costa del Sol. From here you can see Estepona, Marbella, Gibraltar and often the Rif mountains in Morocco.
For many visitors, therefore, the refugio is not just a place to eat or rest, but the destination of the hike up the Sierra Bermeja. Here you can sit with a cup of coffee or lunch and enjoy the view from one of the highest and most spectacular vantage points along the Costa del Sol.
Food and service
The cuisine is based on seasonal produce and local ingredients from the surrounding mountains. The menu varies according to the season, but you’ll often find:
- Game and local meat dishes
- Slow-cooked pots
- Homemade croquettes
- Mushrooms in season
- Vegetarian alternatives
- Homemade desserts
The food is often described as traditional Andalusian mountain food rather than tourist restaurant food.
Opening hours
According to the latest available information, the restaurant is normally open:
- Monday: 12.30-18.00
- Thursday: 12.30-18.00
- Friday: 12.30-18.00
- Saturday: 12.30-18.00
- Sunday: 12.30-18.00
- Tuesday and Wednesday: closed.
Brannen i 2021
Standing at Los Reales today, it’s hard to imagine how dramatic the area looked in September 2021. That’s when the Sierra Bermeja was hit by one of the most serious forest fires in recent Andalusian history. The fire started at Jubrique on September 8, 2021 and spread rapidly through the steep terrain. Between 7,600 and 8,400 hectares of nature were lost, thousands of people had to be evacuated, and the effort involved thousands of firefighters and a large number of aircraft and helicopters.
What made the strongest impression on the locals was that forest firefighter Carlos Martínez Haro, 44 years old and a member of the Andalusian firefighting corps Infoca, lost his life during the extinguishing work on September 9, 2021. He was working on the front line when conditions became extremely dangerous.
As a memorial to him, a bronze statue was erected in 2023 near Los Reales, not far from where he died. The statue depicts an Infoca firefighter in full protective gear with a backpack and the distinctive pulaski tool used in forest firefighting. On the pedestal is a dedication to Carlos Martínez Haro and to all the men and women who risk their lives to protect the Andalusian mountains.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.