The coolest hike in Andalusia? – River hike through the Río Chillar

The cool thing about this tour: you don’t just hike along and next to the Chillar River, but often ankle-deep in it. It goes about 5-8 km through gorges and also flatter plains to a pool with a waterfall (“Vado de los Patos”) where you can refresh yourself.

Here are a few general tips for the Río Chillar hike

• The route is not officially advertised by the tourist board, but it is still permitted
• The path to the waterfall is about 8 km long. It is not a circular route. So you have to walk the same route back again
• I would classify the whole hike as easy to medium. You don’t have to climb any difficult passages or walk through the water the whole time.
• You should not leave any garbage along the path. This is disrespectful and destroys nature – but unfortunately happens far too often.
• You should definitely wear non-slip shoes.
• You shouldn’t go when it’s raining, there could be floods if it rains heavily. And the water is usually higher after rain

What equipment should I take with me?

This is an easy hike, but you should still take a few precautions, as with any hike. Here’s what I recommend you take with you or buy from Amazon beforehand:

• Non-slip shoes or Walking sandals
• swim trunks or swimwear
• Hiking stick
• Knee pads for children – so that nothing happens if the little ones do fall down
• Sun cream
• Pants that can be rolled up or shorts. I would not recommend jeans.
• Towel so that you can chill out on one of the small beaches on the riverbed and enjoy the sun.

Where does the trail start at Rio Chillar?

The hike actually starts at the tourist center, where there is also an official parking lot. However, you can also park directly at the entrance to the riverbed. This saves you 2 km of walking through a residential area.

If you start from the small hut at the entrance, the hike will take about 2-3 hours each way, depending on your pace. So in total you should plan about 5-7 hours with breaks.

Is the Río Chillar hike doable with children?

It is definitely doable. Of course, it also depends on the children. I’ve seen families with teenagers and small children. A 6-year-old will stand in water up to their hips at the deepest points.

You should always take your little ones by the hand in the deeper parts of the gorge. You don’t have to walk the whole way. Especially if your children are still small or not very agile, turn back after the third gorge. The path over the adjoining rocks (see below) may be a little too slippery and dangerous for them.

On the hike, you will also come across small, natural bathing bays, which are particularly suitable for smaller children and where they can splash around a bit.

Is the Río Chillar hike doable with dogs?

I saw several people with their dogs on my hike and they all looked happy and fit. But they were all medium to large dogs. There could be problems with smaller dogs. A Chihuahua will probably just be able to keep its nose above water ;)

Older dogs should better not do such exertions.

Path description Río Chillar with pictures

On the day I hiked the Río Chillar, I was the first tourist on the way to the waterfall. On the way back, however, I kept coming across other tourists who often asked me how much further it was. The following pictures therefore show you roughly the most important points along the way so that you can get your bearings on your own hike.

I got there in just over 2 hours, but I also ran very fast and didn’t take any breaks. A time of 2.5 to 3 hours with a normal pace and short breaks is realistic to reach this waterfall.

After the pool with the waterfall, the trail continues. But there is no other large pool. I walked on for another hour or so and then turned back. To hike the whole Rio Chillar, you easily need 7 – 8 hours. You should get hiking maps for this and other routes in the region from the tourist office in Nerja.

More places of interest in Nerja

The river walk along the Rio Chillar is without doubt the highlight of Nerja. Otherwise, Nerja itself is just a small, typical tourist town, as there are many in Andalusia. However, once you are in the area, you can still discover a few more great spots.

The region around Nerja offers many highlights, which is why Nerja is an excellent starting point for exploring.

These are the things you shouldn’t miss:

• The Caves of Nerja – The dripstone caves in Nerja are really impressive and also great for a rainy day. You can get tickets for the caves here.
• One of the most famous spots in Nerja is the Balcón de Europa. From here you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view over the coast. There is a small promenade and a passageway to the beach directly below the viewpoint.
• Aqueducto del Aguila – The historic aqueduct is worth a photo. You can photograph it from the bridge but also walk under the aqueduct.
• The beaches in the Natural Park Acantilados Maro, Cerro Gordo – The beaches around Nerja are often overcrowded, especially in summer. However, there are a few smaller beaches along the Acantilados Maro – Cerro Gordo nature reserve that are usually less crowded. For example, explore the Cala del Cañuelo, the Playa de Las Alberquillas, the Playa del Pino or the Playa Cantarrijan.
• Best to explore the stunning coastline is a guided Kayak tour, where you’ll also explore the famous Maro waterfall.
• The mountain village of Frigiliana – The white village of Frigiliana has received a lot of attention on social media. This is largely due to the typical narrow streets with views over the mountains to the sea. But in my opinion, the most beautiful thing here are the sunsets

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As you can see, this hike is a great adventure on your Andalusia road trip. Have you already hiked the trail or do you have any extra tips? Then I look forward to your comment.