Free walking tours in Cazorla and what to see

Must-sees

Cazorla spreads at the foot of the sierra, with white houses climbing the slope. Its centre revolves around three squares: La Corredera, La Constitución and Santa María. On the last are the ruins of the church of Santa María, built over the river Cerezuelo, which flows beneath it through a great vault. You can visit the river’s underground course.

Above the town rises La Yedra castle, home to the Museum of Popular Arts and Customs of the Upper Guadalquivir. From its towers you can see the whole valley. A few minutes away is La Iruela, with its castle on a rock. Cazorla is the main gateway to the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park, the largest protected area in Spain.

Free tours and guided visits

Free tours are not usual in Cazorla. The norm is guided walks of the town, usually including the Cerezuelo vault and the castle, and above all guided trips into the natural park, the main reason most travellers come.

The most common are 4x4 outings to see wildlife such as deer, ibex and vultures, and guided hikes. The Borosa river route, with the Cerrada de Elías, is the best known. Visitors also go to the source of the Guadalquivir and the Torre del Vinagre interpretation centre. Úbeda and Baeza, both World Heritage Sites, are less than an hour’s drive away.

How long to spend

The town can be seen in a morning. But Cazorla makes sense as a base for two or three days. Spend the first on the town and La Iruela. The second on the Borosa route, which takes most of the day. The third on a 4x4 outing in the park or a trip to Úbeda and Baeza. Autumn and spring are ideal for walking.

Where to stay

Cazorla is the best base for services and atmosphere, with restaurants and tapas bars around its squares. Staying near Plaza de la Corredera lets you walk everywhere in town. If you prefer to be inside the park, Arroyo Frío and the Coto Ríos area have hotels and rural houses closer to the trails, although with fewer places to eat.