Free walking tours in Siles and what to see

Must-sees

Siles is at the far north-east of Jaén province, inside the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Nature Park. It was a frontier stronghold: it belonged to the Order of Santiago after the Christian conquest in the 13th century and still keeps remains of its wall and its old enclosure, known as La Villa. In the 15th century Rodrigo Manrique lived here, and his son, the poet Jorge Manrique, spent much of his youth in the village.

Its great treasure is nature. Las Acebeas is a holly forest rare in Andalusia, in one of the rainiest parts of the region. Near the village is the Peña del Olivar area, with a botanical garden, and El Puntal hill, with wide views over Siles and the La Fresnedilla pine forests. It's a good starting point for walking in the Sierra de Segura.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no free walking tours in Siles. The most common activity is a 4x4 route through the Sierra de Segura, reaching tracks and viewpoints that would be hard to get to on your own. The rest is done on foot: waymarked trails lead from the village itself to Las Acebeas, the Peña del Olivar and El Puntal.

How long to spend

A couple of hours are enough to explore the village and its wall remains. If you want to see Las Acebeas and climb a viewpoint or two, allow a full day. With two or three days you can add the 4x4 route and visit Segura de la Sierra, with its castle, less than an hour away by mountain road.

Where to stay

The best option is to stay in Siles itself, in the village or in the rural houses on the outskirts, surrounded by pine forest. That way the trails are close at hand and you enjoy the calm at night. Accommodation is limited, especially in summer and on long weekends, so book ahead. If you can't find a room, Orcera or Segura de la Sierra have more options.