Las Truchas Restaurant
What to order: the Majaceite trout and, as a first course, El Bosque soup.
geocalia
Day itinerary · 36.76° N · 5.37° W
Sierra de Grazalema: Zahara, the pass and the Majaceite.
A mountain Sunday without permits: Zahara castle above the reservoir, the viewpoints on the Puerto de las Palomas, trout in El Bosque and the Majaceite trail.
Leaving from
Part of Sierra de Grazalema
Add to my trip
Total time10 h
By car1 h 45 each way
WalkingZahara castle and the Majaceite, about 8 km
PermitsNot needed
Cost€30–50 pp
Best timeOctober – May
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave Seville 1 h 45 by car
from Seville via Morón and Algodonales to Zahara
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1
Zahara de la Sierra and Its Castle above the Reservoir
Climb the castle tower with the reservoir below
- 15 min by car9 km
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2
Palomas Pass Road, from Zahara to Grazalema
CA-9104 towards Grazalema; stop at the two viewpoints
- 30 min by car23 km
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3
Las Truchas Restaurant
Majaceite trout and El Bosque soup · phone ahead
Avenida de la Diputación, s/n, 11670 El Bosque · +34 956 71 60 61
Restaurant €€Book - 30 min by car6,9 km
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4
Majaceite River Trail, from El Bosque to Benamahoma
A there-and-back stretch beside the river, at your own pace
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Back home
From El Bosque to Seville, an hour and a half on the A-375; to Cádiz, via Arcos
Approximate cost
About €20–35 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Zahara de la Sierra and Its Castle above the Reservoir
The most famous Grazalema routes require a permit, and on a Sunday without one you cannot improvise them. This plan does not need one: it crosses the sierra from north to south, from Zahara to El Bosque, with a castle, a mountain pass and a path beside the river.
The Day, Hour by Hour
8:30 · Departure. From Seville, via Utrera or via Morón and Algodonales to Zahara de la Sierra, around an hour and three quarters. From Cádiz, better the other way round: start at El Bosque via Arcos and finish at Zahara.
10:15 · Zahara de la Sierra. Park below and walk up the white streets to the castle tower. From the top, the Zahara-El Gastor reservoir and the sierra. On Plaza del Rey is the park's information point.
12:00 · Puerto de las Palomas. Take the CA-9104 towards Grazalema. It is narrow and winding: stop at the viewpoints on the Puerto de los Acebuches and the Puerto de las Palomas. From this road leave the Garganta Verde and the Pinsapar, for another day with a permit. Go down to Grazalema and continue along the A-372 to El Bosque.
14:00 · Lunch in El Bosque. At the Hotel Las Truchas restaurant, Majaceite trout and El Bosque soup. Its website does not publish opening hours: call before leaving home to confirm that it serves lunch that Sunday.
16:00 · Majaceite trail. The path by the river between El Bosque and Benamahoma, in the shade of the riverbank. Walk as far as you like and return the same way. Ask beforehand whether it is open in full: the regional government has been repairing it since March 2026 after the storms.
18:00 · Return.
Where and What to Eat
Las Truchas, at the entrance to El Bosque, serves mountain cooking of trout, game and cheeses. Restaurante Enrique Calvillo, open since 1975 next to the start of the trail, has a set menu, tapas and terraces. Neither publishes opening hours: book by phone. If you prefer to eat in Zahara, the dining room at Arco de la Villa looks over the reservoir.
With Children and Dogs
With children, Zahara castle and the pass viewpoints are the best of the day; the Majaceite, as far as they can manage. With a dog, the villages and the river trail are fine on a lead.
Time1 h 30
Change the route
With teenagers from age 12: the gorge takes the whole day, with a guide and permit:
Canyoning in the Garganta Verde, Zahara de la Sierra
If you have asked for the permit: an easy track with views of the Pinsapar:
Llanos del Rabel, the Pinsapar Seen from Outside
Another table in El Bosque, next to the start of the trail:
Enrique Calvillo Restaurant
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
Enrique Calvillo Restaurant
What to order: the set menu after the Majaceite, or tapas on the terrace.
Arco de la Villa Hotel Restaurant
What to order: fried aubergines with cane honey and a venison stew, with Payoyo cheese for dessert.
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Sierra de Grazalema
From October to May. In summer, the pass and the castle first thing, and the river in the shade. Before setting off, ask at the El Bosque visitor centre whether the Majaceite trail is open in full: it has had works since March 2026.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Ask about the Majaceite
The El Bosque visitor centre (956 70 97 33) knows whether it is open in full.
- 2Call the restaurant
The ones in El Bosque do not publish their Sunday hours.
- 3Stop only at the viewpoints
On the CA-9104 there is no hard shoulder.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a permit for this plan?
No. Zahara castle, the Puerto de las Palomas road and the Majaceite do not need one.
How long does it take from Seville?
About an hour and three quarters to Zahara.
Can I take a dog?
Yes, on a lead in the villages and on the river trail.
What if I want to do the Garganta Verde?
Request authorisation from the El Bosque visitor centre in advance, or do it with a guide who arranges it.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/spain/andalusia/sierra-de-grazalema/itineraries/zahara-puerto-de-las-palomas-and-majaceite-river-trail
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.