Colmenar best things to see and do
Visit Colmenar, the larder of the Montes de Málaga and Axarquia
In this article you will find the most important information about what to see in Colmenar:
- A few words about Colmenar
- What to see in Colmenar?
- What to see around the village
- What to do in Colmenar?
- activities
- ideas for guided tours
- fiestas and ferias
- Where is Colmenar?
- Booking accommodation
- Some useful links
- Experiences to discover in the province of Málaga
A few words about Colmenar
Colmenar is a typical and authentic white village of the Axarquia in the province of Málaga.
The village takes its name from the main activity carried out for centuries during Al Andalus. A landowner, Hamet el Zuque, owned a large number of beehives at that time. When the land was bought back in 1488 after the reconquista, the name remained.
Even today, there are many beehives and the honey from the village is among the most famous in the region.
In Spanish: colmenar, means the apiary, and colmena: a hive.
What to see in Colmenar?
The church of La Asuncion
The church of La Asuncion is typical of the villages of Axarquia, with its bell tower that was once an alminar.
Discover the typical streets of the village
A walk through the narrow streets, known as the larder of Málaga, can be an opportunity to taste the local culinary specialities:
- The plato de los montes, an assortment of lomo, chorizo, potatoes, peppers and fried egg.
- Borrachuelos (cider fritters),
- Roscos (pastries)
- Carne de membrillo (quince paste), a little wonder with local cheese.
The Ermita de la Candelaria and the landscape
From this small church you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Camarolos-Chamizo and El Jobo mountain ranges.
Colmenar is one of the gateways to the Montes de Málaga Natural Park (5000 hectares).
The Malaga Honey Museum
It is a curiosity but the Málaga Honey Museum is in Colmenar. This museum is located in the old house of the Hermandad de Labradores (Brotherhood of Labourers). It is the most representative building in Colmenar.
A visit to the Malaga Honey Museum is very interesting.
The old washhouse
This washhouse is located at the entrance of the village when you arrive from Riogordo or Alfarnate.
What to see around Colmenar
Colmenar is located in a land of contrasts between valleys and mountains and offers beautiful spots for walking, hiking and climbing.
The nearby village of Riogordo,
Riogordo is also worth a visit in Alta Axarquia. It is only a few kilometres from Colmenar.
The wheat fields!
Colmenar is known as the larder of the province of Malaga. It is famous for its honey, olives, cheeses and sausages. There are, and this is quite rare in the region, wheat fields around the village as well.
Around the village, among the olive fields, you can also see century-old olive trees:
What to do in Colmenar?
Activities
In the surroundings, it is possible to find some very nice activities:
- horse riding, on the beach or in the mountains
- diving in Nerja and Torrox
- guided tours (villages of Axarquia, Cordoba, Alhambra,…)
- via ferrata (Caminito del Rey,…)
- hiking (rio Chillar, El Saltillo with the hanging bridge,…)
- canyoning (in the rio Verde,…)
- astrotourism
- snorkeling
- visit of caves
Use the following link to access all the activities to do. This link provides you with all the details of each activity.
Guided tour idea
A very good local guide, Cipriano, offers thematic and seasonal guided tours of the villages of Axarquia. All tours starts from Nerja, Torrox and Torre del Mar.
For example, Cipriano organises the Olive Oil Tour from Nerja. On this tour you will discover the olive fields, the oil production method and participate in a tasting. You will discover two olive oil producing villages.
The guided tours are always done in small groups (2 to 8 people max.) to discover the authentic Axarquia.
In the following link you will find all the details and prices of the tours he offers.
The themes of the tours are: The Wine Route, the Raisin route, Frigiliana and El Acebuchal Tour….
Here are all the guided tours from Torrox, Nerja and Torre del Mar.
The fiestas
- Feria de Colmenar, early August
- Jornadas Gastronomicas, early October,
- Fiesta de la Candelaria, late January-early February
- Dia de la pipa, end of April, (Bean Day)
- Fiesta del Mosto y la Chacina, early December,
Where is Colmenar?
Booking accommodation
Enter the desired dates to check availability.
Some useful links (car hire, ideas for visits)
Easy and economical bookings
If you are in Andalucia as part of a tour with several major cities to visit, here are some links that may be of interest:
Seville
Seville, the capital of Andalucia, is a city full of treasures to discover and monuments to visit.
Here you will find everything you can see in Seville in 3 days. And for those who will stay longer you will also find information on secret Seville and the Santa Cruz and Triana districts.
Cadiz
Visit Cadiz, a city with an incredible past and great beauty, on the Costa del la Luz.
Malaga
When you reach the Costa del Sol you will find in this link all must-sees in Malaga :
Granada
Discover what to see in Granada, and visit the Albaicin and Sacromonte districts:
Cordoba
And of course, visit Cordoba, the caliphate city, and the Juderia district
Experiences to discover in the province of Malaga
If you’re in the area for a few days, here’s a selection of great things to do:
Find more ideas for visits to authentic Andalucia: see the blog pages on Andalucia.
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