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Photo: Berrocal1950 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikimedia Commons
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Cueva del Gato and the Charco Frío
From Ronda centre20 min
Duration1–2 h (or 2 h round trip on the trail from the station)
DifficultyEasy
PriceSeeing the cave is free. Barrier car park, €1 in coins
Best timeAll year
KidsSí
AddressDesde Ronda, A-374 dirección Sevilla y desvío a la izquierda por la MA-7401; el aparcamiento está a la derecha, junto al Hotel Cueva del Gato, unos 2 km antes de Benaoján-Estación (barrera que solo acepta monedas de 1 €). Otra opción: sendero de 2,2 km desde la estación de Benaoján (aparcamiento de unas 20 plazas)
Opening hoursOpen natural area. Entering the cave without authorisation is forbidden.
About
- Natural Monument of Andalusia: the big exit mouth of the Hundidero-Gato system, the most important karst spring in the Serranía
- At its foot, the Charco Frío: a pool of crystal-clear, icy water with a waterfall, surrounded by trees
- From the car park it's about 5 minutes along a well-kept path, with a wooden walkway over the river and a passage under the railway line
- On the trail from the station: the Cuatro Paradas mill and remains of a medieval road over a Roman one
Good to know
- Swimming is for the brave: the water is very cold even in August
- Bring €1 coins for the car park barrier
- In summer it fills up at weekends: go on a weekday or first thing
- Don't go past the mouth of the cave: people have died inside from sudden flash floods
- Dogs are not allowed to swim in the pool
Near here
BenaojánVillage · Benaoján · 20 minVillage at 524 m in the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, between the Líbar and Montalate mountains
Guadiaro river trail: Benaoján–Jimera de LíbarHiking · Benaoján / Jimera de Líbar · 25 minFlat walk along the Guadiaro river and the Algeciras–Ronda railway line (Mr..jpg/960px-(_Tapas_in_Spain,_Madrid_).jpg)
Bar El TajilloVillage tapas bar · Benaoján · 20 minFamily-run tapas bar with generous portions and village prices, at the top of Benaoján.
Presa de los Caballeros and Cueva del HundideroHiking · Montejaque · 25 minLarge concrete dam wedged into a canyon, a very photogenic piece of engineering: you can walk across the top