Walk #1: Optional Villa de Madrid Walk – 5 km, rated 1A

Our Adventure on the Iberian Peninsula begins today in Madrid, highest capital in Europe. We look forward to sharing the sometimes violent, often romantic classical heritage of this corner of southern Europe. Spain has no shortage of historical drama starting with Mediterranean influences from ancient Phoenicians and Romans and continuing with an invasion and 800-year occupation of Arab/Berber Moors from present-day Morocco. Christian, Jew, and Muslim were equally regarded during much of this period, but  King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabelle I, joined forces in the Christian reconquest to ultimately expel both Muslim and Jew in 1492.

What followed was the weakening of Spain’s diverse economy, the financing of the voyages of Christopher Columbus, and the rise of Spanish power and influence, fueled heavily by New World riches.

Footprints of these forces will be felt during our journey along with the uniquely colorful Spanish and Andalusian culture that has emerged.

Travelers who arrive a day early (May 12) are invited to join us today for a pair of optional only-in-Madrid activities:

Prado Museum: Discover masterpieces by Goya, Velázquez, and El Greco on a guided tour through one of the world’s great repositories of Western art. The Prado has a massive collection of masterpieces and is generally considered one of the most prestigious art museums in the world along with the Louvre in Paris, the British Museum in London, the Metropolitan in New York, and the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. This 2-hour guided visit is not to be missed. Estimated price: $70

Villa de Madrid Walk: After a break for lunch, a mid-afternoon walking tour of Madrid is the perfect way to unwind after a long flight or museum visit while working up an appetite for our Welcome dinner. A few points of interest featured on this guided walk include:

• Puerta del Sol (Gate of the Sun) one of Madrid’s most iconic squares which developed around a city gate dating to the 16th century;
• Plaza Mayor, a former market redesigned as the main square in the 16th century and known as a setting for bullfights, public executions, celebrations, famous today for its impressive renaissance-style architecture;
• Mercado de San Miguel, a covered food market considered a “gastronomic temple” of Madrid, with 30 vendors specializing in fresh seafood, hams, cheeses, olives, wines, and a wide variety of tapas;
• Jardines de San Francisco, a relaxing green space whose fountains, flower beds, and pathways have been designed in a classical style

Estimated price: $50

Later this evening, the full group comes together for our first official activity, a Welcome Orientation followed by dinner.

Walk #3: Don Quixote Windmills Walk – 3 km, rated 2B
Walk #4: Panoramas of Jaen Walk – 3 km, rated 2B

Our walk in Consuegra, originally inhabited by Romans, takes us through this venerable old La Mancha town to a hilltop on the edge of town. The attractions here are ruins of a 12th century castle and a row of picturesque 15th century windmills, reminiscent of the heroic struggle of Cervantes’ Don Quixote against the “giants” of the land.

Leaving Consuegra, we continue south into Andalusia. Following a fun break for a picnic lunch, our next stop is a panoramic leg stretching walk in Jaen. We start from Santa Catalina Castle, originally a Moorish fortress from the 8th century, and descend into the city’s historic center passing the mysterious, mostly buried Palace of Uribe and the 13th century Royal Convent of Saint Dominic with its lovely cloister, consider one of the most beautiful in Andalusia.

Our final stop today is the fabled city of Granada, final stronghold of the Moors who were ultimately defeated by Ferdinand and Isabel in 1492 after 781 years of Moorish dominance and occupation. Isabel celebrated the victory by giving an audience to little-known Genoese explorer and adventurer, Cristoforo Colombo, who was determined to find the westward route to the riches of the East Indies. This led, of course, to another significant chapter in the history of Spain, the Western Hemisphere, and humanity at large!

We check into our hotel for a two-night stay. Later this evening, we enjoy dinner together followed by the excitement and color of the flamenco—a dramatic form of dance originating from Arab and gypsy roots.

Walk #5: Granada Walk – 4 km, rated 2B
Walk #6: Alhambra Moorish Delights Walk – 5 km, rated 1A

After breakfast, our morning walk takes us through an Andalusian, Moorish old town packed with architectural contrasts. Granada has been inhabited for thousands of years, long before the Romans called it Iliberis. Most of what we see today, however, dates back no earlier than the Muslim invasion in the 8th century, and much of the architecture is from later in the Middle Ages.

We start on a hill above the city known for its panoramic views across to the stunning profile of the Alhambra, shining against a backdrop of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The Albaicín District is heavily featured on the walk. This historic Moorish neighborhood is known for its narrow, winding streets and picturesque whitewashed buildings. Granada Cathedral is famous for its stunning interior of Renaissance and Baroque styles, and the Royal Chapel (not included on our walk), containing the tombs of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabel 1 of Castille.

After a midday break for a tapas lunch (not included) and free time to explore the riches of Granada, we reconvene to visit the medieval Moorish fortress called Alhambra, an Arabian Nights fairytale world of fountains, pools, and labyrinth-like rooms and passageways. This UNESCO site is widely considered one of the must-see sights of Europe, and one of its most romantic and visually sensual monuments.

Our guide builds upon our growing understanding of Moorish influence and dominance as we stroll the grounds of this pinnacle of Moorish art and architecture, finishing the afternoon in the fantasyland of gardens and mountain stream-fed fountains called Generalife.

Walk #7: Salobreña Pueblo Blanco Walk – 3 km, rated 1A
Walk #8: Parque Natural Torcal de Antequerra – 2 km/7 km, rating 2D
Walk #9: Antequerra Town Trekking – 2 km, rating 1A

Today’s first stop is along the Mediterranean Sea in Salobrena, one of Andalusia’s famous Pueblo Blancos (white villages). Pueblo Blancos are a series of heritage villages known for the charm of their traditional Moorish architecture—distinctive white-washed houses capped with terracotta roofs.

Salobrena sits perched above the Mediterranean and claims a legacy dating back to Phoenician and Roman times. Its prominent features are a 10^th century Moorish castle, the delightful labyrinth of whitewashed homes and narrow lanes in Old Town, and a pair of famous, fine-sand beaches.

After a short walk in Salobrena, we continue to the main hike of the day in Parque Natural Torcal de Antequera, which enjoys government protection due to its unique and whimsical karst formations. Trails are unavoidable rocky and at least two routes will be offered through this wonderland of glaciated limestone.

Tonight’s hotel is in the nearby town of Antequerra. A pleasant stroll into the center is a good way to find restaurants for this evening’s no-host dinner.

Walk #11: Zahara de la Sierra walk – 2 km, rating 3B

From Ronda, we explore two more fascinating Pueblo Blancos. Zahara de la Sierra is a classic example of Moorish fortified hilltop towns, sitting high above a stunning turquoise reservoir. Built by soldiers of the Christian Reconquest upon the older ruins of a Moorish Atalaya, the 16th century watchtower looms above the town.

Scholars believe these Atalaya watchtowers allowed Moorish towns to send signals to one another with surprising speed, claiming warning messages could pass from Barcelona to Cordoba, about 460 miles, in the space of less than 4 hours.

After the stroll through town, walkers will have opportunity to ascend to the watchtower (which accounts for today’s walk rating of 3) to imbibe of its stunning views.

Next stop is Setenil de las Bodegas, where lunch can be enjoyed in perhaps the most extraordinarily sited of the venerable white villages. Much of the town is comprised of homes and restaurants shoehorned into the sides of a pair of soft tufa rock cliffs sculpted by the Trejo River. It’s an unforgettable setting to enjoy a meal!

Back in Ronda, late afternoon and evening are free to wander and window-shop. Suggestions for dinner will be made, and there are many options near our hotel.

Walk #12: Seville Parque de Maria Luisa Walk – 5 km, rated 1A

From Ronda, our route takes us west to the town of Jerez de la Frontera through an area known for bull breeding, and more picturesque white villages. Jerez has three claims to fame: it has a long and distinguished flamenco tradition, it is renown as the home of the Carujana horses, a cross breed of Andalusian, Neapolitan, and German breeds, and it is the center of the Jerez Triangle, a collection of nearby towns that have sole worldwide rights to produce the wine labeled as Sherry.

We’ll tour one of the bodegas before enjoying sherry tasting and tapas in an authentic, old Andalusian farm.

From Jerez, we continue north to Seville, where you have the remainder of the afternoon free to explore this gem of Andalusia. Alternatively, you are invited to join us for a stroll through the extensive 19th century gardens of María Luisa, with their beautiful pools and fountains, before having dinner on your own at one of the multitude of options beckoning near our centrally-located hotel.

Our Iberian Adventure draws to a close this morning. We bid farewell to Spain and return home from Madrid with fond memories of this proud and historic land.

Our hotel is an easy 5-minute taxi ride from the Madrid airport.

With help from local experts and walking guides, these itineraries are hand-crafted, with the help of trusted in-country partners, to tailor itineraries to WAI specifications.

When planning Classic Curated Tours, our objective is to capture the essence of a destination – the history, culture, and natural wonders unique to that part of the world. We then build activities and walks that we hope will take us inside these characteristics.

Yes, these tours are educational, but they are also interactive and immersive; walking gets us off the bus and penetrates local cultures to not only see but touch, smell, and feel these special spaces.

Along the way, local walking guides amplify the experience by sharing insights into the magic of that particular location.

In the case of Southern Spain, WAI’s first walking tour in this part of Europe was offered in 1997, followed by several itineraries featuring Southern Spain and Portugal during the ensuing 10 years. After 2007, however, we shifted our focus to Northern Spain and the Camino de Santiago.

In 2025, we are delighted to return to Southern Spain and the Andalusia Region to combine our prior knowledge with insights from our Spanish tour planning partners!

We generally walk at a pace of 2 to 3 miles per hour. Walks that are oriented more towards education may take longer due to stops for guide commentary. Nature walks, on the other hand, generally continue at a steadier pace because we’re stopping less to talk.

In most cases, we are not “strolling.” We are walking at a relaxed but steady pace. Your experience will be significantly affected by your level of physical fitness. If not walking regularly at home, we strongly recommend that you make a priority of “training” beforehand to both enjoy the trip and avoid medical issues due to overexertion.

If you have questions about your ability to participate, please contact our office at [email protected].

We have adopted a walk difficulty rating system which contains a numeric indicator for trail incline and an alpha indicator for trail terrain. The explanation for this system is presented on the table below:

INCLINE

1. Minimal hills or stair climbing. Cumulative elevation gain: <200 feet.
2. Some moderate hills and stair climbing. Cumulative elevation gain: 200-1000 feet.
3. Some significant hill or stair climbing. Cumulative elevation gain: 1000-2000 feet.

TERRAIN

A. Almost entirely on pavement.
B. A significant part of the route is on well-groomed trails with very few obstacles.
C. A significant part of the route is on somewhat difficult terrain (rocky / rooted paths or soft sand).

• Focus on health before the tour so you start healthy.
• Pace yourself while on tour; travel is inherently stimulating and can produce adrenalin boosts that mask energy drain. Guard your energy reserves and consider the length of the trip and whether to opt out of some activities and/or walks.
• Be self-aware. If you feel yourself tiring or feel a bug coming on, take precautions to block it (e.g. extra rest, extra doses of vitamin C, etc).
• If you feel a bug coming on or if you take ill, distance yourself from others when possible.
• If you feel ill, isolate yourself towards the back of the bus and away from others and please wear a mask.

Click WAI Wellness on Tour Policy to view the WAI policy on Wellness on Tour.