The Genal Valley.

The Genal Valley is situated in The Serranía de Ronda Mountain range in Andalucia's provence of Malaga, southern Spain.
(see our maps page)

Here we introduce a paradise of nature with panoramic views and an abundance of wildlife beyond belief.

With and area of 42,000 Hectares, the Genal Valley has been designated Natural Park. The River Genal reported to be one of Europe's cleanest rivers.

This Genal Valley is one of the last few remaining natural Mediterranean Oak Forests, which were once stretched across most of the Mediterranean coastline in both Southern Europe and North Africa.

There are 16 White Villages, dotted throughout the Valley where the inhabitants enjoy the good life. Hard working but never rushed, the people are welcoming and friendly. The Villages are ideal for touring around, enjoying the bars and restaurants as you go.

This area is considered to be one of the best preserved in Europe and the Mediterranean area, in that it contains verdant forests, stands of Spanish Fir (abies pinsapo) chestnut woods and animals in danger of extinction such as the otter (lutra).

Our Penibaetic Mountain Range is a mountain range that is not dissimilar in geological terms to the Rifs Mountains in northern Morocco, it probably represents a part of Europe and the Iberian peninsula, that is been torn apart from the European mainland and squeezed to the African Continent.

The Genal Valley is literally littered with old mule tracks and pathways which link all the Villages together. Along these trails you can discover a plethora of flora and fauna through a variety of landscapes. Thick un-spoilt natural Mediterranean Oak forests, open river beds and high areas of rugged lunar limestone.

The wildlife is in abundance, for the experienced and amature alike.

The bird community is particularly rich and breeding birds include Golden, Bonelli’s, Booted and Short-toed Eagles, Griffon and Egyptian Vultures, Peregrine Falcon, Lesser Kestrel, Eagle Owl, White-rumped, Alpine and Pallid Swifts, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Thrush, Black Wheatear, Black Redstart, Chough, Rock Sparrow, Rock Bunting and Crossbill. 

The Serranía and its surroundings include three major natural parks, Sierra de las Nieves (declared Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1995), Sierra de Grazalema (declared Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1977) and Los Alcornocales a richly wooded park and declared ZEPA reserve (zone of especial protection for the birds).

Heavily protected from developers there is an ecological harmony here, which is difficult to find elsewhere....

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The Genal Valley Rural Tourism Association is a volentary organisation,
whose purpose is to promote low impact rural tourism to those who appriciate natural unspoilt countryside.