Exploring Zahara de la Sierra— Andalusia's Biggest "Pueblos Blancos" Secret Set on a Pristine Lake
Zahara de la Sierra was my most anticipated 'pueblo blanco,' and I discovered it whilst planning my trip months ago and trying to sort out which villages to choose and go to given we only rented a car for 4 days, and we were going to be based in Málaga.
Read: The Essential Guide to Visiting and Driving Through Andalusia’s ‘Pueblos Blancos’
The best thing about visiting the pueblos blancos is that it's easy to base yourself anywhere if you are planning to be driving around. However, if you're not driving, it might be easier to base yourself in one of the bigger cities like Seville.
Read: The Ultimate Guide to Seville— What to Do & See in the Andalusian Capital
I knew about the famous ones like Ronda and Nerja, but I knew I wanted to go somewhere new, somewhere different.
I took a look at Google Maps, and found a lake set near the mountain range of Sierra de Grazalema, and found the town of Zahara de la Sierra.
I saw pictures of it and my heart was set.
I was going to make it out here.
There wasn't much information available online yet with other travel blogs, I probably found three or four.
Didn't matter though, I was going to plan my trip with the help of Google Maps and that was it.
On the drive through from Málaga, we spent 2 hours going through motorways and country roads, and at certain points had to share a road with a tractor.
Once we entered a long winding road that started near the lake with the town finally in sight, the drive up was absolutely stunning.
I couldn't wait to finally get to the town so I could get out of the car and start taking pictures.
We made a beeline for the viewpoint of Zahara de la Sierra, which had us driving up a narrow road that was barely wide enough to fit the car, and into a small carpark at the top. The views from up top were unparalleled.
There was a path leading up to the castle of Zahara de la Sierra as part of a hiking trail, and we made it to an open air terrace with panoramic views of the town, lake and surrounding mountain range.
After which, we had lunch at the foot of the town at Meson Oñate, a traditional Spanish restaurant serving traditionally Andalusian cuisine with a good view from the terrace. Mind, English isn't spoken here, but in return you get a restaurant that's mostly authentically traditional.
Truth be told, past the views and the castle, Zahara de la Sierra isn't a town packed with attractions, and one day is more than enough to explore and discover the small town.
If you have more time though, just outside of the town, there's a yacht club by the name of El Mogote where you can also have a meal, rent a canoe, jump into the lake and have a swim, and you'll not only get stunning views of the lake but also of Zahara de la Sierra nestled in the hills too.
There's also a municipal park called Área Recreativa Municipal la Playita which is also great for the family, where you can swim in the lake and have a picnic, and spend an easy afternoon there.
I loved Zahara de la Sierra though, and is one of my most memorable pueblos blancos experiences, followed closely by Frigiliana.
I think the biggest reason why I loved it was the sight I saw at the panoramic open air terrace, where I saw this view and it just washed me with a sense of calm.
There's not a lot to do, but that's the point.
Minutes turn to hours, and hours turn to days.
And when the views from my morning hike look like this, I don't mind a single bit.
From my trip to Spain this summer, I've turned some of my photography into my brand of everyday products which you can check out below. Worldwide shipping is available so if you're looking for a tote bag or postcard to take home to remember your travels if you too have been to these parts of Spain, and if you'd like to support this passion project of mine, look no further!
View the full product catalogue at the shop here.
