Hiking the La Concha mountain was one of the things that stood out for me when I moved to Marbella. It’s always in the background when you walk around the beach, streets or when you are sitting on a terrace, so I just had to do it! With a couple of wines at a Saturday night dinner we start talking about climbing La Concha. We were very enthusiastic about the idea and plan of climbing it until I heard a knock on my door at 7 o clock in the morning and my friends took me out of my bed. At the end, it was definitely worth it.
You simply can’t get a better view of the Costa del Sol than from the top of this mountain. On a clear day, you see a clear silhouette of the Rock of Gibraltar and the mountains of North Africa. The name La Concha means “shell” in the Spanish language, thanks to the shape of the mountain that looks kind of similar to a shell. The mountain is the highest point in the whole of the Marbella region at around 1,200 metres above sea level.
If you want to climb it for yourself you have two main routes that lead to the top of La Concha. The first is from Istán. Although this route is shorter in distance, it is also much steeper and requiring much more skill and effort than the second route that runs from the El Refugio de Juanar.
That’s the one that I took and the one I can recommend. The walk is not really difficult, but still some adventurous paths! You should also keep in mind that the Andalusian climate is very warm and dry in the summer period. That’s why I went at the beginning of December. Yes, it was cold at the top and a good strong wind but that’s about it. You can simply dress warmer but bear in mind that you still need to take a lot of water, sun cream and a charged phone to call for emergency or take a selfie at the top!
“I think everyone should try this challenge even if you are not sporty or a hiker like me. It’s a nice activity to do with your friends or family and rewarding in the end.”