Casares

Why visit Casares

Casares is one of the most photogenic white villages in Andalucía, its houses stacked on a steep hillside below the ruins of a Moorish castle, with the Sierra Crestellina behind and views down to the sea. It was the birthplace of Blas Infante, regarded as the father of Andalusian nationalism. Though only 15 km from the coast, the village feels far from the resorts, while its municipality also reaches the sea with beaches and golf courses. Casares suits photographers, walkers, golfers and anyone combining beach days with village life.

What to see and do in Casares

Climb to the castle and the church of La Encarnación at the top of the village for wide views to the Mediterranean and, on clear days, Gibraltar and Africa. Blas Infante's birthplace is now a museum, and the lanes around the main square are lined with flowerpots. The Sierra Crestellina natural area has walking trails and colonies of griffon vultures, and the sulphur spring of the Baños de la Hedionda, used since Roman times, lies near the coast. On the seaside, Playa Ancha is a wide, quiet beach, and golfers have Finca Cortesín, Doña Julia and Casares Costa Golf. There is also mini golf near the coast.

A day in Casares

Arrive in the morning, park at the edge of the village and walk up through the lanes to the castle and the church of La Encarnación for the views. Visit Blas Infante's birthplace on the way down, then have lunch in a bar on the main square. In the afternoon, walk a short stretch of the Sierra Crestellina trails to watch the vultures, or drive down to Playa Ancha for a swim. Golfers can spend the afternoon at Finca Cortesín or Doña Julia instead.

Food and local life

Village bars serve sopa de tomate, game and kid stews, and local goat's cheese, while the coast offers fried fish and espetos. Look for sweet pastries made for local fiestas.

Around Casares

Casares is in the Costa del Sol comarca, though it feels closer to the mountain villages of the Serranía de Ronda. Gaucín and the Genal valley villages are about 30 minutes inland, Manilva and Estepona are on the coast below, and Gibraltar and Sotogrande are 30 minutes away. The surrounding hills are part of the Sierra Crestellina natural area and its walking trails.

See every town and village on the Costa del Sol page.

Getting there and around

Casares is in the Costa del Sol comarca, about 1 hour 15 minutes from Málaga airport and 40 minutes from Gibraltar by car. The road up to the village is winding; park at the entrance and walk in. Buses link the village with Estepona. Spring and autumn are best for walking.