Hiking La Ruta de Los Cahorros de Monachil in Spain’s Sierra Nevada

Where to Stay Near Los Cahorros

The best option is to stay in Granada, which is only a 20-min drive from the starting point of the hike. You’ll have plenty of accommodation options for all budgets, so find below 2 recommendations in Granada, and one in Monachil in case that works better in your schedule.

✅ Best Hotel – Smart Suites Albaicin: Located in the iconic district of Albacin, this place is the best value-for-money hotel in Granada. Modern and spacious, the suites are very comfy, and some offer incredible views. Rated 9.2 on Booking, you can’t go wrong with this place!

✨ Luxury Pick – Seda Club Hotel: Right in the heart of Granada, this 5-star hotel goes beyond what you can imagine. Decorated with an Andalusian style, you’ll love the balconies and gardens typical of Grenada. Not to mention the amazing spa and patio swimming pool.

📍 Best Pick in Monachil – Apartamento Peñas Blancas: this apartment is located only a 3-min walk from the hike starting point and offers everything you could need for a comfy stay. It’s modern and beautifully decorated.

Where is Los Cahorros de Monachil & What to Expect

Los Cahorros is located in the town of Monachil, in the heat of the Sierra Nevada National Park in Andalusia, southern Spain. It’s about 15 kilometers (9 miles) south of Granada.

La Ruta de Cahorros de Monachil is a beautiful hike involving suspension bridges, a superb cave, amazing views, and waterfalls.

On this hike, you’ll discover the stunning beauty of the Sierra Nevada, with its wild flora and fauna. You’ll start at lower elevations and follow the river through the gorge, eventually climbing higher to enjoy breathtaking views of the entire valley.

Looking for another amazing day trip to do from Granada? Discover the stunning Guadix!

How to Get to Los Cahorros de Monachil?

Find below all you need to reach the La Ruta de Los Cahorros starting point, with parking and public transport info.

🚗 By Car – The Best Option

I recommend using the parking lot as a destination on your GPS: write “Parking Público Los Cahorros” on your GPS and you will quickly find it.

It’s free and only 5 min walk from the hike starting point.

Los Cahorros is served by route A-4028 you can access through routes A-44 when coming from the south, or GR-30 when coming from the north.

• From Granada – 25-min drive: Take the GR-30, the A-395, and then the A-4028 to the destination.
• From Malaga – 1h35 drive: Take the A-45, then the A-92, the A-395 and the A-4028 to the destination.
• From Almeria – 1h50 drive: Take the A-7, then the A-44, the A-395 and the A-4028 to the destination.

I recommend renting a car in Spain through Discover Cars for their unbeatable rates and great service. Rent your car here.

🚌 By Bus

You can take the bus line 183 from Paseo de los Bastillos V in Granada city center and get off at Plaza Miraflores, the terminus station. The entire trip to the hike’s starting point takes about 40 minutes.

This bus runs daily from 6:45 am to 10:40 pm, with departures every hour so make sure to plan ahead so you don’t miss it! You can check the bus timetable here.

If you don’t have a car, I recommend taking a guided tour for the smoothest and most complete experience. Here’s the best tour: Los Cahorros de Monachil Canyon Hiking Tour

Los Cahorros de Monachil Hike Details

Los Cahorros de Monachil hike is moderate, starting off relatively flat but gaining some elevation towards the end. The path is really clear so you’ll find your way easily.

There are 4 suspension bridges to cross along the way. They’re very easy and safe, but some are quite high, I wouldn’t recommend this hike if you’re afraid of heights.

In the gorges, some tricky but fun sections where you’ll need to crawl or scramble to get through. It’s manageable unless you have mobility or flexibility issues.

We had a blast on this hike, even though we made a poor choice for our return route after the last bridge.

We decided to walk the circular route, so we kept climbing the Cahorros Altos, which I wouldn’t recommend. There’s nothing special about this route except for a very challenging elevation gain that will wear you out.

Instead, I’d suggest either turning back after the last bridge and retracing your steps, or following the river to the Bridge of the Chorreras.

Los Cahorros de Monachil

Moderate

2-3 hours    8 km / 4.9 miles

403m / 1,322ft    403m / 1,322ft

View Hike

Hike distance: The distance is about 8 kilometers/4.9 miles in total.

Hike duration: We took about 3 hours to do the hike as we decided to walk the circular path through the Cahorros Altos. Count 4 hours if you’re with kids or if you’re cardio isn’t good. If you choose to make the return trip after the last bridge, then count about 2,5 hours.

Hike elevation: On the return trip option, the elevation is very slight so it’s very easy. If you choose the circular path, then the elevation is important and difficult in the section right after the last bridge.

Hike difficulty: The hiking trail is well-maintained and signed, easy to follow. The first part of the hike to the last bridge is easy, although there are some sections where you’ll need to crawl. On the other hand, the second part after the last bridge is difficult so I prefer doing the return trip if you can’t handle high ascendings and descendings.

Hiking La Ruta de Los Cahorros de Monachil

On the third day of our Andalusian road trip, Nesrine (my wife) and I decided to hike Los Cahorros. We did this right after visiting the coastal town of Nerja and before heading to Granada.

As usual, we set out early in the morning to avoid the scorching sun. After an hour’s drive, we arrived at the trailhead around 9:30 am.

We parked at Parking Público Los Cahorros and walked about 5 minutes towards the Ruta Senderista los Cahorros de Monachil until we saw the following sign and started the hike from there.

The trail starts behind the sign, following a beautiful small path along the riverbed, which was flowing freely in May.

The trail is easy to follow, though you’ll need to step over some tree branches. The path can be a bit muddy and slippery due to the river’s humidity, so watch your step.

You’ll come to the first red suspension bridge, which is great fun to cross.

As you continue, you’ll find yourself deep in the Sierra Nevada, surrounded by mountain cliffs and lush vegetation.

Another suspension bridge awaits to continue the hike.

After crossing this second suspension bridge, you’ll see a sign pointing to a viewpoint on the left.

I highly recommend taking the short, 10-minute detour: it’s a flat trail and the views are definitely worth it.

After enjoying the viewpoint, return to the main trail, which quickly leads to the third suspension bridge, the longest and most impressive of the hike.

If you’re not afraid of heights, you’re in for a treat! The bridge spans the river and offers a stunning view of a waterfall below.

Crossing this bridge takes you into the gorge, where the path narrows significantly.

You’ll need to navigate some tricky sections where you might have to crawl a bit to avoid falling into the river. It’s a fun, adventurous part of the hike, but be prepared to get your hands dirty.

After about 10 minutes in the gorge, you’ll reach the fourth suspension bridge.

Here, you have 3 options:

1. Continue on the trail, which is what we did. We regretted it because there’s nothing special to see, and the trail gets much tougher. This route eventually leads back to the center of Monachil.
2. Turn around and retrace your steps to the starting point.
3. Follow the river to the Bridge of the Chorreras.

View from the Cahorros Altos on the circular route

What to Pack

For this hike, I recommend having basic hiking gear and some necessary items:

• Good sturdy hiking shoes are a must. No sandals or flip-flops!
• Prefer long pants over shorts to avoid sunburns, scratches from branches, and gorges’ walls.
• Wear a hat as there are several sections with no shade at all. The sun is no joke in Andalusia so don’t even think of the outdoors without one.
• Take sunscreen with you for the same reason as the one above.
• There’s nothing on the trail, no fountain or anything so make sure to have enough water and something to snack on.

I think you’ll be good with these items. If you’re with kids, you should take a first aid kit with you just in case. 

If you want some gear recommendations, check this guide: The Complete Hiking Gear List (free checklist included).

🔍 Read more:

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• Best Things to Do in Ronda
• Hiking Spain’s Gorafe Desert
• Hiking El Torcal de Antequera
• Hiking La Garganta Verde

I hope you enjoy your hike; if you have any questions, let me know in the comments below!

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