Sierra of Aracena Tour

Journey into the remote backcountry of Andalusia and discover the stunning Sierra de Aracena. This little-known mountain range is packed with forests, lakes, rivers and trails. It is also home to dozens of rustic villages full of unexpected treasures and – many would argue – the best cured meats in the world. We will whisk you away from the metropolis of Seville into the wilds for an unforgettable taste of what Spaniards call la Andalucía profunda.

Your adventure begins as we meander through the meadows of the mountains straddling northern Seville and Huelva. Continue through landscapes of red earth and olive groves until reaching the whitewashed pueblo of Aracena to visit the castle and caves.

The tour heads to the Arias Montano peak, to learn about Andalusia’s Mediterranean forests. Pause for lunch to savour local cuisine and feast on Iberian cured ham or chorizo. After lunch, see one of Spain’s few surviving Moorish-era mosques at Almonaster la Real as well as the world-famous Rio Tinto mines and chestnut forests.

There are a number of possible activities during the route, including an interpretative hike of between one and six hours (depending on fitness and ages) or of castles in the area. There’s also an ethnographic visit, an Iberian ham museum, a flour mill and cheese and chorizo factories. Ecotourism activities include routes themed on mycology (mushrooms), ornithology (birds), geology and botany. There are also craft workshops about essences, cheese, dressings and preserves.

Optional extras (not included in the price) include a 90-minute horseback tour, stays in rural accommodation, kayaking and bike tours.