Description
The route is named after the Arab geographer Al Idrisi and connects Algeciras with Granada. The main part of the itinerary follows the coastline from the Straits of Gibraltar and Motril, before it turns north passing the  Lecrín valley and ends close to the Sierra Nevada summits in Granada. Excursions to the natural parks Los Alcornocales and Montes de Málaga, Sierra Nevada with its southern part, the Alpujarra.

Itinerary
From Algeciras along the coast until Motril. Then it continues to the north until Granada. Between Estepona and Málaga there is a motorway.

Time needed
at least 1-2 days

Distance
approx. 330 Km / 205 Miles

Best travel season
The coast can be visited all over the year thanks to its mild climate. Watersports from May to September. The medium high mountain levels are best from Spring to late Autumn. In the higher mountain ranges of the Sierra Nevada mountains skiing is possible from December until April and even until the beginning of May.

Landscape and protected areas
the itinerary is mainly dominated by the Mediterranean Sea and the Costa del Sol and Costa Tropical beaches. In the northeast of Málaga lies the Axarquia region with many beautiful villages and the natural park Montes de Málaga. Between Motril and Granada the visitor passes the Betico Mountains with the Alpujarra and the Sierra Nevada in the east, respectively the Sierra de Guajares and the Lecrín valley in the west.

The described protected areas lie all a few miles away and can be visited separately.

Parque Natural de los Alcornocales
Territory of 170.025 hectares with 15 villages. Belong to the provinces of Málaga and Cádiz. As seen in its name, the main growing tree is the cork oak.

Parque Natural Montes de Málaga
Wooded hills and valleys on a small territory of just 4.760 hectares. The climate is mild but humid. Thanks to its pine woods it preserves the city of Málaga against inundations.

Parque Nacional Sierra Nevada
Declared as a National Park in 1999 it unites on its 86,200 hectares various types of landscape such as lagoons, glaciers and the two highest mountains of the Spanish peninsula, the Mulhacén (3.482 m) and the Veleta (3.392 m).

Tourist information

Accommodation

Many hotels and hostelries along the route, especially on the Costa del Sol between Estepona and Málaga. Also many apartment houses and camping sites.

Activities

Feasts/Festivals

Patron Saint Feasts / Ferias

almost each town celebrates its own patron saint, a procession and/or its "feria" (fair).

Pilgrimages - "Romerías"

Others

Algeciras (Miles 0; 116,210 Inhabitants)
Port town; Entrance place of the Moorish in the year 711. Plaza Alta close to the San Isidro quarter; Church Nuestra Señora de la Palma
Excursion: Natural park Los Alcornocales (turn off at Los Barrios)

San Roque (Miles 9; 29,250 Inhabitants)
famous for its golf courses. Roman remains; Church Santa María Coronada
Excursion: Gibraltar (approx. 10 miles)

Estepona (Miles 40; 65,600 Inhabitants)
Marina port town on the feet of the Sierra Bermeja. Plaza de las Flores; Remains of a castle; Church Nuestra Señora de los Remedios

San Pedro de Alcántara (Miles 51;
33,670 Inhabitants)
Basilica de Vega del Mar (6th century); outside the village: Villa Romana de Rio Verde (Roman remains)

Marbella (Miles 60; 134,620 Inhabitants)
International centre of tourism.  Historical old part of the town; Plaza de los Naranjos; Casa del Corregidor; Hermitage Nuestro Señor Santiago; Church Santa María de la Encarnación;
3 Miles west: Marina "Puerto Banús"

Fuengirola (Miles 79; 71,480 Inhabitants)
Tourist place with a 5 miles long beach walk. Santa Fé de los Boliches quarter (archaeological remains) with the Sohai castle in its back

Málaga (Miles 99; 568,300 Inhabitants)
Birth place of Pablo Picasso and main Andalusian airport for tourism. Among other things are worth seeing: Cathedral and the Alcazaba (fortification)

Nerja (Miles 132; 21,800 Inhabitants)
beautiful small town. View point: Balcón de Europa; Old part of the town with the Salvador church

Maro (Miles 135) 2,5 miles east of Nerja
with the important cave "Cueva de Nerja"

Almuñecar (Miles 146; 27,700 Inhabitants)
village located on the feet of the Sierra Almijara mountains. Roman Arab fortress San Miguel; Archaeological museum; Botanic garden El Majuelo

Salobreña (Miles 155; 12,750 Inhabitants)
Seaside village located amidst sugar cane and fruit fields. Restored castle; historical centre of the town; Virgen del Rosario church.

Motril (Miles 162; 60,280 Inhabitants)
Main town of the Costa Tropical and centre of the sugar cane production. Town hall in Baroque style; Churches de la Encarnación, del Carmen

The route continues passing some smaller settlements

Vélez de Benaudalla (Miles 170;
2,970 Inhabitants)
Small castle

Mondújar (Miles 181; 675 Inhabitants)
Roman baths "de la Villa de Feche";
Excursion to the water reservoir "Embalse de Béznar"

Padul (Miles 190; 8,440 Inhabitants)
A spring called los cinco caños

Granada (Miles 205; 234,320 Inhabitants)
Capital of the last Moorish kingdom and final stronghold: Al-Andalus. Fantastic view of the Alhambra with the snow covered Sierra Nevada mountains in the background.

What may be visited after or before these plans:

- Route of the Caliphate to Córdoba
- Excursions to the Alpujarra mountains
- Sierra Nevada
- Guadix and Almería
- Jaén and Cazorla