• Protected Area: not included
• Watershed: Mediterranean Catchment Area
• Main Watercourse:  Río Padrón
• Municipality: Estepona
• Coordinates: x: 307977 / y: 4039096 / z: 112 m
• Location: convoluted
• Access: convenient
• Swimming Potential: low.

How to Get There

From the A-7 (Autovía del Mediterráneo, or Mediterranean Dual Carriageway), not to be confused with the AP-7 (the toll-pay motorway), take exit 160 towards the Costa del Sol Riding School [Escuela de Arte Ecuestre]. On reaching the roundabout, turn left and cross a bridge placing you on the right-hand side, next to the river Padrón. Now drive north driving under the AP-7 flyover. The next landmark is the Forest Hill residential estate, the entrance to which is on the right. After 6 km the road becomes a dirt track and it branches off down to the riverbank. A few metres further on from this junction, there is a flat area where you can park. Walk down the track leading to the Padrón River and up the river to find this hidden pool.

Interesting Facts

As indicated, there are almost 300 m from the ford to the pool, which is reached along the riverbed. The water is no higher than chest height at anywhere along this stretch, and if agile enough, it is possible to make your way jumping from rock to rock without getting wet. The pool is guarded by high rocks either side through which the water flows. The place is extraordinarily beautiful and the pool appears to be dark green in colour. If you follow the riverbed upstream for around 500 m, you will reach the Marmitas del Padrón cauldrons, of white highly polished limestone. From here to the dirt track on which you parked, it is only slightly more than a one minute walk up to the track. Once on the track, just stroll down the road for a little over a kilometre.

Please Note

The pool is of an average size and only deeper than an adult in its centre. The easily accessible rocks either side may tempt you to leap into the water from them, but make sure there are no rocks you might hit in the bottom of the pool first. The edge is very stony and does not provide anywhere comfortable to linger, although the narrow valley and the surrounding slopes do provide shade in some places.