At María Zambrano Avenue, go down a slope to a broad clearing before a wide riverbed of the Borge River, which only has water when it rains. Both riversides have rather familiar species, such as vine and almond trees. This kind of watercourse and farmland that gets to the riverbanks prevent the vegetation from growing, although some species such as the giant reed (Arundo donaax), which has been growing here for ages and come from Asia, take advantage of the wet phreatic stratum and holds to it. These reeds are certainly home to some wild animals. The oleander and Genista umbellata are less common.

Having gone past El Borge, you will see behind its bell tower and roofs in the distance, and start discerning Almáchar, the next village in front of you on a flatten hill that looks over the fork of the Borge and Almáchar rivers. You will not miss tropical fruit trees along the way, which grow on the terraces on the hillsides, where used to be grown olive groves and pomegranate trees. Some of them can still be seen scattered around on barren land, which only gets a bit coloured by sorrels and poppies in spring.

There is a four windows aqueduct which connects to Almáchar at the bottom, and the road that goes towards Benamocarra behind it. Follow a wide riverbed, along some open meanders, which are products of a strong water flow when it rains heavily. You will go past some horse ranches and interesting wells with potable water. Houses from the centre of Almáchar are above us, overlooking the cliff, which they almost lean over. Thick walls that protect the farmland from the river also stand out. These defence walls look very old, considering the way they are built and the materials which were used for it - pebbles from the river, displayed in more or less rounded layers.  The walls that had been demolished were mended with concrete blocks, which are much more effective.

When you get to the confluence of two rivers, turn right alongside the Almáchar River. A sewage-treatment plant is placed there. A bit further on, there is a very nice fountain called Nariza, surrounded by the golden chalice vine (Solandra máxima), a plant from Central America which is common in the gardens of La Axarquía. A drinking trough for cattle next to the spring is in perfect condition. This place must have been commonly visited by muleteers and travellers. In this shady area, there are plenty of plants growing, such as the oleander, wall-rocket or Diplotaxis, garden anchusa (Anchusa azurea), field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), poppy, fennel, and the castor bean (Ricinus communis), a wooden bush introduced from Africa with spherical fruit covered in prickles.

At this point, you have covered 2.8 km (1.7 mi) and you need to walk 8.8 km (5.5 mi) more to get to Moclinejo. Although the 242 long-distance trail does not go to next village, we encourage you to visit it. Almáchar is one of the most jumbled villages in La Axarquía. Narrow steep streets in Cabras neighbourhood are rather interesting. St Matthew’s Church and the Raisin Museum are other important cultural heritage sites. 

You will then go back to the path between some horse stables. Right after, go along Josefa Gámez Lozano Avenue while the river is on your right side. From this lowest part of the village many routes offered by the Town of Almáchar can be taken like Mena, Lomas de Cútar, Cerro Vallejo, Fuentes Las Pozuelas and Acebuchar Hill. When you get to the bridge that goes over the river, you will also see a board which marks the beginning of the A - 65 local path from Almáchar to Patarra Hill. You will come across some of the sections of this trail a bit further on. Forfe Fountain is under the bridge, slightly hidden. It had been placed on the hillside but had to be moved few years ago due to the renovation of that place. Some 300 metres upstream, there is another spring called Pozuelas.

Go across the bridge and follow a concrete way for a short time until you see a trail which overlaps Cuesta de Olivar Path. The path goes between slate hills but it does not climb. However, the view of Maroma Peak and the village of Almárchar, surrounded by the hills of Acebuchada, El Pendón and Punta Europa [Europe Point] is stunning. The scenery is beautiful, above all in spring, when this dry way gets a purple layer made of the aromatic Spanish lavender and the marvel of Peru. This idyllic section ends by connecting with a lane that is a kind of natural ‘balcony’, surrounded by olive trees, brooms, and carob trees, visited by the song thrush.

You are getting closer to the highest section of the third stage of the 242 long-distance path at an average altitude of 500 metres above sea level, where you can enjoy a wonderful view in all directions. Comares is one of the outstanding landmarks in the area, as well as the wide Baetic System with Chamizo Mountain (1642 m / 5387 ft) and the limestone range Arco Calizo Central, which stands out from the rest of the mountains. El Borge, Alcaucín, Canillas de Aceituno villages can also be seen, sheltered by Maroma Peak (2,065 m / 6,775 ft); stunning shape of Lucero (1,774 m / 5,820 ft), Cisne (1,479 m / 4852 ft) and Navachica (1,831 m / 6,007 ft), the highest peak in the Sierra Almijara. There are 7.1 km (round 4.4 mi) more to Moclinejo.

This is the heart of La Axarquía. Vineyards cover the eastern and western mountainsides along the trail. In a broader area, you can also see mild hills with varied woody plants and scattered white houses with their raisin farms, which are more common at the top of the hillocks between rivers. To the west, the road MA-3114 from Álmáchar to Moclinejo can be discerned behind a long pine grove.  Wide Vélez Valley, which stretch eastwards, shows another side of La Axarquía, where the combination of moderate elevations of the Vélez Mountains, Benamocarra village and the mountains in the Tejeda, Almihara and Alhama Natural Park, all together, make an extraordinary landscape. The scenery becomes even more beautiful further on when you get to see the wide blue Mediterranean Sea in the distance.

Having left behind the way that goes to Benaque and Macharaviaya, you will get to Acebuchar Hill. Leave the main way that matches the Cuesta de Olivar Path 1.1 kilometre after the above place and before coming to Vallejo Hill and continue walking along another smaller way which goes around the beginning of the Huerto Alarcón Valley. One can see plenty of butterflies along this new stage when the weather is good. The most common is the beautiful Papilio machaon, whose host plants are: the fennel, rue and wild carrot, which grow beside the paths close to brooms, asparagus plants, rock roses, hairy thorny brooms and small holm oaks.

Go around Vallejos Village (part of the Town of Macharaviaya) so you can see behind you its white houses and continue walking along a tarmac road which turns into another similar track that comes across Antequera Way. At the crossroads, you will see a sign that shows the way to a viewpoint placed on Vallejo Hill, at the junction with Cuesta del Olivar Path, which overlaps Salvador Rueda’s route. Having seen these trails, go across the way to an old holm oak where the 242 Long-distance Path’s sign is to say that there are 2.7 km (1.7 mi) left to Moclinejo. Actually, you will be able to see the village in the distance on one of the sides of Pedras Blancas Hill.

Then go down a steep slope in a complicated basin of the Valdés River. This river is named Benagalbón when it enters this small town, and it is called the same all along its way to the Mediterranean. While walking, you will probably see large ponds, and that there are no vineyards. Instead, you will spot many almond, olive and mango trees. The latter ones have recently been planted in the area. You will surely notice that the ground is covered in prickly pears, sweet fruit, which also make the road harder. Noteworthy caper bushes with beautiful flowers and visited by rabbits, which leave plenty of traces, outline this precious rural ecosystem.

Once you have forded the Cantoblanco Stream, which usually has low flow, walk along the final section by the Serrana Way, which overlaps the routes of Sandoval and Cantoblanco made by the Town of Moclinejo. There are ruins of a farmstead beside the road with an olive tree inside of it. There are many dogs whose barking you will hear from Reyes animal shelter, which can be accessed on the right. The last landmark before Moclinejo is Pilas Fountain, where you can drink some water, though you have to try not to disturb wasps around it.