Peak of la Concha (Pico de la Concha), Marbella (Unique Site)
Recommended month to visit it: October.
In the foothill of the Sierra de las Nieves that leans over the Mediterranean, at a few kilometres from the city of Marbella, a small mountainous barrier in the shape of a shell, La Concha [Shell in Spanish], stands out like a sharp giant amidst the flat and smooth shapes of the coast.
The Peak of la Concha is consequently an exceptional and unique overlook, from where
one can follow the life of Marbella from the heights and reach the coasts of Morocco. On the other side, the Peak shows us the intricate succession of valleys and mountains that spread out towards the interior. La Concha, belong to Sierra Blanca [White Mountain Range], called like that because of the colour of the limestone and the lack of vegetation.
However, one can observe vast forests of chestnut trees, cherry trees, Spanish firs, olive trees and different types of pines.
Coordinates:
- Parking: 331384 / 4049583
- Peak of la Concha: 327600 / 4046752
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The Sierra Blanca is a mountain range on the coast, between Costa del Sol and the Sierra de las Nieves, and the Municipalities Istán, Ojén, Marbella and Monda. It is named after the lack of vegetation on its grey rocks.
Concha Peak is 1, 215 metres above sea level and it got its name due to its shape that resembles a shell when it is looked at from the west. Its vegetation includes chestnut, cherry, fern, olive, small replanted Spanish fir, Aleppo pine, insignis or radiata pine, and maritime pine trees.
Animals you can find here are golden eagles, Bonelli’s eagles, snakes, goshawks, peregrine falcons, griffon vulture, genets, badgers, wild goats, roe deers, beech or stone martens, foxes, wild boars and rabbits.
The views over the Costa del Sol, its beaches, and close towns from the peak are exceptional. On sunny days with the west wind, you can as well see Giblartar, Africa’s coast and the Atlas Mountains.
A very steep southern slope of Concha Peak stretches down to the sea and Marbella Town with a drop of more than thousand metres. You can admire rocks and sunshades, sunny sky, and the lordly, distant, powerful and gorgeous peak that rises up so high.
The route we suggest includes thirteen and a half kilometres of path that goes from Refugio de Juanar (Juanar Shelter) to Concha Peak. It spreads among hillocks and mounts of the Sierra Blanca (the Blanca Mountains), the Salto de Lobo (Wolf’s Jump Peak) or Lastonar Hill until you reach Concha Peak.
There can be seen a famous Cruz de Juanar (Juanar cross), just in front of a small chapel in honour of Virgen del Carmen (Our Lady of Carmen), patroness of sailors. It is said that some sailors were coming back to the coast after fishing, but a storm made their compass useless and they could neither see well their way to the port. So they started to pray to the Lady of Carmen to ask her for help. This is when a peak appeared out of nothing and they were able to find their way back home and save their lives. This is why sailors decided to make an iron cross from the wreckage of their ship and honour this divine sea rescue.
Finally, this peak is an exceptional natural viewpoint in the centre of the Costa del Sol.
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