Hiking La Concha in Marbella: winter routes to the summit

You can see it from almost anywhere in Marbella or Puerto Banús: the pale grey, shell-shaped mountain towering over the coast. That is La Concha, in the Sierra Blanca range, and hiking to its summit is one of the most popular outdoor plans on the Costa del Sol. Autumn and winter are the best time to do it: the official trail sheet recommends every season except summer. Here are the two waymarked routes, what to expect and how to prepare.

La Concha and Sierra Blanca at a glance

According to Marbella Town Hall, Sierra Blanca is a small massif between Istán, Ojén and Marbella, known for its whitish-grey rock and the silhouette of La Concha. Its best-known peaks are La Concha (1,215 m), Cerro Lastonar (1,275 m), the highest point of the range, and Pico del Juanar, better known as the Cruz de Juanar. The range is part of the EU Natura 2000 network as a Site of Community Importance.

Route 1: from Refugio de Juanar (PR-A 168)

This is the classic option. It starts near the Refugio de Juanar, in the municipality of Ojén, and the official sheet from the Andalusian Mountaineering Federation gives it 5.5 km one way, about 3 hours and 577 m of ascent. You return the same way, so plan for roughly 11–13 km in total and most of the day.

Marbella Tourism describes the route: a track to the Juanar farmhouse, a pine wood, a climb to the Puerto de las Allanás pass (where the path to the Cruz de Juanar branches off) and then the Sierra Blanca ridge heading west. There is one tricky section, the Salto del Lobo, to be crossed with care, and the final stretch to the summit is, in the same guide’s words, “the most beautiful part of the route”, with the coast and La Concepción reservoir below you.

Route 2: from Istán (PR-A 135)

The alternative starts in the village of Istán, just above the Altos de Istán hotel, and climbs the western slope through a series of passes until it joins the Juanar route about 15 minutes from the top. It is also about 5.5 km one way but steeper (around 845 m of climbing), and the path is faint in places: Marbella Town Hall rates it as difficult and the Western Costa del Sol hiking guide recommends it only for experienced walkers. Allow around six hours there and back.

Tips for an autumn or winter hike

• Carry plenty of water: Club de Escalada de Marbella warns there is no water anywhere on the route at any time of year and suggests 2–3 litres.
• Start early: winter days are short and the hike is long; aim to finish in daylight.
• Check the weather: cloud on the ridge hides landmarks and views. Pick a clear day.
• Hiking boots and a GPS track: there are rocky steps and sections where the path fades.
• Want something shorter? The Cruz de Juanar, reached from the same Puerto de las Allanás pass, is a closer summit with views over Marbella.

From the mountains to the sea

Coming down from Sierra Blanca and ending the day by the yachts is a great contrast. Pizzería Picasso is on Muelle Ribera in Puerto Banús, with a terrace by the harbour: a pizza or a plate of pasta after the hike goes down very well. Please note the restaurant will be closed from 9 to 27 November 2026 for maintenance work; you can visit us again from the end of November, right as the best hiking season for La Concha gets going.

Still got energy for another day? Try the flat seafront walk from Marbella to Puerto Banús.

Cover photo: “Dawning sun on La Concha, Marbella, Spain” by Forbes Johnston, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY 2.0 (cropped).