Itinerary
Medium difficulty stage, which covers 11.0 km between the municipalities of El Borge and Moclinejo. The route will take about 4 and a half hours, given that the profile of the path has a net unevenness of 1481 meters.
Summary
El Borge and Almáchar are two nearby villages, which you will walk between from west to east, along a natural passageway created by the Borge River. The fork made by this river and the Almáchar River is dominated by a flatten hill with steep slopes, except in the south where the village of Almáchar is. At the confluence of the above two rivers, the 242 long-distance path turns southwards into the corridor of the Almáchar River and a natural border of the village Almáchar in the east. You have been walking alongside two rivers from the beginning to the bridge over the Almáchar, which changes once you start walking along Cuesta del Olivar Path, which leads to the highest point of the trail. The rhythm of the walk is now influenced by a mountain range, so you will be walking between the hills of the mountains of Patarra (495m / 1624ft), Acebuchar (534m / 1752ft) and Vallejo (500m / 1640ft), Macharaviaya small hamlet between the Montes ways and Antequera. You will then approach the headwaters of the Valdés with the views of Moclinejo. Go down to Cantoblanco Valley and to the end of the stage.
The best
The essence of this stage is the same as in the case of the previous stages. There is flood hazard when it rains at the part of the trail between El Borge and Almáchar. You should be careful when walking along the farm tracks where four-wheel drive vehicles and tractors pass by. There are no points where you can get water, except at Nariza Fountain in Almáchar and in villages that the 242 long-distance path goes through. You must look after the vineyards and must not collect grapes, avocados or mangos beside the trail. Some parts of the trail are steep slopes which can be upwards or downwards, and you will have to use your hiking stick or trekking poles. This is the best stage of the 242 Long-distance Path for practising the use of topographic maps, as there are stunning views in varied places of La Axarquía, a limestone mountain range called Arco Calizo Central, Málaga Mountains, the Mediterranean Coast and the peaks of the Sierra de Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama Natural Parks. The trail matches A - 65 local path at the beginning. Before it gets to Moclinejo, it joins Sandoval and Cantoblanco path which belongs to these villages.
