Zarzalones inferior: the best canyons in the province of Málaga

Zarzalones inferior is a beautiful canyon located in the heart of the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park, just 50 minutes away from Marbella and 1 hour from Málaga city, and is one of the best opportunities to do one of the best ravines in the province of Málaga, together with Guadalmina, Buitreras or Ronda. It is very close to the white village of Yunquera and has flow throughout the entire year.

This new canyoning adventure begins at the source of the Rio Grande, a beautiful emergence that comes from a large cave also called Zarzalones where green, pure and crystalline waters sprout. From there we will follow the river bed finding on the way different jumps to pools and two rappels of 10 and 21 meters.

A 4 hours canyoning experience

If you are looking for an experience that, in terms of level, is halfway between the Guadalmina canyon (3h) and the Buitreras canyon (6h), this is the best option if you are near Marbella or Malaga, with about 4h of activity and suitable for children from 9 years old. If you are in Málaga you could choose between this and the Rio Verde canyon (4h) as both are more or less the same distance.

This coming summer (from 15 June to 15 September) we have opened a special offer of 59 euros/p every Thursday from 1 single participant in an open group (minimum open group 4 participants, máx. 8 p.). The private groups are always available every day of the year with offers that adapt to the number of participants (see in footer our rates for private groups).

 Zarzalones inferior and superior, level 3

We also have the option to make the upper and lower sections of Zarzalones (6h) if you already have some experience. The upper section has numerous rappels between 10 and 28 metres and a spectacular final rappel of 45 metres that ends in the Zarzalones cave where the lower section begins. The upper section is a dry canyon in summer and you have to wait for the rain to find it with flow, but with or without is a magnificent pitch and we recommend it.

Ask about our offers for the option of the complete sections.

More about Zarzalones trip

This ravine is commonly called Barranco de Río Grande and Zarzalones is the name that takes from the name of the birth.

The upwelling of Zarzalones is a treasure of nature. It is the largest natural siphon in all of Andalusia, still totally unexplored and with more than 2000 meters of flooded galleries. It is one of the mecca of spelobuceo at an international level.

Before getting into the water: Our meeting point is located in the town of Yunquera. To get to the final point of the car park, where we will start our route, we must drive through a meandering and somewhat complex network of lanes that give access to the orchards and terraces of the village of Yunquera. After overcoming this winding stretch, we will park our cars in the ‘San Pascual Light Factory’. We will distribute the equipment, and from there we will walk up to the Zarzalones cave, about 25 minutes of hiking.

The best season to enjoy this canyon trip

The whole year is a good time to make lower pitch of Zarzalones, it always has water flow. On some occasions after continuous rains, as in all ravines, it is not possible due to the strong flow of its waters and it is necessary to abstain for safety.

Although if you look for the optimal quantity of water this depends on the source and also on how much water the existing dam (built at the beginning of the 20th century) diverts. In spring and summer it is usually a good time for these two factors to occur. Our guides will indicate you.

If you want to do the upper section with water, you have to wait for the raining season and an expert to tell you when is the right moment. Dry canyons are also a very interesting alternative to do. In the Pyrenees it is a common practice among canyoning fans, although in Andalusia we are not so familiarize.

TUUR Canyoning