Casares Village and Esteponia

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Today we tour the quaint lovely village of Casares (it’s probably immediately apparent how much I enjoyed this tour). The ride up to it is about 40 minutes up through the Sierra Bermeja reserve, which is gorgeous countryside, and with skies full of eagles and other birds. The bus takes up a long windy road, and as we approach our destination we turn around a bend and there is a breath-taking view of the white-washed Andalusian unspoiled village of Casares, definitely a ‘Kodak moment.’ The town has windy, narrow, cobblestoned streets, that lead up from the main square near the cathedral. After our group is assembled in the main square we are told to go exploring at our own pace, so Angie and I immediately head up to the top to enjoy the wonderful views overlooking orchards and olive groves, and to see the Moorish castle ruins and the lovely little cemetery there. Chugging up the steep hill, this is what makes us grateful to be traveling at a ‘younger’ age. But the sights and views were well worth the climb.

I can only assume the reason this village is left out of most guidebooks is out of respect for one of the few wonderful spots in Spain not overrun by tourists and tourist shops.

After Casares we are taken to Esteponia to catch the last hour of the street market, well worth the visit. Angie and I bought several items and gifts here, as everything was so reasonably priced! Then we were dropped off at the beach boardwalk in Esteponia for our ‘picnic’ lunch - which was a brown bag lunch consisting of the ever popular jamon con queso sandwich, chips and an apple.

We arrived back at our hotel around 4 pm, in time for us to enjoy a bit more time by the pool.

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