The most popular and safest starting point for the La Concha hike from Marbella is the Refugio de Juanar, in the village of Ojén. It is a 15-20 minute drive from Marbella via the A-355 road — the standard access for day trips to La Concha from the coast.
From Marbella: Take the A-355 towards Ojén. Once through the village, look for a left turn signposted "Refugio de Juanar". Follow that winding road to the end — the car park is the gravel and tarmac area just before the gate marking the start of the trails.
This is where most visitors go wrong. If you are coming on a sunny Saturday or Sunday — especially between March and October — here is exactly what you will find:
No problem. You park right at the gate. You start the hike rested and in ideal temperatures.
Caution. You will likely have to park on the roadside, adding 1-2 km of uphill walking before you even reach the trailhead.
Chaos. Cars manoeuvring on a narrow road, stress before you have even started, and it is already 11am with the heat building. Do not be that person.
If you are hiking in summer, arrive at dawn. Not just for the parking, but because by midday the heat on the ridge can be brutal — and there is no shade or water on the entire route. You will be grateful for the close parking twice: when you set off and when you return on tired legs.
No pay machines, no attendants, no ticket. If anyone asks you to pay to park at Refugio de Juanar, do not pay them — it is not official.
The gravel section can get quite uneven after rain. If you are driving a low-clearance car, take it slow in the last 200 metres of access road.
There are no petrol stations or shops once you leave Ojén. Make sure you have enough fuel and — critically — bring water bought in Marbella or Ojén. There are no water sources on the trail, and the Refugio itself may be closed when you arrive.
There is almost no mobile signal from the car park to the summit. If you are using GPS on your phone, download the track offline before you leave the car. Once inside Sierra Blanca, no internet.
Getting the car sorted is just 5% of the job. Beyond the gate, you enter Sierra Blanca: limestone terrain, confusing junctions, and a mountain where fog can roll in within 15 minutes.
I have seen too many people get lost or have a bad time simply because they did not know where the real trail to the summit starts, or what to do when they reach the famous Salto del Lobo and the Paso de Las Cadenas. That is why I have put my +15 years of experience and my Mountain Sports Technician training into a digital guide you can carry on your phone — including the GPX track, which works without internet.
Offline GPX track, photos of every junction, technical sections explained and safety advice. Everything you need from the car park to the summit — and back down.
Offline GPX track + photos of every junction · Works without internet
Have a question about access or parking? contact me here
FREE FOR A LIMITED TIME!
Complete PDF + GPX Track · Instant download
