Alpandeire - Río Genal - Faraján (Valle del Genal)

There is much to admire on this walk that connects the villages of Alpandeire and Faraján: views across the Genal Valley, farms in the Vega Grande near the river, and glimpses of the terraced orchards and waterfalls of Faraján. Much of the walk is on slopes with some steep stretches on either side of a mostly level section along the valley floor. In this area, two tributaries join the Río Genal with water flowing down the Arroyo Balastar from near Faraján and water from the Arroyo Guadarín flowing in from the opposite side, defining the Vega Grande, the most extensive flat space in the Alto Genal.

On this trail we are following a small part of the route of the ultra-race ‘Gran Vuelta Valle del Genal’ (GVVG), a route that unites the 15 villages of the Genal Valley. The runners in the race itself must cover the entire course of approximately 130 kilometers including almost 6000 meters (19,685 feet) of elevation gain in 32 hours or less. The winners are even faster: they routinely complete the race in less than 16 hours.

Notes
A long-distance walk of your own making can be devised by using the track of the Gran Vuelta del Valle Genal as the base of your route, possibly staying several days in each village along the way and taking day hikes into the surrounding countryside. Because the GVVG is a circular route, you can begin and end in any village.

Walk 12 of a long-distance walk through the Serranía de Ronda
From our journal:
Today was our first day following a portion of the GVVG. It is signposted, but a GPS helps with the decision-making at trail junctions. As we walked along at a comfortable pace, I tried to imagine covering these same gradients at a running pace. What stamina the participants must have!

Possibilities for eating/sleeping
Casa Carmen, Calles Genal 10 y Roque Ayala 5, Faraján - rooms and apartments; access to a shared kitchen and living room.
Small shop in the village, open 8:30 - 1 and 5:30 - 8 - bread, milk fruit, and snacks
Restaurante Vistas al Valle, C/ Corchuelo, 9 - closed Mondays, terrace views

Resources
Vega Grande
https://docplayer.es/64550968-7-a-rroyo-balastar-el-travertino-de-farajan-ruta-84-itinerarios-por-los-paisajes-fluviales-de-malaga.html

Gran Vuelta del Valle Genal information
https://granvueltavalledelgenal.com

Gran Vuelta del Valle Genal Wikiloc track
https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-carrera-por-montana/gvvg2017-20651942

Previous day’s walk: Alpandeire - Las Alfaguaras
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/alpandeire-circular-arroyo-de-las-alfaguaras-valle-del-genal-72739861

Next day’s walk: Faraján - Chorreras de Balastar
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/farajan-chorreras-de-balastar-valle-del-genal-72926576

Link to journal
http://hiking.topicwise.com/doc/GenalValley