Júzcar - Cartajima - PR-A 224 (Valle del Genal)

The PR-A 224 is a wide, pleasant track the entire way, easy to follow with no difficult parts. It gives great views of Los Riscos de Cartajima, the precipitous limestone karst formations between Júzcar and Cartajima.

After leaving the outskirts of Júzcar, the path goes through a chestnut grove and a centenary gall oak forest on the way to the Arroyo Blanco ravine. The track then climbs to the height of Cartajima, passing vineyards and huertas.

With an elevation of 846 meters (2775 feet), Cartajima is not only the highest village of the seven villages in the Alto Genal, it is also one of the highest villages in the province of Malaga. In the time before the Reconquest, there were several small settlements here populated by a mixture of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. After the expulsion of the Jews and Muslims, the population shrank, and then slowly increased to around 1000 residents a century ago. Now the number of full-time residents hovers around one hundred.

Notes
If you have extra time, you could include a side trip through Los Riscos on this walk.
Júzcar - SL-A 176 - Los Riscos - Arroyo Majales
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/juzcar-sl-a-176-los-riscos-arroyo-majales-valle-del-genal-73774719

Walk 18 of a long-distance walk through the Serranía de Ronda
From our journal:
Just as we were leaving Juzcar, José (the shepherd we talked with near Los Riscos the other day) came into sight, driving his sheep up to their pasturage for the day. Thus, we were able to glimpse one more piece of this vanishing way of life that he had described so well to us. This was actually the third time we met him, the first being on a walk out of Alpandeire when he was up by his high pasturage with his sheep and goats. He gave us some trail advice that day, and then on our second meeting near Los Riscos, he not only shared stories of his father’s time, but also showed us some videos on his phone of this year‘s newborn lambs. It was a good mixture of an old-time way of life shared via new technology.

Possibilities for eating/sleeping
A stay at Hotel Los Castanos in Cartajima is a wonderful treat for a walker. Di and John are ready to help you choose suitable trails and even offer delivery and pick-up service to and from trailheads. Their hearty breakfasts and delicious dinners are just what a walker needs.

Cartajima also has two food shops and a pharmacy, handy for walkers needing to resupply.

Resources
PR-A 224 trail guide
http://www.fedamon.com/senderos/prs/archivospdf/malaga/PR-A%20224_infosenderos_web.pdf

Ayuntamiento de Cartajima
http://www.cartajima.es

Previous day’s walk: Júzcar - Nacimiento Las Zúas - Ruta de los Molinos
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/juzcar-nacimiento-las-zuas-ruta-de-los-molinos-valle-del-genal-79790335

Next day’s walk: Cartajima - Camino del Molino de la Máquina
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/cartajima-camino-del-molino-de-la-maquina-valle-del-genal-80033942

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