Looking for a moderate summer hike ending with a mesmerizing waterfall to swim under? Hiking to Charco de la Virgen in Tolox, Malaga, is possibly one of the best choices!
It’s not too long, and not too short. Even on a hot day, you feel like you get a hike. Yet, at the same time, it’s not as long as the Sendero de las Cascadas hiking trail, starting at the same place, but promising nothing but uphill trails and no water for the first few kilometers.
The Charco de la Virgen trail also entails a bit of uphill walking, and stretches remotely exposed to the sun before you loop down to the refreshing riverside and can cool down your feet.
However, it’s a bearable stretch with possibilities to sneak down to the water for small bathing stops if you need it. This hiking guide doesn’t include these stops, but you’ll see the opportunities as you hike along!
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I’m Linn Haglund, the face behind Andalucia Hiking. I’m an avid hiker and after calling Andalucia home for over 10 years, I’ve covered my share of peaks, ravines, rivers, and valleys across all 8 provinces. I’m here to help you navigate this incredible region with thorough hiking guides, hiking tips, and gear recommendations.
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Table of Contents
Practical information
- Province: Malaga
- Mountain range: Sierra de las Nieves
- Length: 5 km
- Time: 1.5 hours + time at the waterfall
- Elevation: 217 meters
- Route: Linear return
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Hiking season: All year round (summer for swimming)
- Hiking with dogs: Hiking with dogs is allowed as long as they’re leashed at all times, but there are lots of pine trees, so avoid the pine processionary caterpillar season to keep your pooch safe!
How to get to the trailhead
Sendero Charco de la Virgen trailhead starts above the village of Tolox in Malaga province, in the picturesque Sierra de las Nieves National Park.
The trailhead is in a U-turn, right by the Yellow, historical building of the Tolox Spa, where you’ll walk down past the spa building and cross a small bridge before you continue on a well-marked path.
I recorded the trail on Wikiloc, so you can easily follow the driving directions to the trailhead from the app.
There’s a small parking area near the spa building, right in the u-turn. Personally, I’ve always found parking along the road right before or right after the U-turn where the hike starts.
Driving time to Tolox:
- From Malaga: 50 minutes
- From Marbella: 45 minutes
- From Granada: 2 hours
- From Seville: 2.5 hours
There’s one daily bus from Malaga to Tolox, leaving at 14:00 (10 minutes earlier on weekends) while the return is as early as 7:00 on weekdays and 8:00 on weekends, making it impossible to take a day trip by public transport.
You can check out the updated times with Avanza here.
That said, Tolox is a lovely town to spend a day or two, combined with hiking, so why not make it a weekend trip?
FOLLOW THE TRAIL ON WIKILOC
When is the best time to hike to
Charco de la Virgen is a lovely hike all year round, especially after rainfall; the waterfall becomes particularly beautiful. Just be aware of slippery and muddy trails after heavy rainfall.
Yet, it’s a popular summer hike due to the wonderful natural pool formed by the waterfall, which is refreshingly cold on a hot day!
What to bring
Even though it doesn’t take long to hike to Charco de la Virgen from Tolox spa and back, it’s not a hike you should take too lightly, especially in summer.
Make sure you bring enough water. If you hike with dogs, let them cool down and drink already under the first bridge, and at any opportunity after.
On my last hike (it was unbearably hot, though), I used a big bottle of water only on the way to the waterfall to cool down myself and Atlas as well as to drink for both of us.
Luckily, I had brought 3 liters of cold water, and halfway in, there were more natural drinking sources for the dog.
Even though I’ve done this hike several times over the years, I totally under-estimated the heat this day. I’m telling you this so you can take into account that it’s better to bring a little extra water than run out.
I usually always bring water hiking shoes on this trail since you’ll cross the river on several occasions. On my last hike, I wore Gore-Tex hiking shoes, and they kept my feet dry as long as I balanced on rocks over the river crossings.
If I’d give a recommendation for summer hiking, it would be river hiking shoes for two reasons.
- It’s great to walk in the water and get wet on the feet on a hot day.
- It’s more comfortable to walk into the water at the Charco de la Virgen waterfall with shoes than barefoot due to the uneven bottom.
In the winter, when you probably prefer to keep your feet dry, I’d go for the waterproof shoes or boots.
THINGS TO BRING
- fruit or other snack
- water
- cap/hat
- sunscreen (preferably reefproof)
- swimwear
- towel
Where to stay
If you plan to stay in Tolox for a night or two while hiking and exploring, there are a couple of great hotel options you can check out here:
Cerro de Hijar – Beautiful natural setting overlooking the spectacular Guadalhorce Valley, this hotel has a spa and a lovely outdoor pool area.
Hostal Boutique Tolox Sierra de las Nieves – Set in the heart of Tolox, this cozy boutique hotel offers the essentials, but also has lovely staff who will make you feel welcome.
Hiking to Charco de la Virgen
As mentioned above, the hike starts by passing the yellow Tolox Spa building. Shortly after, you’ll cross a small, wooden bridge, before the trail slowly starts ascending into the forest.
It’s easy to follow the whole way, but when you reach the river, the path might seem a little unclear. There, you need to cross the river on the rocks and continue along the path that follows the river upstream on the other side.
The trail takes you a little higher as you walk, and there’s a deviation where the left takes you uphill to the Ruta de las Cascadas, while the right fork takes you to Charco de la Virgen. There’s usually a sign there, but I’ve experienced it being torn down in the past.
After a few minutes of walking, you’ll reach the Charco de la Virgen waterfall. In summer, it’s usually packed with people, as it’s a popular swimming spot for locals and travelers from other parts of Andalucia.
Outside of the swimming season, there’s a bigger chance to get the waterfall to yourself, especially on weekdays.
When you’re done enjoying the waterfall, return the same way you came from.
OTHER HIKES IN SIERRA DE LAS NIEVES
Reflections on the Charco de la Virgen hike
Summing up, Charco de la Virgen is a short and sweet hike through mesmerizing nature to one of the region’s most loved waterfalls.
While it’s a fairly short and easy hike, the heat of summer should not be underestimated. Altogether, it’s one of my favorite easy waterfall hikes, and the area is great for other walks too.
Happy hiking!