Part of the appeal of living on the Costa del Sol, is not just the proximity to its beaches, but also the breathtaking backdrop of mountains and nature which surround it. With the hot summer months now upon us, a cold water plunge in freshwater pools, rivers and waterfalls is the only way to hike. One of our favourite local trails is the Charco de Canalón, which lies within the Sierra de Las Nieves National Park behind the village of Istán. The route leads to one of the most spectacular corners of the Río Verde Valley, perfect for a short trip, picnic or a full day of exploration. It’s about a 20-minute drive from Istán, and the walk from the parking area to the waterfall takes 30 mins to an hour, depending on your speed.
Here is the google maps link to where we parked:
Sendero Charco del Canalón
Diseminado Diseminados, 14, 29611 Istán, Málaga
J326+8W Istán
From the parking area on the left, head down the path by foot
After a couple of minutes, you’ll reach this sign, turn right heading up the hill towards a metal gate.
From here there is just 2,3km to go! Even though the walk is relatively short compared to a lot of trails, it can get quite hot this time of year, so be sure to bring plenty of high-energy foods and drinks, more water than you need and of course, sun protection.
The gate at the top of this hill is locked, but there is enough space on the right hand side to walk around it. The gap is also big enough for a bicycle to fit around, and you’ll meet plenty of cyclists on this trail.
After passing through the gate, keep following the path up and around the hills. Once you reach this fork, stay left and start descending.
The next time the path splits, follow the sign to the right.
Not long to go now! Sendero Charco del Canalón – 0,8km ➡️
The path soon descends down to the river, which is going to get your feet wet! This is a good time to change into some water shoes. The waterfall is just around the corner from here.
After crossing the river, and heading up the path, you will pass a sign for “Casa Rural El Balatín” on your left hand side. Don’t follow the path around, instead go straight ahead.
Follow the sign to Charco del Canalón, where you will have to cross another bit of the river and climb up the other side of the bank.
Once you’ve crossed over this last part, you’ll be welcomed by a clearing. From here the terrain is pure rocks. Keep walking on the left side, climbing up and over until you see the large fresh water pool.
Head past the flower bush
Crystal clear and extremely refreshing!
It is possible to climb up the rock walls on either side of the pool, as this gives you a great vantage point, but be aware that it is extremely slippery.
Swimming up to the waterfall, it is possible to continue through it and climb up over the other side into a smaller rock pool, though this requires a confident swimmer, and a fair amount of upper body strength to pull yourself up and over the rocks. There are more rock pools to explore, once you pass this point, and from here you can also follow the river upstream for miles.
On our drive back to Istán village we stopped off to top up our water bottles at the Sierra Springs (Nacimiento de Río Molinos). The water is safe to drink that spouts from the pipe on the left side of the aqueducts. When the water supply is plentiful, it can be seen coming up from underneath the mountain rocks, staying briefly in the aqueducts and naturally constructed stone paddling pools before cascading under the bridge (and sometimes over it), merging into distinctly carved falls. It is common to bring water jugs and bottles to refill and take back home, a lot of people do this weekly.
We took the opportunity to stop off at the viewpoint on our way back down the Istán road heading towards Marbella. There are signs and QR codes dotted around, giving you information on the area, and an idyllic view of the village and surrounding nature.
To discover more about the Sierra de Las Nieves National Park and all its charm, check out our other blog:
Sierra de las Nieves: The National Park Bordering Vista Lago
