Excursions from The Wildman-Chard centre

Things to do and Places to go during your stay.

Dr Suzanne teaching Yoga in the Torcal Reserve, 9-01-2008

Excursions and sports

According to the Andalusian Tourist Board, many visitors to the coasts take at least one excursion to relax and experience the many attractions of the Inland Mediterranean, without crowds, traffic jams or toll roads. Those who choose to reside in the Campillos area can live in a restful inland manner with fresh non-humid air while taking advantage of rapid access by car, bus and train to the coastal world of beaches, shopping, dining and clubs, themeparks, aquariums and zoos etc. Guests are responsible for their own travel insurance. Taxis cost only 5 euros within local and outlying areas, and can be booked weekly at a further discount, so they provide a reasonable alternative to a hire car or a group van.

Special Yoga Excursions

Unique Yoga excursions at reasonable rates:
Special Yoga Practice Sessions in the Torcal Nature Reserve:

Perform Asanas, Pranayamas & Meditation in this spectacular landscape and take advantage of this unique opportunity to connect with an ancient centre of earth energy! To notice the shift in your perception, just follow your Yoga sessions with one of the guided walks.

The Torcal Mountains overlook the "Old Town" of Antequera. The most outstanding nature reserve of its type in Europe is listed as a Mediterranean Place of EU Value to conserve its many undersea fossils and its unique natural habitat. It offers a wide range of hiking, walking and climbing possibilities in a landscape up to 1,400 m. high. It is filled with unusual lizards and salamanders; with mountain goats, eagles, climbing plants, berry bushes and succulents, irises and orchids. The Torcal is accessible, signposted and family-friendly, with no admission fee, and can be entered at any time of day the year around.

A Yoga Visit to one of the three Dolmen underground graves - Try meditations in these ancient chambers.
A Yoga Visualization Session with the famous Indian Cliff Profile of Antequera pictured in ancient cave paintings.
A Yoga Visit to the El Chorro Lake Gorge: A subtropical area ideal for Yoga sessions (see photo below)
A Yoga Visit to the Wolf Refuge: Howl with 5 different wolf clans and their pups in a protected nature reserve!
A Yoga Visit to the Pink Flamingo Lagoon : See 40,000 pairs of these amazing creatures lift off with their bright pink bodies and huge wing spans!

Or make a suggestion - other outings can be arranged! Many Yoga students have found their own impressive natural local spot, which we added to our Yoga excursion repertoire.

Other Excursions

Water: The beaches at Lake Iznajar and the coast of Malaga are 40 & 55 minutes away, and offer a variety of watersports, fishing, sailing, whalewatching etc. The lake beaches have waterside access, pedalo and canoe/kayak rentals. In Campillos there is a year round indoor pool.

Golf: Antequera has a superb new 18-hole year-round Mediterranean hill course. This uncrowded course with English-speaking personnel has green fees half those of the Costa del Sol (9 holes 30 euros;18 holes 40 euros) and well-priced expert beginners and advanced tuition. This beautiful course has 14 lakes and water hazards, fountains, bridges, rock gardens and 1600 flowering fruit trees of 10 types.

Sports and Nature: tennis, snowskiing and other snow sports, many fresh & salt water activities, hiking, rock climbing, cycling, mountain biking, horse riding, flying, "howling with wolves" at the Wolf Park BBQ nights. Vistors can learn or expand their knowledge of bird and naturewatching, photography, etc.

Skiing: the Sierra Nevada ski station Sol y Nieve in Pradollano is 90 mins. away, with excellent motorway links from November to March and 79 runs covering 84 km.

Exploring Nearby Towns on Day Excursions from Campillos

Antequera: walking tours, or car, bus, train, taxi excursions to the coast, to Malaga or to other unique Andalusian cities and villages. There are pools (indoor pools in winter), tennis and sports centres, palaces, monuments, romantic shady courtyards, fountains, small parks, and many shops. This friendly safe town is filled with architecture, culture and history. It offers the convenience and fun of good pubs and restaurants with outdoor eating, quality shops, internet centres, 4 spas, 5 cinemas, flamenco guitar and drum concerts, and seasonal nightlife. A ten minute drive away are two unique parks: the Torcal Nature Park (see homepage) and the Wolf Park Refuge with reserves of wolves from 5 countries. Its riding/trekking stables and extensive petting zoo has multi-lingual child-friendly guides & instructors.

Malaga, 50 minutes away, features good museums, fashionable shopping and Mediterranean dining al fresco. Granada is 90 minutes away and offers the world famous Alhambra Palaces. (The Alhambra must be reserved well in advance.)
Romantic Ronda, and Cordoba with its striking mosque, are only 90 minutes away, with picturesque city centres easily accessible on foot.
Seville is 2 hours away with its unusual Old Town and glittering baroque Cathedral with Christopher Columbus' tomb.
Cádiz and the Atlantic coast are 2 hours 30 minutes away, with whalewatching, good beaches and excellent windsurfing.
Gibraltar is 3 hours away, a shoppers' paradise with outstanding views of North Africa.

Exploring Costa del Sol Towns on Day Excursions from Campillos
Not far from the major centres, there are unspoiled mountain plateau areas like Campillos, where you have the chance to take a deep breath, relax, forget about traffic jams, toll roads & tourist crowds. Here are some favourite daytrips to the coasts or to Inland Andalucia within three hours drive.

Estepona sits at the foot of Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja, and has a typical Andalucían character: whitewashed houses, balconies covered with a colourful array of flowerpots. The town boasts some beautiful architecture and has remains of hot-springs, most likely dating from the Roman occupation. The Selwo Wildlife Park is here for family fun, and there are many facilities for mountain and water sports.

Casares, 435 meters above sea level, is called the "hanging village", clinging spectacularly to the side of a rocky gorge, overlooked by a castle. The houses are tall, set in picturesque, twisting and white walled, narrow streets. There are many interesting ruins to be found here and on a clear day there are spectacular views to Gibraltar.

Manilva is where the Costa del Sol and the Campo de Gibraltar meet. The village stands between the Río Manilva and the Calataraje stream; rising gently up from the sea are rolling hills covered with vineyards, the main crop of which is the Muscatel grape that is harvested in September. The area is blessed with a mild climate, good wine, superb natural beauty, medicinal waters and historical architecture.

We wish you an amazing holiday in Inland Andalucia!

Attractions in Seville, the Capital of Andalucia:
The city is a treasure trove of architecture, art & history. Among many points of interest are the La Giralda minaret, the Cathedral, one of the world's largest, & the Alcázar Palace. The Fine Arts Museum

houses the second largest picture gallery in Spain. For all its monuments and history, Seville is universally famous for being a joyous town, and Sevillians are known for their wit and sparkle. This is the city of Carmen, of Don Juan and of Figaro. The town hosts two major springtime events. The Fería de Abril is a week-long party of drink, food and dance, with men parading on fine horses and women dancing in brilliantly coloured gypsy dresses. Immediately before that is Semana Santa (Holy Week) a religious festival where hooded penitents march in long processions followed by huge baroque floats. It is easier to commute from Campillos than to find accommodation at this time. Seville is credited with the invention of tapas, and has more than a thousand bars where the choice of food is virtually unlimited, from seafood to ham and sausage, vegetables to cheese. Sevillians make a meal of them moving from bar to bar trying one dish at a time.

Motor Sports and Biking in Inland AndaluciaThis is rally country, especially the Sierras of Córdoba and Montoro, and there is fabulous terrain for a real drive. A 4x4 vehicle is useful, and you don't have to go far to get into driving country. For example, the natural park of Sierra de las Nieves is located in the hills behind Marbella. A mere 10 or 15 kilometers inland there are tracks and paths deep in forests, across streams, up hillsides, along valleys and dried-up riverbeds. Another longtime favourite is the spectacular El Chorro area 25 minutes from Campillos, which offers rental of all types of on-road, off-road, quad and motor bikes. Bike rentals are often available.

Cycling or mountain biking may be your choice. Mountain biking and cycling are both viewed as serioussports in Andalucia, particularly at weekends.

Activities in Inland Andalucia
The famous beaches and resorts of the Costa del Sol & the Costa de la Luz have historically been a great lure for holidaymakers. This important region of Spain is a perfect destination for families and those avoidingmass tourism. Andalucía is one of the most mountainous regions in Spain, a fact few people who visit the Costas realise. It is also excellent walking country, particularly around Campillos and Grazalema, which are similarlyideal for a range of other outdoor activities, including rock climbing, caving and paragliding, and evenskiing in winter. Trout fishing is popular in several regions of Andalucía; a good example is Rio Frio, 1 hr from Campillos, where you can have your fresh catch prepared for you in the adjacent restaurant.

Two of the best areas to appreciate the craggy mountain landscape are the natural parks of the Torcal and the 'Sierra de Grazalema'. The Torcal is very pleasant the year around; the best time to visit Grazalema, however, is during the spring, early summer or autumn, as mid-summer gets very hot. By sea or by land, there are activities in Inland Andalucia for everyone. Seeing motor sport races, taking a mountain biking tour, or sampling some water sports make for a perfect way to spend your holiday. You will have plenty of choices for your holiday townhouse or villa in the Inland Med. Be it a mountain cabin overlooking soaring peaks, a cosmopolitan apartment in Seville, or a convenient town-and-country location inCampillos, your holiday in the Inland Med will be unforgettable!

The Wildman-Chard Centre hopes that you find our tourist information page useful. Don't forget that you can live in peace and quiet, and still enjoy the activities of the coast in half an hour whenever you choose! Day Excursions: From Golf and Sports in the Costa del Sol to Skiing in the Sierra NevadaThe nearby Costa del Sol offers the finest golf courses in the world, all set in spectacular scenery. Peak seasonis September-May while the rest of Europe shivers (score cards and handicap certificates are required).

If you're not a golfer, there is much more for you on the coast: tennis, mountain biking, trekking are popular and easilyavailable. Waterskiing and windsurfing are available; boats can be rented at main lake and ocean beaches. The Sierra Nevada Ski Resort in Granada is within 90 minutes of Campillos summer and winter. Ski hire services are plentiful, snowboards welcome.

Day Excursions:

Dolphin Watching in the Costa del SolA trip to visit with dolphins and whales is an extraordinary experience, especially as a day-long family outing. Costa del Sol and Gibraltar waters are permanently inhabited by some species of dolphins and whales, and oftenvisited by others, including the "Orca". More family fun can be enjoyed with a visit to the local water park in Mijas;situated in an easy to find location, it caters to all the family. After splashing about in the water, other greatattractions will keep the kids entertained all day - volleyball, aerobics, games, mini golf and many other activities.

Film lovers are also well taken care of in the Costa. Several cinemas in Malaga show major movies in English. Recent video releases are available in original-language versions. After an exciting day in the sun, another perfect way to unwind - going home to relax in the Inland Med!