As parents we know how important it is to find things for our little ones to do whilst on holiday. Dragging our children around museums is arduous for them and painful for us too. Our children are active and like to be outside which rules out many activities. We, like many parents, resort to a combination of blackmail and bribery, to fill our days with things we all like to do. Shopping and walking around old cobbled streets looking at even older churches and places of interest does not cut the mustard unless there is ice cream at the end of it and even then we are lucky to get a couple of good hours before things start going pear shaped.
Here are the things our kids like to do in and around Ronda and the surrounding area
- Riding the Via Verde. The Via Verde is an old railway line which has been restored for recreational purposes, no vehicles are allowed on the Via Verde. The Via Verde runs from Olvera to Puerto Serrano through 36 tunnels and over 6 viaducts. As it is an old railway line it is virtually flat which makes a perfect route for the family to enjoy. Of the 5 railway stations 3 have been renovated into cafe/bar/restaurants, 1 is an information centre on a colony of Griffon Vultures that live nearby and the last is still derelict. We can organise a day on the Via Verde for you and your family, please contact us for details.
- Swim at Cueva de Gatos. Between Ronda and Benoajan you’ll find the Cueva de Gatos. The crystal clear water flows into this lagoon from an underground reservoir. It’s a perfect place for a picnic and swim. Please note the water is icy cold, even in the summer. You can also walk from here to Benoajan and for the more adventurous to Jimera de Libar.
- Kayaking on the lake at Zahara. If you want to explore Zahara with your kids then the perfect trade off would be to go Kayaking on the lake afterwards. Our children love running up to the castle that sits above Zahara and also love to go swimming/kayaking at El Mogote (Algodonales side of the dam) afterwards. You can go kayaking at El Mogote on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Zahara is also home to one of our favourite restaurants, we recommend that you pop to “Al Lago” for lunch whilst you are there, contact Mona or Stefan to book a table.
- Mountain Biking. Around Ronda and the Serrania de Ronda there are numerous mountain biking routes that are suitable for children of all ages. We can tailor make a route suitable for you and your family, please contact us for details
- Hiking/Geo Caching. I have mixed memories from my childhood of walks with my parents whilst mostly enjoyable, my dad, on occasion, turn these walks in to boot camp yomps! It certainly had a negative affect on my enthusiasm to do more. However, we discovered Geo Caching which is more like a treasure hunt style game that has been incorporated into local walks and will keep your children walking further than usual. You will need a GPS device to do Geo-Caching. There are numerous Apps for you mobile for Geo-Caching and loads of walks in Ronda and the Serrania de Ronda.
- Visiting the Ampitheatre at Ronda la Vieja. Our kids loved their visit to the Acinipo Ampitheathre at Ronda La Vieja. I was pleasantly surprised at this. The Acinipo is located on the Ronda to Setenil road.
- Bird of Prey Experience in Algodonales. Scott, a good friend of ours runs a Bird of Prey Experience from his farm near Algodonales. Our children learned a lot about Birds of Prey and also flew several birds from their arms. An amazing day. You can also go ParaHawking where you go paragliding with Scott and two trained birds of prey.
Please contact us for further information about riding the Via Verde or going mountain biking in the Serrania de Ronda. We hope you enjoy your family holiday in Ronda and the surrounding area and also enjoy some of the activities we have enjoyed as a family too.
