Activities|Hotel Bandolero, Ronda in the Genal Valley of the Serrania de Ronda, la Sierra de las Nieves & Sierra Grazalema.

APRIL 2011:-
- * * 18 - 22 April: Scottish Gaelic Language and Song Workshop * *
- * * 21 April:- Scottish Ceilidh evening in the Hotel Bandolero, Juzcar - come enjoy music, singing, dancing, Scottish whisky, and an overall evening of amusement, all are welcome. * *
- * * 30 April:- Júzcar, History Seminar on the Serrania de Ronda * *

MAY 2011:-
- 12 May - Evening of Flamenco in El Hotel Bandolero* *
- 28 May - Parauta's Romeria

JUNE 2011:-
- 04 June - Cartajima's Romeria in honor of el Niño Jesús
- 11 - 12 June - Ronda's Romería de la Virgen de la Cabeza
- 24 June - Alpandeire's Fiesta de Fray Leopoldo
- * * 25 June - Juzcar's Andaluz Romeria * *
   Enjoy one of Andalusia's enduring traditions, a Romeria, a day in the countryside. Singing, dancing, horses, food, drinks, families, picnics, swimming - come and enjoy a traditional day in the countryside.
- 29 June - Farajan's Romeria

JULY 2011:
- 21- 24 July - Ronda's Gala Folklórica Internacional

AUGUST 2011:
- 05 - 07 August - Benalauría, Feria of The Moors and Christians Fiesta:-
    Flamenco festival, dancing, traditional match between singles & marrieds, foam party and children's theatre and more!
- Parauta Feria and Cultural Week
- Genalguacil, Genal Art Festival
- Gaucin Feria
- Alpandeire's Fiesta de San Roque, mid-month
- Cartajima & Parauta's Fiesta in honor of the Virgen del Rosario, mid-month
- 20 August - Farajan Feria, San Sebastian:-
   Features female volleyball tournament, big foam party, manzanilla degustation, paella, children's festival, live music, dancing and more!
- Pujerra Culture Week
- Jimera de Líbar Feria and Water Fiesta
- Alpandeire Feria, San Roque:-
    Children's theatre & games, football match, live music, dancing, plantarium and more!
- Atajate Feria, San Roque:-
    Domino and swimming tournaments, a children's musical, procession, paella, Water Fiesta, dancing, eating and more!
- Benarraba Cultural Week
- Igualeja August Feria
- * * 17 - 22 August 2011 - Juzcar Feria, The Virgin of Moclon * *
Gastronomic contest, paella, children's games, big foam party, live music, a football match, singing, live music, eating, a procession and more!

SEPTEMBER 2011:
- 1 - 4 September - Ronda's Fiesta of Pedro Romero & the Corrida Goyesca.

OCTOBER 2011:
- Pujerra Chestnut Festival
- 07 October - Alpandeire's Festival of La Virgen del Rosario

NOVEMBER 2011:
- 01 November - Cartajima's Toston de Chestnuts
- Parauta's Fiesta of the Rabbit - mid-month
- 26 November - Cartajima's Mosto Festival
- Juzcar Chestnut Festival
- * * 04 - 06 November '11 - Juzcar's 5th Wild Mushroom Conference:- (dates to be confirmed) * *
    Learn all about wild mushrooms, where they grow, how to find them, what one can eat and what one should not!

DECEMBER 2010:
- 08 December - Farajan Feria of the Immaculate Conception

Walking

- There are several walks one can enjoy from Hotel Bandolero and Juzcar. Here is a link to the "White Village" website which outlines the many walks/trails one can take to enjoy a stroll through our wonderful, gorgeous and soothing countryside. Complimentary use walking guide, "The Guide to the Footpaths of the Serrania de Ronda", referred to in the "White Village" page, are also available in the hotel for client use while staying at Hotel Bandolero. There is also information available here regarding the natural parks in the area; La Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park has many walks available through beautiful countryside with incredible views and wild & bird life.

Juzcar Walks

- There are also a couple of new walks in Juzcar that have yet to be published. Information on these walks is available in the hotel. In the spring, the valley is covered with hundreds of wild flowers, changing weekly.

**Genal Valley hiking trail guidebooks on sale in the Bandolero bar.**

- Mr Henderson's Railway Walk:- This short and easy walk in the Guadiaro Valley follows a delightful riverside & cliffside path, which links the sleepy village of Estacion de Benaojan with the sleepier-still hamlet of Estacion de Jimera de Libar. It begins at the Molino del Santo, a hotel just up from the railway line.
- Hiking and trekking through the Genal Valley or one of the local natural parks, Sierra de Grazalema, Los Alcornocales or La Sierra de las Nieves Biosphere; this can be done on your own, exploring the local parks and trails or you can hire a guide to take you along, explaining the plants and wildlife in the area as you go. If you would like to organise guided hiking, please contact us at Hotel Bandolero.

Bird watching:-
English language guided tours for birdwatchers are available with a local resident bird expert. The Serrania de Ronda is home to many species of birds including birds of prey and more being located in an important migratory corridor. Vultures & eagles are among the most common birds soaring above the Genal Valley.
For more information, prices and reservations on the birds of the Serrania de Ronda, click on the Birds link: BIRDS
- Buitre Tours with your guide Frank Hair. Buitre offers tours for all types of birder, from the experienced to the beginner, or for those just wanting to see something special with someone passionate about birds. Full and half day tours, 1 - 3 person, are available, tailored to suit your requirements; take a tour to see the Griffin vultures at one of the largest colonies in Europe or at least one of their feeding sites. If that's not for you, there are plenty of WOW birds including bee-eatters, flamingos and eagles. All equipment supplied. Full day tour, 60Euros per person, 35Euros per person for groups of 2 or more. Contact us directly at Hotel Bandolero to arrange your advanced booking with Frank.

Wild Mushroom Weekend offered at Hotel Bandolero offered in October and November 2011. Start your two night conference with a mushroom review at the hotel followed by dinner. On Saturday, start the day with a lecture by a mushroom expert and then an excursion into the campo to find mushrooms, followed by an review of the find, ending the day with dinner and chatting in the hotel. For more information, prices and dates, please see the following page [LINK TO MUSHROOMS - coming soon, 06-2011].

Lounging poolside here at El Bandolero enjoying a fantastic view of the surrounding mountains and valley.

Extreme Outdoor Adventures:

- Canyoning "The Devil's Abyss" ("La Sima del Diablo") in the Juzcar river. Highly recommended for all who come to Juzcar; the landscape along the river banks in the Genal Valley are not to be missed!!
- Canyoning thru the Gorge of Ronda, El Tajo. Now that the river is clean, one can climb down to the river and trek through it to arrive at a couple of great cascades and then rappel yourself down the cliff face to the bottom of the river below Ronda. For more information on this adventure, please contact Hotel Bandolero directly.
- Paintball is available in Juzcar, extreme outdoor fun for you and your mates!
- Archery, available in Juzcar, fun for the whole family.
Please see HB's Contacts page for more information on the Extreme Outdoor Activities above.

Cooking classes at Hotel Bandolero - Enjoy a cooking class with Chef Ivan while staying at in the Genal Valley. Try your hand at Ajo Blanco or a new dessert. See our Theme Holidays pages for more information.
Organised painting holidays: - Come and enjoy a week of painting in the Genal Valley and surrounding areas. Any medium of painting is welcome while the workshops specialize in pastels and oils. Please see HB's "Theme Holidays" page for details of packages, times and instructors.
Soap Making Workshop: Try your hand at making soap with one of Spain's biggest export product's, olive oil. Sara Oker, soap maker, will instruct you on how to make soap here at Hotel Bandolero.

Ronda la Vieja (Acinipo):- Ruined hilltop Roman town, with partially reconstructed amphitheatre.
Cueva de Pileta, Benaojan:- Palaeolithic paintings of horses, goats, fish and a seal dating from 20,000 to 25,000 years ago preserved in this impressive cave. For details on admission fee and opening hours, please see HB's Contacts page.
Wine Museum, Ronda:- New museum which offers the opportunity to learn about the Ronda area wines. There is a wine tradtion in Ronda that goes back for 6,000 years. The museum is housed in an old villa in the historic old town of Ronda. For information on admission and opening hours, please see HB's Contacts page.
Ronda Vineyard Tour:- The Ronda area now has ten vineyards ("bodegas") which should be of interest to wine connaseurs. Take a tour of the Ronda vineyards. Here are a few of Ronda's bodegas:
* Bodega Descalzos Viejos
* Bodega Doña Felisa
* Bodega Lagarejo
* Bodega Vetas
* Bodega Los Aguilares
* Bodega El Juncal
* Bodega Ramos Pau
* Bodegas Conrad

- Ronda: many sites of historical and cultural interest. Why not enjoy a morning in historic Ronda and then spend some time relaxing in a few TAPAS BARS, having a glass of wine or a beer and try a few tapas?
Click Here to view some recommended tapaerias in Ronda along with some of our favorite tapitas in each location.

Other Activities:
- Cycling & Mountain Biking:- Rental bikes are available in Ronda.
- Horse riding in Ronda
- Caving and/or rock climbing in Grazalema Natural Park or La Sierra de las Nieves Park
- Kayaking and canoeing in smooth water and white water rapids
- Swimming in the Rio Genal below Juzcar village in a beautiful spot with plenty of shade, a snack stand and plenty of fresh, cool river water!
- Swimming in the Juzcar village pool, only a short 10 minute walk from Hotel Bandolero, admission gratis. There is also a bar / snackstand.
- White Villages: there are white villages all over Andalucia, some more famous than others, take a driving tour of the white villages, locally known as pueblos blancos, of the Genal Valley. While this may not be "the" tour of the pueblos blancos, famous in Cadiz province, these are nevertheless, white villages in Malaga. There are 21 white villages in the region of Ronda alone, all appear similar but each have some distinction.
- La Serrania de Ronda: the mountains all around Júzcar
- Valle del Genal: Fabrica de Hojalata San Miguel (San Miguel Tin Factory Ruin), the first and oldest in Spain. See the ruins of the oldest factory in Spain, first opened in 1731 in Juzcar.
- Marbella/San Pedro de Alcantara/Puerto Banus: coastal bustling resort town with a charming old town, beaches & marina.
- Beaches: all along the Costa del Sol, only 45 - 60 mintues from Juzcar
- Golf
- Autumnal chestnut picking as well as brilliant autumnal foliage.
- Take a tour of La Sierra de las Nieves where you will discover Pinsapo Trees, walking trails, birds, flowers and much more that nature has to offer.
- Enjoy beautiful views of Genal Valley and the La Serrania de Ronda. Click here for more information: About the Genal Valley

Click here for more information on: Villages of the Genal Valley

As you can see, there are many activities that one can enjoy here in the Genal Valley from bird watching to wild mushrooms walks to walking the many trails, viewing the spectacular wild flowers in springtime, local wine tastings, mountain biking, painting, photography, learning a new recipe in a cooking class, having a massage or other body treatment, rappelling in a wet suit enjoying a guided walk or simply enjoying a scrumptious meal topped off with a spectacular dessert, all while relaxing at the Hotel Bandolero.