{"id":97494,"date":"2025-05-13T07:50:10","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T07:50:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/97494\/"},"modified":"2025-05-13T07:50:10","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T07:50:10","slug":"spains-underrated-road-trip-through-raisin-country-in-the-malaga-mountains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/97494\/","title":{"rendered":"Spain’s underrated road trip through ‘raisin country’ in the Malaga mountains"},"content":{"rendered":"

TUCKED away in the sun-drenched hills of Malaga\u2019s Axarquia region lies one of Spain\u2019s most overlooked yet rewarding road trips: the Ruta de la Pasa, or Raisin Route.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

This 62-kilometre loop winds through a string of whitewashed Moorish villages \u2013 Moclinejo, Almachar, El Borge, Cutar, Comares, and Totalan \u2013 each steeped in centuries-old wine making traditions and Andalucian charm.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Recently brought into the spotlight by a feature in The Telegraph, this overlooked stretch of southern Spain offers a travel experience that far exceeds its modest fame.\u00a0<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> WATCH: The secret gem just one hour from Madrid in the Spanish heartlands that you should visit because it\u2019s \u2018untouched by tourism\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

Departing from Malaga city, the route quickly trades coastal crowds for steep, winding roads lined with terraced vineyards and paseros \u2013 traditional drying beds where Muscat grapes are sun-dried into the region\u2019s prized raisins.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The first stop, Moclinejo, offers a blend of rich history and quirky charm.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Immerse yourself in Moclinejo\u2019s local charm. (credit: @visitmoclinejo)<\/p>\n

Beyond its 16th-century church and sweeping views, the village enchants visitors with the Casita del Ratoncito Perez, a miniature house dedicated to Spain\u2019s beloved tooth fairy figure, crafted by local artist Chari Ruiz.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This small attraction, tucked into a wall on Calle Sierra, brings joy to both children and adults.<\/p>\n

Further along, El Borge stands as the \u2018raisin capital\u2019 of Spain, producing some of the country\u2019s finest Muscatel raisins.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The village\u2019s whitewashed houses sit at the foot of Cerro de Cutar, and its narrow streets are filled with the sounds of daily life.<\/p>\n

In September, the town comes alive during the Dia de la Pasa festival, celebrating the raisin harvest with music, dancing, and generous tastings of local delicacies.<\/p>\n

\"\"El Borge encapsulates the beauty of inland Andalucia. (credit: @turismo_elborge)<\/p>\n

Visitors can delve into the area\u2019s storied past at the Galeria del Bandolero, a museum dedicated to the infamous 19th-century bandit Luis Mu\u00f1oz Garcia, known as \u2018El Bizco de El Borge.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n

The museum houses over 1,300 artefacts, offering a glimpse into the region\u2019s turbulent history.<\/p>\n

For accommodation, the Hotel Posada del Bandolero provides a rustic retreat, with rooms named after legendary outlaws and a restaurant serving hearty local platos.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dishes like goat \u2018Bandolero\u2019 style and sirloin with raisin sauce showcase the region\u2019s culinary strength. .<\/p>\n

Continuing the journey, the road ascends to Comares, dubbed the \u2018balcony of Axarquia\u2019 for its panoramic views stretching to the Mediterranean.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"La Igelisa de la Encarnacion in Comares. (credit: wikipedia)<\/p>\n

The village\u2019s Moorish roots are evident in its architecture and the remains of its ancient fortress.<\/p>\n

Throughout the route, the landscape reveals the labour-intensive process of raisin production.<\/p>\n

Farmers can be seen tending to the paseros, a testament to traditions preserved through generations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This dedication has earned the region recognition from the United Nations as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System.<\/p>\n

The Ruta de la Pasa offers more than just a scenic drive; it invites travellers to immerse themselves in a way of life where time slows, and every stop tells a story.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As The Telegraph aptly noted, this route offers rewards for those brave enough to venture off the beaten path.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For those seeking an authentic Andalucian experience, the Raisin Route delivers in spades.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"TUCKED away in the sun-drenched hills of Malaga\u2019s Axarquia region lies one of Spain\u2019s most overlooked yet rewarding…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":97495,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5312],"tags":[45427,2000,299,7707,18104,8626,45428,21009,104,18106,183],"class_list":{"0":"post-97494","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-spain","8":"tag-axarquia","9":"tag-eu","10":"tag-europe","11":"tag-malaga","12":"tag-news-spain","13":"tag-newspaper","14":"tag-raisin","15":"tag-route","16":"tag-spain","17":"tag-the-olive-press","18":"tag-travel"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114499434852131058","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97494","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=97494"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97494\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/97495"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=97494"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=97494"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=97494"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}