On your trip to Andalusia you cannot miss the White Villages, so called because of the white lime of their walls that contrasts with the nature that surrounds them.
This entire area was a place of human settlements for 250,000 years, since prehistory, leaving numerous traces, as well as those of the Iberian, Roman, Visigoth and Arab peoples. The latter, the one that had the most influence. It is easy to recognize when we walk through its narrow, winding streets with steep slopes, which will reveal fantastic corners.

It is fair to recognize that we should not only talk about “white village” of Cádiz. Almost the entire Andalusian territory is full of towns that well deserve that name; the Axarquía region, the Levante Almeriense, the Huelva mountain range, the Subbética… They all have their idiosyncrasies, but with a common denominator in their urban physiognomy: white.

In the case of the White Villages of Cádiz, it is a relatively new term, since in the past this area was known as the Ruta del Toro, since it covered the Janda area and part of the Jerez countryside. A route that, due to its name, encompasses a large part of the livestock territory dedicated to the breeding of the fighting bull and the Retinta cow. But over the years, this name has changed for tourists, as well as the area to which it really owes its name.

Nowadays, talking about White Villages (touristically speaking), towns such as Setenil de las Bodegas, Zahara de la Sierra, Grazalema, among others, come to mind. But it is important to keep in mind that this is an area. The province of Cádiz could have up to 19 white towns in two very different areas: Sierra de Cádiz and the Coast.

Sierra de Cádiz

It is the most visited and well-known area, its towns that make it up (I could add more) are: Ubrique, Arcos de la Frontera, Espera, Zahara de la Sierra, Grazalema, El Bosque, Benamahoma, Olvera, Benaocaz and Villaluenga del Rosario. Towns where the heritage burden is well worth at least one stop to enjoy its streets.

Coast

It is the area between the Janda region and Campo de Gibraltar. We could include in this area: Tarifa, Alcalá de los Gazules, Castellar de la Frontera, Medina Sidonia, Jimena de la Frontera, San Roque, Conil del Frontera and Benalup-Casas Viejas.

Take a tour to the White Villages

Looking at these areas, we could say that the White Towns of Cádiz encompass a territory of almost 7,400 km2, an enormous extension, so on our trip to discover the white towns of Cádiz, we must know very well on the one hand: Where do we start from? (Sevilla, Cádiz ciudad, Málaga o Córdoba) and what are the places we want to visit. Factors such as the road must be taken into account. In the northern area we cross mountains… Our own physical limitation is another factor to take into account. They are towns with steep slopes in some cases and cobblestone ground.

On the coast, the biggest handicap is the distance. Visiting, for example, the beautiful town of Castellar de la Frontera makes it necessary to mention that to continue along the coast to Conil or Vejer it is almost an hour and a half by car, not counting stop times. to enjoy hidden places and visits.

Normally the tour of the White Villages of Cádiz that is usually taken is the one that departs from Seville or Malaga city (we will publish a post on the latter). The mountain area being the most requested and visited.

When booking or requesting this tour, the client tells us a priori the towns they wish to visit. This is where some publications by “influencers” fail a lot, where only the idyllic and spectacular appear, without taking into account some factors that we have mentioned before. It is impossible to visit 5.6 or 7 white towns (without the addition of Ronda…), it is practically not really enjoying this tour, not to mention how extensive it is in duration.

Sacrificing some towns for others is difficult, since they all have their charm. But as we have mentioned, the journey through these towns is not a trivial matter. We also owe it to our philosophy as a company and its team made up of Andalusians who know the terrain, that every trip is different, every client is different and that’s why we don’t like to seem like the typical “Chinese” excursion. (with all my respect), where you travel to stop, take a photo and continue. Getting to know the White Towns entails a peaceful stop, where it is not only what you visit, but also who is visiting you. The road trip is also important and the person who goes with the clients and the content they offer during the journey is essential.

Another alternative that is increasingly on the rise and that we recommend is to spend the night in the Sierra de Cádiz area. There is a very interesting offer, for all profiles and that helps to enjoy more of the heritage and culture of the entire region.

In summary

– If we stay in Seville, Cádiz or Málaga, it will depend a lot on the area we choose.

– There are populations where physical limitations must be taken into account.

– We have two large areas: Sierra de Cádiz (north) and Coast (south and east).

– Google regularly offers us the towns of Setenil, Grazalema, Zahara, etc. but we should not ignore other places in the mountains such as Olvera, Ubrique or Arcos.

– Ronda, belonging to Malaga, is complemented by the Pueblo Blanco tour, but being a large city with a vast heritage, we must take into account the time we have available.

Finally, we suggest that if you have questions about what to visit, let us advise you. We know every town, every monument, restaurant and hidden corner where you can enjoy this tour. Contact us by email at booking@andaluciaexperiencias.com or send us Whatsapp or call us at 0034 656 883 371 / 0034 654 937 420