Cueva del Gato

There is no public transport to get to the Cueva del Gato. You can get there by car or on foot from Benaoján or other surrounding villages.

For example, from Benaoján there is an easy route, 6 km long and with hardly any gradient, that leads to the Cueva del Gato.

This other route of 8 km is circular and of moderate difficulty and passes through the mountains around the Cueva del Gato and Benaoján.

How to get to Cueva del Gato?

To get to Cueva del Gato take the MA-7401 road between Ronda and Benaoján. If you arrive from either direction, you will see signposts indicating the access to Cueva del Gato car park.

From the car park, it is a 150 m walk to the cave and bathing area. Walk down the slope next to the car park and cross the river Guadiaro (over a wooden bridge). Then go under the railway tracks, passing over the stone bridge. 

The car park in 2022 is free of charge. From the car park, it is only a 150-metre walk to the Cueva del Gato.

See the car park on Google maps. 

In summer and especially at weekends it gets very crowded. It is advisable to avoid summer weekends. You’ll enjoy the site more and also help protect it. It is always open. There are no opening hours.

In the last years, you had to pay a small fee to enter the bathing area. This year 2022 it is free.

Yet we understand that popular places in nature, which is become crowded, services and staff are required to protect it, and keep it clean and safe.
During peak periods this implies: porter (who keeps track of the capacity and number of people), installation and maintenance of toilets, lifeguards, cleaning, forest rangers and local police.
For the rest of the year, it could be free access without services.

Many people take care of nature. Yet, unfortunately, there are always people who dump garbage on the floor and do not pick it up.

Swimming in the natural pool
Hiking
Picnic

For more details of the activities, see below the Things to do section.

Dogs are not allowed in the bathing area. There is an area for dogs, located before reaching the bridge.

Remember that soap and detergents should not be used in rivers and pools. Also, most sun creams contaminate the water, try to apply them 1 hour before taking a dip.

(Scientists have found that sunscreen releases significant amounts of titanium dioxide, which damages aquatic life.
Soaps have phosphates, are also non-biodegradable and harm the environment). 

You may be fined if you do not respect these warnings.

Things to do near Cueva del Gato

Caves – It is forbidden to enter Hundidero-Gato. But there are many caves around that you can visit inside, such as the impressive Cueva de la Pileta. It is a prehistoric site with Palaeolithic parietal art and Neolithic remains. You can make reservations here.

Visit the quaint, beautiful white villages of the Serranía de Ronda. These are: Algatocin, Alpandeire, Arriate, Atajate, Benadalid, Benalauría, Benaoján, Benarrabá, Cortes de la Fra, Cartajima, Faraján, Gaucín, Genalguacil, Igualeja, Jimera de Libar, Jubrique, Júzcar, Montejaque, Montecorto, Parauta, Pujerra, Ronda and Serrato.
Don’t miss Benaoján, Genalguacil, Benalauría which is full of flowers and Ronda. Ronda is on a plateau cut by a deep gorge carved by the river Guadalevín, crossed by the mythical bridge. Next to it is the historic centre, which gives Ronda a picturesque panorama.

Visit the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park in Cádiz. Its magnificent forests and ravines are great for hiking. It also has a route of 19 beautiful tiny white villages. The ones we liked the most were Arcos de la Frontera, Setenil de las Bodegas, Grazalema and Zahara de la Sierra.

Canyoning in Cañón de las Buitreras. The canyon of Las Buitreras is a spectacular and narrow canyon with incredible waterfalls and pools. It was created by the erosion of the Guadiaro river on the limestone rock between the ‘Sierra de Grazalema’ and the ‘Serranía de Ronda’. The narrow walls and their verticality (up to 200 m) and the hundreds of Griffon Vultures that live in them, make this place unique.

Via Ferratas – In this mountainous area there are multiple via ferratas, such as the via ferrata of Montejaque, El Caimán and Ferrata Sierra del Hacho.

There is a restaurant about 200 m upstream and another one about 600 m upstream. Also in Benaoján, there are several restaurants. In Ronda, you have many options.

Some typical dishes here are artichoke and almond soups, rabbit with garlic, stews with pork or goat or partridge in sauce.

There is an Eco Hotel 80 m away from Cueva del Gato. About 190 m away is the Rural accomodation Casitas Cueva del Gato.

The nearest villages to stay in, are Benaoján and Montejaque, which are about 2 and 5 km away. There are also plenty of options to stay outside the villages, in the countryside.

There are many beautiful white villages in the Serranía de Ronda and Sierra de Grazalema.

Ronda and Malaga are further away but have many great accommodation options.

The natural pool of the Cueva del Gato is round and has a diameter of about 25 m.

There is great visibility (10 cm), but there is not much wildlife to see underwater.