Activities
Activities | Days Out | In Olvera | Further Afield
There's loads to do in and around Olvera if you don't want to spend all of your holiday sightseeing or sunbathing! From a gently horse rise to adrenaline-pumping paragliding, there's something for everyone.
Paragliding
Algodonales in located just 15 minutes from Olvera at the foothills of the impressive 3,400ft Lijar mountain. The conditions here are perfect for paragliding, and the town has been host to numerous British, Spanish National and World hang-gliding championships. A panorama of lakes and mountain ranges provides a dramatic backdrop to the village and a glorious coastline stretches out before it. In the spring, the foothills become a blaze of colour with a variety of fruit crops and sunflowers.
We can arrange for you to be taken on the trip of a lifetime, sharing the clear blue skies with the local birds. Don't worry if you are an absolute beginner, full training will be given and your flight will be in tandem with a paragliding professional
Horse Riding
Olvera has it's very own riding school, where you will be given full training and be taken out into the beautiful countryside surrounding our town. The school caters for all, from individuals to family groups, and the horses can be rented by the hour. This really is one of the best ways to see what we feel is a perfect part of Spain.
Cycling
Cycling is one of the national pastimes in Spain. Because of our wonderful climate, Andalucía is extremely popular with cyclists, and is certainly popular in Olvera. Bikes can be rented from the railway station just outside the town (now a restaurant) for as long as you like, so there's no excuse! Prices are currently 9€ for 4 hours and 12€ for the day. See our article below on the fabulous Via Verde for more details.
Walking
If you're feeling fit, why not put on those walking boots and set off out into the country. We can provide full details of walks in the area, from beginners to advanced, and can even arrange a guide if you don't want to go it alone.
If you would rather a more sedentary stroll, the Via Verde is very flat (see article below) and provides plenty of shelter if the wonderful Andalucían weather gets too much for you.
Bird Watching
The area around Olvera is teaming with numerous species of birds, from swifts to vultures. You can even see flamingos if you are willing to travel just a half an hour. Closer to home, Peñon Zaframagon near Olvera is home the the largest colony of Griffin Vultures in Europe! If you're not familiar with the local species, that's not a problem. We have our very own resident twitcher. Frank Hair has his own bird watching business here in Olvera, and he offers full and half days tours so you can be sure not to miss anything. We can make all the arrangements for you. Just another service from Casa Marroc!
The Via Verde
The Via Verde is a 36 km long trackway which runs from Olvera to Puerto Serrano. Built as a railway line from Almargen to Jerez de la Frontera in the 1920's, fortunately for us the project went bust and the tracks removed, giving us this wonderful walking and cycling route. The Via Verde boasts 30 tunnels, the longest being the Castillo at 990m; 4 viaducts of which the Coripe at 237m is the most notable; and 5 railway stations, 3 of which at Puerto Serrano, Coripe and Olvera have been restored. The scenery is truly stunning, and you can take in sights like a 700 year old oak tree and the vultures feeding at the Peñon Zaframagon.
No cars are allowed on the Via Verde (except the odd patrol car) so you can relax and soak up the sights and sounds of this wonderful place.