Astrotourism in Malaga

The skies of Andalusia, and of the province of Malaga in particular, have incredible conditions for astro-tourism. They are made up of stars, planets and constellations that offer us images of great beauty.

The setting sun offers an exceptional spectacle, worthy of being considered a gift for anyone who has the pleasure of seeing it.

At dusk, we recommend you to be in a secluded place, where the darkness of the sky stands out the most. If you want to indulge in more detailed observation, the Astronomical Observatories provide tourists with equipment, conditions and information to discover the magic of the cosmos.

Even if you have a great knowledge of astro-tourism, observing the sky and all that it hides is an activity that will remain in your memory.

Where to enjoy Star Tourism in Malaga?

One of the most popular activities in Malaga in relation to astro-tourism is to observe the famous Perseids star shower, which usually takes place in August. On those days, it is common for different events of similar nature to take place, because in the summer months, if you stop to look at the sky you will realise that there is much more than these shooting stars, known all over the world as the Tears of San Lorenzo.

Here are some of the options awaiting those who wish to check out the exciting world of astronomy.

Torcal de Antequera.

This natural spot is well known for its scarce light pollution, which means that in summer, as we have already mentioned, it is the best time for this type of tourism, different events are organised as part of the Antequera Moonlight night-time activities programme.

Among them, in mid-August there will be the ‘Night of the Perseids in the Torcal’, organised by an active tourism company called Sendero Sur Aventura. Admission to this event will cost €10 for adults and €7 for children under 12.

That said, the Torcal de Antequera Visitor Centre warns and reminds its visitors that due to the massive influx of tourists, both on the day of the event and the days prior to it, travel by private vehicle will not be permitted. Therefore, it will be necessary to use the shuttle bus provided by the company itself, which will be located in the car park next to the road linking Antequera with Villanueva de la Concepción.

Astrolab (Yunquera)

Astrolab is a company based in Yunquera, which organises every summer different activities related to the world of astronomy, with the aim of making this world known in a didactic way. Last year, they did not organise any event to contemplate the Perseids because, as the company reported, there was a wonderful almost full moon during most of the night, which illuminated the sky and almost completely erased the presence of small meteors or shooting stars. Still, in order not to lose their clientele, they decided to continue with their usual list of activities every summer, which can be booked from their own website.

Some of these activities are ‘Discover the Moon’, ‘Night of Planets’ and ‘Forest of Stars’. These and others take place both from their headquarters (Yunquera) and in other enclaves of the Sierra de las Nieves, which has less light pollution.

La Maroma or Tejeda Peak (Canillas de Aceituno)

La Maroma or Tejeda peak is more than two thousand metres above sea level. This peak is considered the highest in the province of Malaga, and therefore one of the best places to enjoy the sky and the world of astronomy. To reach it, you have to take one of the hiking trails, such as those that start from the Alcázar recreation area or from the village of Canillas de Aceituno itself.

Another possibility is on the Granada side of the sierra, with a route that starts in El Robledal (Alhama de Granada). 

For any of the routes mentioned above, we recommend that it is best to start the climb in the late afternoon to avoid the strong sun on summer days, which are the most suitable days to do them. 

Having said that, we would like to inform you that the ascent is hard and we do not recommend it to people with no experience in this type of mountain climbing. It usually takes three hours to reach the top.

Mountains of Malaga

In the Mountains of Malaga, the company ‘Quiero Aventura’ organises an activity called the ‘Route of the Stars in the Mountains’. This activity, which takes place every Thursday and must be booked in advance, will allow anyone who wants to take part to contemplate stars, nebulae, planets and satellites through a clean sky with low light pollution. 

The aforementioned company, which already has experience in other types of activities in the natural world, for example in the Sierra Nevada, uses high-powered refracting, reflecting and monitored telescopes for the observation.

This experience is guided by various monitors who will inform you of everything you are seeing at all times. It lasts approximately four hours.

The price is €5 for children between 6 and 12 years old, with free admission for children under 6 years old. And €15 for adults.

Enjoying these wonderful views in each place we have chosen is an unforgettable experience, even so, we recommend two of our tours to end your trip in the best possible way. We advise you to know the free tour Malaga and the guided tours Malaga, you won’t regret it!

Cable Car Open Air Planetarium (Benalmádena). 

One of the best viewpoints on the Costa del Sol is the top of Mount Calamorro, which is an ideal place to observe the stars and planets at any time of the year. 

In addition to its elevated location, which is one of the reasons why it is a great place to enjoy astro-tourism, this place in the mountains of Benalmádena has very powerful telescopes, as well as the knowledge of the members of the Aula del Cielo (Sky Classroom). 

They also offer various courses and workshops for anyone who wishes to take them, suitable for all audiences. They even have a mobile planetarium where you can appreciate every detail of the life of the stars.

If you would like to take part in any of these activities, you can enjoy them until the last day of August at 22:00h.