3 Roman Aqueducts

A level circular walk following the valleys of the Rio Seco and Rio Verde, visiting three roman aqueducts and returning to town through chirymoya orchards and market gardens (huertos).

Distance: 8 kilometers in total. 1.5 to Venta Luciano
Time: 1 hour to reach Venta Luciano .2.5 hours to complete circular
Difficulty: Level walk with short climb between the two valleys - walking on a the riverbed roads and local roads
Time of year: Especially beautiful in spring, but hot and year exposed in summer. Good winter walk

Notes
The walk can be shortened after seeing the first 2 acqueducts and you can return by local bus to Almunecar.
The walk in brief
Following a level route along the Rio Seco river valley from town, the route takes us past 2 aqueducts. We then take a road (slight climb) through Torrecuevas village and descend to the Rio Verde valley where we can rest in the park beside the third aqueduct in Torrecuevas. Following an easily accessible track we walk into the Rio Verde river bed, along the river and turn back into the orchards behind Las Penuelos, through quiet tracks amongst the orchards, emerging again at the main road in San Sebastian, 3 minutes walk from the start point in Almunecar.
To reach the start
This circular walk starts in Plaza Mayor in Almunecar. To shorten the walk it is possible to return by local bus from several points on the walk. The bus returns to Plaza Mayor.
The route
From the Plaza Mayor walk up the street and take the turn on the left past Manolos bar. Follow the road and bear right at the end, through the orchards. Turn right where it joins the river bed of the Rio Seco. After about 20 minutes walk you will see the first aqueduct on the right hand side, in the orchards about 100 metres back from the road. After another 5 minutes the next aqueduct can be seen on the right.
You can now walk along the river bed towards the mountains for about 10 minutes. (If you take the first road on the right after the 2nd aqueduct you can cut through on a short road that climbs over to Venta Luciano, on the road between Torrecuevas and Almunecar. It is possible to catch a bus back from here into town. Buses travel approx every hour).
OR Continue along the river road until you see a track between orchards on the right hand side. It is an unmade track that climbs gradually up until it meets a tarmaced road. Turn right here and climb again for a few minutes until the road levels out and gradually starts the descent into Torrecuevas village. This part of the walk is on a road.
In the heart of the village, just before the road reaches the junction with the Cabra Montes road, on the right hand side you will see a pile of wood. This is the local baker who uses a wood fired oven to make Pan de Campo. You can buy a loaf hot from the oven most days of the week.
At the T junction with the main road, turn left. Very shortly after this turn, on the right hand side a track takes you straight ahead where the road bends left. It will take you to the new park created below the third aqueduct. There are seats here.
To return by a circular route: Take the track that goes right under the arches, away from the main road and follow yet another dry river bed through the orchards until you meet the Rio Verde river road at a T junction.
Turn right and follow the river road. You are going in the direction of the sea. The road here can be dusty but you will only be following this valley for approx 15 minutes before turning in to the orchards again.
Take the second right turn (opposite another road coming in from the left where there is a ford). The rough track quickly turns at right angles to the river for 100 metres, then curves left. At this point take the right hand track in between houses. (The road forks left and continues on to extend the walk by a couple of kilometers and takes you into the area of Las Palomas, behind the petrol station in Almunecar.)
Follow the quiet track through the houses and along between the orchards back towards the town.
You will emerge under another aqueduct over the road opposite the entrance to Santa Cruz, a new urbanisacion in San Sebastian. It is a short walk down hill to Plaza Mayor passing under the motorway bridge.
Click for route on Google maps