Cueva de la Pileta
The next morning we headed toward one of Andalusia's most fascinating natural attractions – Cueva de la Pileta. This stalactite cave near Ronda hides prehistoric cave paintings up to 30,000 years old, like a window into the past. The road there wound along serpentine roads.
Admission was €15 per person, with visits only possible on guided tours. Stepping into the cave, we were filled with deep respect – the paintings on the walls told stories from a time before history. The guide led us through the darkness by the light of small flashlights. The tour lasted about an hour and left a deep impression.
Toward Caminito Del Rey
We set off driving toward the destination we had been looking forward to for a long time – Caminito del Rey. Along the way we stopped on a mountainside for lunch. Jessika had a webinar scheduled, so I searched the map for a place for a small hike.
Google Maps revealed a fascinating destination – an old dam and associated cave system. As soon as I arrived at the parking lot, I knew I'd made the right choice. Majestic eagles circled above.
Presa de Montejaque
I headed first toward the old dam, but the route was blocked by a gate. I followed local youths' path and climbed past the gate. I walked along a narrow walkway until I reached the dam's summit – and the views took my breath away. I was completely alone, surrounded only by silence and endless mountain landscape. Eagles circled in the sky, and from the dried-up lake below came the bleating of sheep. The sun was slowly setting behind the mountains.
It was one of those moments when time stands still.
Cueva del Hundidero
After the moment at the dam's summit, I wanted to continue my exploration – this time beneath the dam, where a massive Cueva del Hundidero cave system lay. The atmosphere changed immediately as I descended: the open, sunny landscape gave way to dense vegetation and a jungle-like green valley.
The cave's entrance was enormous. The walls rose to great heights like an ancient gateway to the earth's depths. There were warning signs at the entrance. The atmosphere was so mystical and slightly ominous that I decided to just admire the place from the entrance.
Daylight was fading, and I knew it was time to return to the van. Although I hadn't prepared for this hike in advance, it was one of the trip's most unforgettable experiences.
Night in the mountains
When I returned to the van, Jessika's webinar had already ended. We headed toward the reservoirs near Caminito del Rey. Darkness had already fallen, and the atmosphere turned into a nighttime adventure.
We drove a narrow one-way road that wound steeply up the mountainside. Far below, the lake surface glittered in the moonlight. I had read that foxes were common in the area. The night was quiet though – only the hum of wind and distant water sounds kept us company.
Getting back in the van, I couldn't help smiling. Tomorrow morning was going to be amazing.
