The Gato Cave, in Benaoján, is a natural monument in Andalusia, the southern mouth of the cave system known as the Hundidero-Gato System, which occupies the Málaga part of the Sierra de Grazalema. The southern mouth opens out onto the river Guadares or Gaduares, combining the water, the mountain chains, the greenery and its own microclimate to make the area surrounding the Cueva del Gato a spectacular maze of landscapes.
Declared a heritage asset, the Cueva del Gato, which in reality refers to the whole area and not just the southern entrance, is home to grey herons, cormorants and nightingales, mainly thanks to its riverside vegetation, as well as bats and prehistoric art on the inside of the caves. It is therefore a journey to another time and place. It is the ideal place to get lost and to find yourself.
Things to do
In the heart of the countryside, the activities at the Cueva del Gato are infinite, but there are some that are scheduled and planned with the aim of exploring in detail and enjoying the natural wonder that is the Cueva del Gato as much as possible.
- Caving is probably the main activity in this area. Thanks to its unique karstic processes, many groups of experts frequent this area. Nevertheless, it is fully accessible for any tourist with comfortable footwear who wants to walk and enjoy the crystalline waters, the varied landscapes or the beauty around the cave itself. A few metres of swimming, climbing with ropes (very simple, don't worry!), hiking along cobbled paths, etc. The river penetrates deep into the ground, and the cave into the mountains... And visitors to the Cueva del Gato will be able to enjoy it.
- Kayaking. Thanks to the rivers that converge around this paradise, it is very common to see tourists kayaking in the vicinity of this incomparable setting. Furthermore, the river Guadiaro, as well as the Zahara reservoir, are very good areas for kayaking, an activity that is not only fun, but very useful for dealing with the heat.
- Climbing and abseiling: Around the Cueva del Gato, due to the rockiness of the landscape, there are areas where you can climb and abseil, two activities that are physical, but safe and bring you closer to nature. For example, these two activities allow us to access places that would be impossible on foot, and we will be rewarded with the views.
Obviously, the water not only helps to balance out the temperature, it also means there are more activities to do in the Cueva del Gato. As well as kayaking, swimming and walking, it is also possible to enjoy a relaxing and very, very refreshing dip.
In short, it is the perfect place to connect with the water, the surroundings and the landscape, and enjoy the activities and the views that this natural paradise in the Sierra de Grazalema, Málaga has to offer.
