FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why come to Gaucin?
In a word - location. From the village you can look out over the valley of the Genal river all the way to the Mediterranean and the coast of Africa. You are 30 minutes from the coast and an hour and 15 minutes to the famouse nightlife of Marbella.
Gibraltar is an hour by road through simply wonderful Andalucian countyside.
Visit the famouse beaches of Tarifa only one and a half hours away.
Ronda, sight of the oldest bull ring in Spain, is a 40 minute drive. The medieval stone bridge is featured in Hemmingway's 'For Whom the Bell Tolls'. Your guide books should be thick with sights to see in Ronda.
And then there are the regional capitals: Cádiz, Seville, Córdoba and Granada, each no more than an easy 3 hour drive through wonderful sight-seeing country.
Gaucín itself is one of the Pueblos Blancos (White Villages) and on a route well publicised by the Spanish tourist authority.
Morocco is so close you can visit Tangier in a day or take a well organised tour for up to a week.
How is the weather?
This area of Andalucia has without a doubt the best climate in Europe. This is effectively a North African climate which is logical since we can see Morocco.
January through March are the coolest months. Temperatures on a cold morning may dip to 8c on an unusual day. By mid day 20c+ is typical, and much more if we have a hot spell. April to the middle of May are the spring months. Rain is possible, though the duration is not normally long. From mid May the sun is getting high and from June to mid September it is hot. Rain is very rare during these months and a welcome event if it happens. From mid September onwards the process of cooling down is taking place. Sweaters are required in the evenings. November, we hope will be wet, while our experience of the Christmas season usually heralds great weather. The rainy season could be said to be late October and November and February through April.
What about flights?
Málaga is the biggest airport servicing the Costa del Sol. It has the most international and domestic connections. From the airport to Gaucín it is an easy two hour drive. During the tourist (summer) season you should take the toll road. The charge of approximately € 6.50 is well worth it and if you're short of cash, you can use a credit card.
Gibraltar is the closest airport. Many clients do like its convenience but remember, having arrived in Gibraltar, you still have to cross the Spanish border and its associated controls into Spain. Normally this is not a problem, but it is worth a mention.
Seville is starting to come on-line as it were...British Airways, Iberia and others are finding Málaga so busy that they are seeking alternative airports. From Gaucín, Seville is about 2 1/2 hours.
What activities are there in Gaucin?
There are sporting activities, cultural events and Gaucín is centred in a zone rich in bird life. This is wild mountainous country, full of old trails which the smugglers from the coast used to use to sneak past the Guardia Civil during the night. If you see a village, mountain or river, surely there is an old path to walk there. There is a Dutch guide in the village who, for a nominal fee, will take people into the maquis. Gaucín has a public tennis court and swimming pool and it is possible to rent horses for riding.
Over the course of the year, Gaucín has various fiestas. Easter Sunday is the running of the bull and the annual feria is between the 2nd and 5th of August. It seems that almost every month there is something going on. Our neighbour village, Jimena de la Frontera, has begun with great success an international music festival. There are occasional classical concerts in this area and throughout the year. The rock and rollers are also starting up.
What about the bird life?
We are very close to Africa and on one of the main transit routes for migratory birds between the two continents. February and early March is the peak season to visit if you're a bird lover. All year round we are rich in raptors - the great vultures sweep over the village and soar the Crestalina. It is rare in a short country drive if you don't get a view of an eagle or kestrel. There is a major stork colony in the railway yards approaching the coast. Ask about the epi-centre of bird life of all descriptions near Algeciras. A guided tour of our bird life can be arranged with local expert, Barry Howard. We can recommend a day with Barry due to the great feed back which we have had from our clients.