“Mar de Olivos” Route of the Bandits Trail – PR-A 142

On leaving Lucena by the N-331 highway towards Malaga, just before leaving the industrial area around the city ring road, we should take a turn-off to the right will bring us by paved road CP-205) to Jauja; to the left we'll see the starting point for the “Mar de Olivos” Ruta de los Bandoleros Trail – PR-A 142.

The route starts on an old winding road which is unpaved. This first stretch runs almost parallel to the N-331 highway and a number of paths will cross. Before starting a short descent, we enter an area where the olive trees disappear and make way for broom bushes.

The path leads into a new track where we turn right; after passing the Anzur River and its tributary, the Arroyo de las Perdices, we begin a climb that will take us around a small hill which gives us a spectacular view of the Nature Reserve of the Sierras Subbéticas. The first part of the path leads into CO-752 highway (Benamejí -Jauja). From here we are able to turn off to the right to visit the Laguna de los Jarales, about 10 minutes away.

From here the second part of the path begins its descent to another road (CO-762), where enables us to continue towards the right to visit the Lagunas Dulce y Amarga, where we can observe such birds as the mallard, flamenco, heron and especially the white-headed duck.

Our route ends in Aldea de Jauja, where we can see the Genil River and the house of the bandit José María "El Tempranillo”.