Table of contents
This is a walking route that we do very often From the start the views are breathtaking. This is also a hike that is perfect to do with kids or taking you dog with you. At a certain point the great lake of Istan comes into view and you immediately see various viewpoints. The pinnacle is a small ''peninsula'' with rocks and a tree. The perfect place for a picnic!
Parking
Parking is easy, you keep the road to Istan and set on the navigation ''Ruta - Puerta Verde de Marbella''. This is where the residential area ends and with it the road. At the end of the road you can either park along the side of the street in the parking bays or in the parking lot/sand area at the end of the road. This is also the starting point of the route.
The route
You can't miss the start, immediately after the parking lot you walk straight ahead and use the road to get over the AP7, this is a slightly steep road where you cross via a viaduct and have the first beautiful views with a beautiful view of the sea.
From this point on, the route is easy to follow and you can get out even without a map or navigation. We use for the routeWikiloc so you can easily walk via Google maps. You can easily walk the route without Google Maps or another navigation app.
After walking uphill for a while, Lake Istan comes into view. This reservoir has breathtaking views and after 5 minutes you have forgotten that it is a reservoir. You come across beautiful places to sit and have a drink or eat a tasty snack. In the summer it is best to walk in the morning or at the end of the day because of the heat.
The highlight of the route is a kind of peninsula that enters with more where you can climb to a highpoint, this point with a typical tree in the middle is the ideal place to enjoy the view. Tip, take a picnic backpack with a nice glass of wine, a Manchego and some ham. You want to enjoy this view for at least half an hour.
Back you can take just a few other pairs that run more or less parallel to the outward route, but which still allows you to take in very nice other views
Photo overview
Watching wildlife
There is a lot of wildlife around Lake Istan, nothing to be afraid of and very beautiful. Especially at the end of the day or early in the morning you have a good chance of encountering deer, goats and boars. You can also see the billy goats climbing the steep slopes during the day and looking out over the lake
Good to know
- Good to do with children from 5 years and with your dog
- Take food and drinks with you, it is a protected nature reserve where you will not encounter anything in terms of catering
- It can be extremely hot here in the summer, so be careful when you go
- The route is just under 6 kilometers and takes 1.5 hours
- There is the possibility to extend the route yourself, there are several paths along Lake Istan.
Conclusion
If you want to do a short walk with a breathtaking view, this route is great! The views are phenomenal and if you forget it the first time, you will definitely take your picnic backpack with you the second time to enjoy a tasty snack.