Short walk · Montejaque

Cueva del Hundidero and Presa de los Caballeros

Very close to Montejaque, the river disappears under the mountain at the Cueva del Hundidero, the entrance to the great cave system that ends at the Cueva del Gato. Next to it stands the Presa de los Caballeros, a century-old dam that never filled up. It is a short and spectacular walk.

Where

Municipality of Montejaque, next to the MA-8403 road

Route

About 700 m along a track to the dam and about 500 m of path through the gorge

Time

About 20 minutes on foot from the car park to the mouth of the cave

Difficulty

Easy, with handrails, steps and information panels

Protection

Natural Monument of Andalusia since 2011

A dam that never filled

In the 1920s the Compañía Sevillana de Electricidad built a dam here to generate electricity from the river. But the limestone of the sierra is full of cracks, and the water escaped into the mountain within a few days. For years they tried to seal it with concrete, without success, and the project was abandoned in 1950.

Today the dam still stands, wedged between rock walls, and instead of a reservoir there is a seasonal wetland. It is one of the most surprising spots in the Serranía de Ronda.

How to get there

Leave Montejaque on the MA-8403 road. There is a parking area from which a single-lane track of about 700 metres leads to the dam. From there, a path of about 500 metres goes into the gorge to the great mouth of the Cueva del Hundidero.

The path has handrails, steps and panels explaining the history and geology of the site. In total it is about a 20-minute walk from the car park.

What you will see

The entrance to the cave is enormous, and the river flows into it when it carries water. There are Copper Age paintings at the mouth, and the cave is home to an important bat colony.

There is also a via ferrata on the dam wall, for anyone who wants an adventure experience with a guide and equipment.

Safety

Do not go into the cave. Crossing the system to the Cueva del Gato is only for experienced cavers with equipment and local guides, and it is very dangerous when it rains.

Wear comfortable shoes, carry water and avoid the middle of the day when it is hot.

Sources: Showcaves: Cueva del Hundidero · Andalucia.com: Cueva del Gato and the Hundidero-Gato system. Check opening times, rules and access before your visit, as they can change.