May 23 Free guided tour IN ENGLISH of Gebas in the mountains of Sierra Espuña
Clear air, great views and the spectacular badlands in the Alhama de Murcia village of Gebas
This “Landscape and Culture” tour of the village of Gebas, in the foothills of Sierra Espuña, was a new addition to the schedule of guided visits in Alhama de Murcia last autumn and this latest edition on Saturday 23rd May begins at 10.00 outside the Local Social (alongside the small village church) on the edge of the village and lasts around three hours.
The village is very small but has become a centre for adventure and active tourism in the Regional Park of Sierra Espuña, and many visitors come to enjoy mountain biking, hiking, quad bikes, hang-gliding and rock climbing, as well as hiking along the numerous paths and tracks in the Regional Park. For many visitors, though, the real attraction is seeing the “other side” of the Region of Murcia and experiencing the charm of a village where mains electricity did not arrive until the mid-20th century!
On top of which, the village is very close to the “barrancos”, one of the most spectacular landscapes in the whole of the Costa Cálida. These “badlands” are an area of chalk steppes and hardy grass shrubs surrounded by limestone “badlands” which create a curious desert-like lunar landscape in stark contrast to the greenery of the upper slopes of the mountains – for which much credit must go to the forestry engineer Ricardo Codorniú, who in 1891 began work on repopulating the trees of Sierra Espuña. These ambitious reforestation plans totally changed this area, and the visitors centre in Sierra Espuña is named after Ricardo Codorniú.
One recommended visit is the “Mirador de Gebas”, a sightseeing viewing point offering views over the Badlands.
Note: the same tour is being held in Spanish on the same day at 18.00 – go to the What’s On section of Alhama Today for further details.
Registration for this guided tour is free of charge although prior registration is required online here or through the tourist office (telephone 968 633512, email turismo@alhamademurcia.es).
For more local news, events and visiting information contact the tourist office (telephone 968 633512) or go to the home page of Alhama Today.
Oficina de Turismo de Alhama de Murcia
Alhama de Murcia Tourist information office is located on the edge of the Plaza de la Constitución, just a few metres away from the underground car park and the Town hall of Alhama de Murcia.
The tourist office offers free guided audiotours in English which take visitors around the historical sites of interest in Alhama. These be loaned at any time, although allow an hour and a half to complete the tour, and when loaning the audio equipment visitors are asked to leave passports or ID cards with the tourist office.
The office also carries a full range of leaflets for the archaeological museum of Los Baños, which is built around the historic spa which gives Alhama its name, and the mountains of Sierra Espuña, which is also an important area within the municipality of Alhama. Areas such as El Berro and Gebas have a number of interesting routes which can be followed and there are several picnic areas and good walking routes within the Sierra Espuña natural park.
The tourist office also carries leaflets for the many cultural events and fiestas which take place in Alhama throughout the year, including Los Mayos, Semana Santa, Christmas,the Romería of La Candelaria and the Auto de los Reyes Magos in El Berro.
Opening Hours
Winter (September 16 – May 31)
- Tuesday to Friday: 9am-2pm and 4.30pm-7.30pm
- Saturdays: 10am-1pm
- Sundays and Mondays: closed
Summer (June 1 to September 15)
- Tuesday to Friday: 08.30 to 14.30
- Saturdays: 10.00 to 13.00
- Sundays and Mondays: closed
For more local information, including news and forthcoming events, visit the home page of Alhama Today.
