Casares is a picture postcard 'pueblo blanco', and one of the most picturesque villages in Andalucia. Reputedly named after Julius Caesar, who visited the area to take a cure from the local springs, Casares is steeped in local history, and yet remains a charming working village where the pace of life has remained largely unchanged for centuries.
The village is only 15 minutes drive inland from the Costa del Sol, but it is a world away from the hustle and bustle of the coast. With it stunning cliff top position and moorish castle, it is also one of the most widely photographed villages in Andalucia (check out the cover of Lonely Planet's guide to Andalucia).
Walk through the whitewashed village up to the castle ruins for superb views down the coast, and see Gibraltar and the Rif mountains of Morocco in the distance. If you look up you'll see griffin vultures and eagles soaring overhead on thermals up to their nests in Bermeja mountains which form a stunning backdrop of Casares.
There are several bars and restaurants for a quick pitstop to cool off on the way back down to the heart of the village. The area around Casares is very picturesque, with a selection of lovely Andalucia holiday villas available for rent in the summer season.
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