Sometimes, the easiest way to see the sights is to book a tour—especially when there are 13 people and the transportation logistics are tricky.
That was exactly the case with our day trip to Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas with our travel friends. After an earlier attempt was derailed by terrible weather—and later, actual flooding in the area—we weren’t sure if it was ever going to happen. But with just two days left before we packed up in Málaga and headed out of Schengen, we decided to keep things simple and book a GetYourGuide tour. And honestly, it was the right call.
With someone else handling the driving, timing, and logistics, we could just sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery as we wound our way through the Andalusian countryside. No stress, no navigating, no worrying about parking in tiny historic towns—just quality time together.
Our first stop was Setenil de las Bodegas—and this place is truly one of a kind.
Setenil is famous for its houses built directly into and under massive rock overhangs. Instead of building around the landscape, the town quite literally built into it. Walking through the narrow streets, you’ll find entire rows of homes, cafés, and shops tucked beneath enormous slabs of stone that form natural roofs. It’s incredibly cool to see… but also surprisingly busy.
Our tour bus was not able to drive to the town, so we had to take a small tourist train from the bus closer to the town. The streets were packed with tourists (us included), all trying to take photos of the same dramatic scenes. And unlike many pedestrian-only old towns, cars actually drive through these tight spaces, weaving through crowds and squeezing past buildings. It definitely adds a layer of chaos—and we couldn’t help but wonder what it must be like to actually live there. Charming, yes… but probably a bit overwhelming on a daily basis. It is a very touristy thing to do, but still, it was worth seeing it once.
From there, we continued on to Ronda, which absolutely lived up to the anticipation. Perched dramatically above a deep gorge, the town feels like something out of a storybook. The famous Puente Nuevo bridge stretches across the canyon, connecting the old and new parts of the city, and the views are breathtaking in every direction.
Ronda is one of Spain’s oldest towns, with roots going back to Roman times, and later a significant Moorish stronghold. You can feel that layered history as you wander its streets—from ancient walls and palaces to one of the oldest bullrings in Spain. It has that mix of grandeur and quiet charm that makes you want to linger longer than your schedule allows.
Looking back, booking the tour was the perfect choice for this kind of day. With limited time left in Málaga and so many “what ifs” from our earlier failed attempts, it felt good to finally make it happen without any extra hassle.
Two days later, we were packing up, saying goodbye to Málaga, and preparing to leave the Schengen zone once again. But this trip—delayed, uncertain, and ultimately unforgettable—felt like the perfect send-off.
