Hiking Charca de las Nutrias-Rio del Castor

Estepona · Nature & walking

We've been · Jul 2025

Our tip

A fun river walk up the Río Castor near Estepona, with water even in summer, small natural dams to cool off in and a few bits where you almost have to swim.

Practical

Price: Free
Parking: Park at the back of a parking next to the AP-7 toll motorway, then walk to the gate of the Camino del Castor.
Good for: Families with kids, hot summer days
Good to know: A good stretch of walking before the actual river walk starts. Some parts you almost have to swim. We did not try reaching the start directly from the AP-7.

This is one we've done a few times now, also with the kids, and it's always a treat on a hot day. The walk follows the Río Castor up the valley and the best part is that you're mostly walking in or right next to the water, so you stay cool the whole way. AllTrails lists it as an out-and-back of about 9.7 km and rates it as fairly challenging.

Getting there is a bit of a story. We drove in and parked at the back of a parking by the AP-7, the toll motorway. As far as we know you can't walk in from the AP-7 itself, or maybe you can, but we didn't try it, we just drove in by the normal roads. We started walking at the little gate you see in the photo, and it's a good stretch of walking first before the real Castor walk even begins, so count that in when you plan your time.

Even in summer there's enough water in the Castor. Small dams have been built in a few places, so you can properly cool off and in some spots even go completely under. There are also a few bits where you almost have to swim to get through, but that's what makes it such a fun adventure. Wear shoes that can get wet and don't take anything along that you don't want soaked.