Jubrique, a quick stroll through a white village in the Genal Valley

On 27 July 2026 we made a short stop in Jubrique, a small white village in the Genal Valley. We were coming from Genalguacil and didn't plan to stay long, we just wanted to get out of the car, stretch our legs and wander through the streets for a bit. And that is exactly what this village is good for.

Walking through the streets

Jubrique is really small, so don't expect a long list of sights. What it does have is lovely narrow streets with whitewashed houses, cobbles and little brick lines in the paving, and almost everywhere blue flowerpots against the white walls. It looks so neat and cared for. The streets are steep too, because the village is built on a mountain slope, so you will be going up and down all the time. In the July heat that was a bit of a workout, but you can also just sit down on some steps in the shade for a minute, which we did.

In one of the streets you walk under a little arch with a blue ceiling with stars, and there are information panels along the way that tell a bit about the village. We didn't read them all (it was hot and we were mostly looking around), but they are handy if you want to know more.

Keep your eyes open for the small things too. Around a corner we found a stack of painted tyres turned into a minion, complete with big smile, and it made us laugh. The people here clearly like to decorate their front doors.

The church and the view

The most important building in the village is the church of San Francisco de Asís. It dates from the 16th or 17th century and it is said to stand on the spot of an old mosque. It has a nice octagonal tower and when we were there the square was full of little lights and colourful flags hanging above it, which made for a fun photo.

Higher up in the village you get a view over the red roofs and the green hills behind them. The whole area is covered in forest, with chestnut trees, cork oaks and olive groves, and it is a beautiful sight.

Good to know

Jubrique has around 500 to 600 inhabitants and sits at about 560 metres in the Serranía de Ronda, on the slopes of Sierra Bermeja. The name probably comes from an Arabic word meaning something like place of abundance. From Estepona you drive up via the A-557 and then the MA-536, and the road is very curvy, so give yourself some time. It is a pretty drive though.

If you like walking there are several paths around the village, for example down to the Río Genal and the natural pools like Charco Picao. The village also has some small hermitages just outside it, like the Ermita de la Cruz del Chorrillo, which has a nice view over the valley. The main fiesta is in early October, in honour of San Francisco.

Our verdict: it is a small village, so you won't spend a day here, but it is really worth a stop if you are in the neighbourhood. We combined it with Genalguacil, which is known for its open-air art, and that made a nice little trip through the Genal Valley.