Campillos: things to see, lagoons and how to get there

Campillos lies in the Guadalteba area of inland Malaga, around 30 kilometres from Antequera. Its lagoons attract birdwatchers, while the town itself offers a chance to visit Santa Maria del Reposo Church, stroll through its squares and try the local food.

You can combine a visit with Fuente de Piedra lagoon, the Guadalhorce and Guadalteba reservoirs or the nearby towns of Teba and Ardales. If you are planning a nature trip, bear rainfall in mind: water levels in the lagoons and the birds you can see change throughout the year.

History of Campillos

Archaeological sites across the municipality preserve traces of settlement from prehistoric times through to the Roman and Visigothic periods. They include the Roman villa of Los Castillones and the remains at El Moralejo, which help explain how the area was inhabited before the present town developed.

Campillos began to take shape in the late 15th century, with the arrival of settlers from Osuna, followed by others from Teba and Antequera. It remained under Teba's administration until 1680, when Charles II granted it town status and its own jurisdiction.

In 1975, the municipality expanded to incorporate land from the former municipality of Peñarrubia, which was affected by the construction of the Guadalteba reservoir. Agriculture, pig and poultry farming, and the leather industry have all played an important part in the local economy.

Things to see in Campillos

The parish church and San Benito Chapel are two of the town's main sights. Outside the town centre, Cortijo de las Mezquitas preserves evidence of the area's Moorish past.

• Santa Maria del Reposo Church: dating back to the 16th century, the church owes much of its present appearance to alterations made in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Look out for the Baroque doorway and the tower topped with blue and white roof tiles. (View on the map)
• San Benito Chapel: dedicated to the patron saint of Campillos, the chapel was begun in 1578 and blessed in 1596. It was rebuilt in the 18th century, with the entrance porch added in 1814. (View on the map)
• Cortijo de las Mezquitas: this farmhouse incorporates the remains of a mosque dating from the 10th and 11th centuries. It stands where the municipal boundaries of Antequera and Campillos meet, with the protected surrounding area also extending into Sierra de Yeguas. Horseshoe arches survive within the building, which has Bien de Interés Cultural status, a Spanish heritage designation. (View on the map)
• Adventure park: the park has an obstacle course with challenges of varying difficulty and a zip wire, with instructors supervising the activity. Before visiting, check the Campillos tourism website to find out whether the park is open and which activities you can book. (View on the map)

Campillos lagoons and walking routes

The Lagunas de Campillos Nature Reserve comprises the Dulce, Salada, Capacete, Camuñas, Redonda and Cerero lagoons. These seasonal wetlands are fed by rainfall and attract flamingos, black-winged stilts, coots and several species of duck.

The landscape varies considerably with the seasons and the amount of water in the lagoons. Binoculars let you watch birds without approaching the shores or disturbing them. Keep to the paths and use the designated viewpoints when exploring the area.

• Campillos lagoons: somewhere to spend a few hours birdwatching or taking nature photographs. Laguna Dulce is the largest lagoon in the reserve. (View the lagoons on the map)
• Path between Campillos and Teba: rural tracks south of the town take you through the area's farmland. The marked location appears on Google Maps as ‘Via Verde Campillos-Teba’. (View the location on the map)
• PR-A 378, Ruta del Viento ‘Los Barrancos’: a circular walk of around 9.5 kilometres through farmland and past wind turbines. The municipal route guide suggests allowing about three hours and notes that there are no water points along the way. (View the starting point on the map)
• Gran Senda de Malaga: this long-distance walking route passes through Campillos, with stages linking Fuente de Piedra to the town and Campillos to the Guadalhorce reservoirs. Plan these as full-day walks and read the stage descriptions before setting out.

For a longer outing, the reservoirs and the area around El Chorro offer a different landscape of mountains and gorges. Nearby Fuente de Piedra lagoon is another option for visitors interested in birdwatching.

What to eat in Campillos

Local dishes include porra, a thick chilled tomato soup, salmorejo de naranjas, an orange salad, and asparagus soup. You may also find cocido de tagardinas, a stew made with edible thistles, migas, made from fried breadcrumbs, guiso de manos, a pig's trotter stew, and gazpachuelo, a soup made with mayonnaise. Olive oil, local produce and pork feature prominently in the town's traditional recipes.

Sweet specialities include leche frita, fried pieces of set milk pudding, gachas, a sweet porridge, and pestiños, small fried pastries. Sweet empanadillas, magdalena cakes and bollos de aceite, buns made with olive oil, are also part of the local baking tradition.

Festivals and events

The Feria de Agosto, the town's annual summer fair, takes place over several days around 15 August, with performances, fairground rides and activities for different ages. The Campillos Flamenco Festival is also held around this time. Exact dates vary from year to year.

The Feria del Jamón is an autumn food fair bringing together producers of ham, cured meats, cheese, olive oil and other foods. It is an opportunity to taste and buy local products. Check the programmes for both events on the official tourism website.

How to get to Campillos from Malaga

From Malaga Airport, the usual driving route follows the A-357 towards Cartama and Ardales, continuing to Campillos. Allow roughly an hour, depending on traffic and your final destination.

Visiting Campillos and the surrounding area by car

A car is useful if you want to combine the town with the lagoons, Fuente de Piedra or the reservoirs. With Malagacar, you can collect your car near Malaga Airport and plan your journeys around your itinerary.

car hire Malaga airport

Taxi or private transfer to Campillos

You can book an airport transfer to take you straight to your accommodation. This is a practical option if you are travelling with luggage or in a group and would prefer to avoid changing between public transport services.

Book a taxi or transfer

*No advance payment is required and cancellation is free. We therefore recommend booking ahead to secure your vehicle and price.

Buses, trains and getting around the town

By bus: Alsa operates direct services between Malaga bus station and Campillos. From the airport, you can take the C1 local train, part of the Cercanías network, to Malaga-Maria Zambrano, beside the bus station. Check departures and return services for your travel date with Alsa.

By train: Campillos has its own station on the Bobadilla-Algeciras line. The local train from the airport does not run to Campillos, so you will need to change to other services. Check connections and timetables for your travel date with Renfe, where you can also see whether any disruption may affect your journey.

Within Campillos: you can explore the centre on foot. You will need to arrange transport beyond the town centre to visit the lagoons, Cortijo de las Mezquitas or the starting point of the Ruta del Viento.

Tourist information for Campillos