Our Fuengirola park review series: Parque Las Presas in Torreblanca
Rating ★★★★★
One of Fuengirola’s lesser-known gems, located in suburban Torreblanca, Parque Las Presas is a peaceful nature retreat. Landscaped into the gorge around Las Presas creek, it’s filled with lush greenery and rambling pathways.
Jump to read:
- Park review
- Detailed description of the park
- VIDEO
- Animals and plants
- The cats
- The hiking trail Sendero Las Presas
- Tips for your visit
- 📍HOW TO GET THERE
Review
My son, the Park Expert of this blog, loves to explore Parque Las Presas. Our adventure usually doesn’t stop at the park, we also like to walk along the adjoining Sendero Las Presas hiking trail, and say hi to the cats that wander over from the nearby cat sanctuary.
Overall vibe:
★★★★★ A relaxing walk in nature. Usually quiet and peaceful.
Facilities:
N/A This is a nature park, so no swings or slides. Some benches in the park. A picnic table on the hiking trail.
Beauty:
★★★★★ Gorgeous Andalusian nature in a creek gorge. Fun paths and stairways, lots of trees and greenery.
Relaxation factor:
★★★★★ Very quiet compared to other Fuengirola parks.
Cleanliness:
★★★★★ The last time we visited, we didn’t see any rubbish.
Accessibility:
★★☆☆☆
✓ Bus stop nearby
✓ Offers sensory calm
✓ Map of hiking trail at park entrance
✗ Very scarce street parking
✗ Steep, uneven walking surfaces!
The Park Expert’s Verdict:
★★★★★ “It’s a nice, calm park with paths and a lot of nature. You can spot some interesting animals and insects. It’s better than other parks, if you’re not planning to play on swings or slides. There are also cats which is good.”
Details and description
Situated in Torreblanca, the northern suburb of Fuengirola, Parque Las Presas offers a serene escape from the city. The park is built into a gorge, with a natural creek running through it.
It’s a perfect blend of nature and adventure. There are paths, wooden walkways and stairs that crisscross the park, making it ideal for families with kids looking for a peaceful afternoon out exploring Andalusian nature.
The terrain is steep and very uneven. You need to wear good walking shoes. The terrain is not suitable for strollers, wheelchairs or anyone with mobility issues.
There are no swings or slides in this park. It’s a place where you can appreciate nature and explore the creek and its banks—or join the Sendero Las Presas hiking trail.
The park’s vibe is relaxed, tranquil and family-friendly, and there are lots of tall trees that provide shade, even during the hot months. It’s hardly ever busy, sometimes we’re the only ones there!
Video of park
On mobile, click bottom right to enlarge!
Animals and plants
Arroyo Las Presas, the creek which runs through the park, is home to many interesting insects and animals. My son’s favourite bugs are zapateros, a type of water-striding insect that zigzags across the water surface.
In winter, we have spotted signal crabs in the creek; they are small and brown, look like tiny lobsters, and move very fast when startled.
The park is home to at least twenty different tree species, including carob, eucalyptus, olive and mimosa trees, Canarian palms, holm oaks, elms and yuccas.
The cats
A little further up the road from the park is a cat sanctuary. Many of the cats hang out near the park, especially by the picnic table along the hiking trail to the west of the park. My son loves bringing cat treats for them.
This colony of strays is cared for by local volunteers who neuter and feed the cats. Read this excellent article in Sur in English about the charities and please consider supporting them with donations:
- 🐈 Aristochat Charity website
Hiking trail Sendero Las Presas
The Sendero Las Presas hiking trail runs from the beach, through Las Presas Park and all the way up to the big A7 motorway in the foothills of the Mijas mountain. The trail offers a scenic route for those who enjoy an urban walk with long stretches of nature. It runs uphill/downhill along Arroyo Las Presas, with some slightly tricky areas where you have to balance over rocks or hop over the creek.
I couldn’t find an official map of the trail, but someone had created a map on the hiking website WikiLoc.
Inside the Las Presas Park, you’ll see a signpost for the trail—see the picture below.
Some sections of the trail may be blocked off depending on the season. For example, I find that the section near the beach gets quite smelly during the summer months when the creek stagnates in places. In winter, the town hall occasionally seals off parts of the trail when heavy rainfall floods the creek or makes it unstable.
If that happens, we usually continue our walk along the streets that run parallel to the trail. Having said that, there are decent sections of the trail that are always open and really fun to explore. We particularly like the bit that runs uphill from the park.
We don’t find the Sendero too challenging—we’re reasonably fit, but we’re urban explorers and not experienced hikers. However, it’s definitely not accessible for strollers or wheelchairs, nor would I recommend it to anyone who finds it difficult to walk uphill or balance on uneven terrain.
Tips for your visit
When planning your visit, I recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes as you’ll likely be tempted to explore every corner of the park and the Sendero. Don’t forget to bring water, sunscreen and some cat treats if you want to say hello to the kitties.
📍 How to get there
Name: Parque Las Presas
Address: Calle Alhelí 7
Hours: Gates usually open 10 am – 9 pm, but may vary
Map: Google Maps Link
Bus stop: Orquidea-Parque Las Presas, L5 bus
Train station: Torreblanca + 12 minute walk
Parking: Street parking only
Wrap up
Fuengirola Las Presas Park and its surrounding attractions are a must-visit for anyone in Fuengirola looking for an afternoon filled with nature, adventure, relaxation and, of course, cats. Our visits there are always filled with fun exploration and lots of purring! Make sure to check out the photos in this post to see why we love this spot.
Before you go
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