Ardales is a typically Andalusian white town located in the middle of the Guadalhorce Valley, between the sierras of Ronda and the Antequera depression, surrounded by the reservoirs of the Guadalhorce-Guadalteba complex. It has a past with a lot of history: it was a key defensive enclave during the Muladí rebellion of Omar Ben Hafsun in the 9th-10th centuries, and it was not definitively conquered by Los Cristianos until 1389, when King John I signed a pact there with the Nasrid prince of Granada. Among its main attractions are the Cueva de Ardales, with Palaeolithic rock art from between 14,000 and 18,000 years ago; the medieval castles of Turón and La Peña; the Roman bridge of La Molina; and its proximity to the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes and the Caminito del Rey. Its narrow streets and whitewashed houses give it that typical Andalusian village air.

The Cave of Ardales is one of the most important prehistoric caves in Spain. It was discovered by chance in 1821, when an earthquake revealed its entrance, and in 1823 it became the first visitable cave in the country. In 1918 Henri Breuil identified his Palaeolithic paintings and engravings, but the great discovery came in 2018: a study in the journal Science revealed that part of this rock art is more than 66,000 years old, being one of the oldest artistic manifestations in the world, made by Neanderthals, even before the arrival of modern humans in Europe. In total, the cave preserves more than 1,000 motifs (negative handprints, deer, horses, female figures, and abstract signs), in addition to human remains from 5,000 years ago used as burial. Today it is visited in guided and very small groups (maximum 15 people per day, with prior reservation), on a tour of about two hours from the Ardales interpretation centre.

The Guadalhorce Valley is one of the nine districts of the province of Málaga, centred around the Guadalhorce River, the most important in the province. It is known as "the orchard of Malaga" or "the garden of Malaga" due to the fertility of its land, the result of centuries of irrigation and river sediments, which made it an ideal area to cultivate the so-called "Mediterranean trinity": wheat, wine, and olive oil. Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, and Muslims left their mark on the area, and it was precisely the Muslims who perfected the irrigation systems with norias and canals that still support local agriculture today. The region groups eight municipalities—Álora, Alhaurín el Grande, Alhaurín de la Torre, Almogía, Cártama, Coín, Pizarra, and Valle de Abdalajís—, with Coín traditionally being the most important. Combines landscapes of fertile plain with mountain environments, and houses some of the most notable hydraulic infrastructures in the province, such as the El Chorro reservoirs in Álora

Carratraca is a small town in the interior of Málaga, located between the Guadalhorce Valley, the Serranía de Ronda, and the Antequera region, at the foot of the Sierra Blanquilla. Its fame comes from its sulfurous waters, known since Roman times—as proven by Roman coins and the remains of stone baths found next to the spring, then called "Stinky Waters"—and mentioned in writing as early as 1485. After centuries in oblivion, they resurged as a fashionable spa in the 19th century: in 1847, an elegant neoclassical spa was built that attracted figures such as Lord Byron, a great defender of its curative properties, and later King Ferdinand VII and Empress Eugénie de Montijo. Rich in sulphur, calcium, and magnesium, they were used to treat skin conditions, respiratory problems, and rheumatic ailments. Today the historic spa coexists with the Villapadierna Thermas hotel-spa, and the town also has a unique bullring among its attractions.

Cuevas del Becerro is a small white town in the interior of Málaga, located north of Ronda (about 22 km) and very close to the Sierra de las Nieves National Park. Its layout, of Mozarabic origin, and its whitewashed houses reflect a past with continuous presence since the Palaeolithic, with remains of Iberians, Romans, and Andalusians: the Roman site of Las Viñas—a villa with ceramic kilns active between the 1st and 6th centuries—and the remains of the Moorish castle of El Castillejo stand out. Among its attractions are the Church of San Antonio Abad and the Moro Cave. A fun fact: the town has the Starlight certification for clear starry sky, with several viewpoints for astronomical observation. It is a traditional agricultural area, known for its goat cheese, olive oil, and sweets like "suspiros."