Competa is a beautiful example of a white village in Andalusia that’s retained much of its Moorish influence. It’s one of the best places to visit in Axarquia and it sits less than an hour away from Malaga. Many people who visit Competa like to enjoy its rural surroundings too, with plenty of hiking trails and other outdoor activities to get involved in. But there are a lot of things to do in Competa too, from exploring its historic streets to indulging in the local food and drinks.
The origins of the “pearl of Axarquia” are unknown. On a local level, people believe that the name derives from the Roman period and roughly translates to a “crossing of roads”. However, there’s evidence of tracks leading between several villages that predate the Romans, and these tracks would have been used to transport fish inland. It wasn’t until the 15th century that the village of Competa was recorded as existing though.
Whatever the origins of Competa may be, today it stands as one of the most popular white villages in Malaga. Whether you’re organizing a day trip to Competa or you’re planning on staying longer in the area, there are a lot of great things to do in Competa so you won’t be disappointed.
Top things to do in Competa, Malaga
Parroquia Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion
One of the most prominent attractions in Competa is Parroquia Nuestra Señora de la Asunción. The original building dates back to the 16th century and it’s still the most important building in the village. If the church doors are open, you can take a look inside. But if they’re closed you can always walk around the side of the church where you’ll find a small courtyard and a beautiful statue of two people dancing.
Paseo de las Tradiciones
At the side of Parroquia Nuestra Señora de la Asunción is what’s known as the Paseo de las Tradiciones. It’s a quiet courtyard with a lovely view of the white village on one side and a row of stunning ceramic mosaics on the other. These mosaics depict the history of Competa as well as the traditional work of the village’s inhabitants. You’ll find a lot of mosaics around Competa but Paseo de las Tradiciones has some of the best ones.
Admire the tiles
After you’re done viewing the mosaics in the Paseo de las Tradiciones, I would recommend doing a self-guided tour of the rest of them around Competa. There’s actually a Competa Mosaic Walk that you can go on where you’ll see all 15 of the mosaics created by local artists. The themes vary from Competa’s history to agriculture and natural beauty, so they’re all quite different. This is one of the best free things to do in Competa at any time of the year.
Plaza Almijara
Plaza Almijara is the main plaza in Competa and it’s where you’ll find several popular places to eat. There are some beautiful 19th century facades here as well as Parroquia Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion and Paseo de las Tradiciones. There isn’t a lot to do in the plaza itself but it’s always a hub of activity since it’s the very centre of the village.
Browse the local shops
People don’t plan a trip to Competa if they want to go shopping, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a few hidden gems around the village. There are a few boutique shops in Competa that you can visit if you have some spare time. One of my favourites is located in Plaza Almijara and sells a vibrant selection of clothing and accessories that fits in well with the chilled atmosphere of Andalusia.
Walk among the beautiful flowers
As you make your way around Competa, don’t forget to take some detours through the side streets. Competa is filled with narrow whitewashed streets and many of them are beautifully decorated with flowers in the spring and summer. Walking among these flower-lined streets is one of the best things to do in Competa if you’re looking for some nice photo spots.
Plaza de la Vendimia
Another plaza in Competa that’s worth visiting is Plaza de la Vendimia. Every year in August a festival takes place in this plaza known as the Noche del Vino (Night of the Wine). It was originally meant as a goodbye party for grape pickers at the end of the season, but it’s now a very well-known festivity in the Province of Malaga and people come from all over to take part in it. If you’re visiting the village in August, this is one of the best things to do in Competa.
Take a photo of the hanging houses
Before leaving Plaza de la Vendimia, take some time to appreciate the beautiful views too. One of the most popular things to do in Competa is to visit the famous hanging houses that sit just to the right of the plaza. These whitewashed houses sit along a small cliffside, overlooking a bed of a river that once divided Competa. It’s a great spot to take a photo before exploring more of Competa.
Fuente Avenida Constitucion
We came across Fuente Avenida Constitucion as we were making our way into the centre of Competa. It’s located next to the tourism office and is known for being one of the most beautiful fountains in the village. It’s certainly not the most exciting thing to see in Competa, but you’ll no doubt come across it at some point as you make your way around the village.
Explore the narrow streets
One of my favourite things to do in Competa is to explore the narrow streets. Not every street is picturesque, but there are a lot that have been beautifully painted or decorated with flowers and colourful plant pots. You’ll find that a lot of the streets are similar to those found in Frigiliana. One street in Competa that you shouldn’t miss is Calle Toledo, especially in the spring and summertime.
Ermita de San Anton
If you don’t miss an uphill walk, you should add Ermita de San Anton to your list of things to do in Competa. This hermitage was built in the 18th century and is home to some beautiful sacred images. If you visit the hermitage at sunset, you’ll get perfect lighting for some photos, and you’ll most likely have it all to yourself.
Take in the views of Competa
Since Competa is nestled in the mountains of Malaga, you’ll find that there are a lot of great viewpoints along the roads leading into the village. We stayed at a boutique wellness hotel called Malaga Hills, and the view from there was incredible. You’ll also be able to get a great angle of Competa from the main road which has several benches lining the footpath.
Cross over a Roman bridge
One of the best hiking trails near Competa involves a Roman bridge. It’s a beautiful restored stone footbridge crossing the Salares River and is said to date back to the Roman period (though this hasn’t been fully proven). If you have time, the entire hiking trail will take you through beautiful scenery and past several historic mills. But if you just want to see the bridge itself then you can access it by parking in Sedella and taking a short walk along a trail to access it.
Restaurants in Competa
Taberna Restaurante Casa Paco
There aren’t too many options for places to eat in Competa, and quite a few are located in the main plaza. Taberna Restaurante Casa Paco is one of the most popular restaurants in Competa, with both locals and visitors. They have an extensive menu and serve both tapas and larger dishes. The portion size of their patatas bravas is quite big so I would highly recommend ordering a dish of those to share. You can also enjoy the atmosphere of the plaza if you have an outdoor table.
Restaurante Cortijo Paco
Not far from Ermita de San Anton is another popular restaurant in Competa – Restaurante Cortijo Paco. This is a great place to stop for dinner, especially around sunset when you can enjoy golden hour while looking out across the mountainous landscape. Their portions are also very generous and they use fresh ingredients in their dishes. If you’re looking for vegetarian-friendly places to eat in Competa then this is a great option.
Where to stay in Competa
Malaga Hills Boutique & Wellness Hotel
When you’re visiting Competa there’s only one place to stay and that’s at Malaga Hills Boutique & Wellness Eco-Hotel. This is an adults-only hotel in Competa that offers guests a tranquil mountain retreat and a place to unwind. They offer a number of health-oriented activities as well as plenty of facilities to enjoy.
There are five rooms available at Malaga Hills and each one comes with its own defining features. We enjoyed our stay in the Leymah room which features a large bed that’s been designed with well-being in mind, a private balcony with beautiful mountain views, a workspace, and an ensuite bathroom with a massage shower. There’s even a miniature fridge to keep your water nice and cool on the desk.
Malaga Hills boasts an enormous covered pool and a sauna to enjoy. The pool is open year-round so even in the winter guests can enjoy a dip in the water. This is made possible by a state-of-the-art system and solar panels that work together to ensure that the pool remains at a comfortable temperature.
If you want to workout in the pool you can do that as well. Their counter-current swimming system allows you to choose different speeds from which to swim at. Swimming is known to improve the mind and body, so this is a very popular feature of the eco-hotel.
Directly next to the pool is where you’ll find the professional gym. It’s a small space but there’s a lot of high-quality equipment here. This includes a treadmill, a spinning bike, a multi-station, a rowing machine, and weights. It can be difficult to keep up with a fitness routine white travelling, so this is a great feature of the hotel.
Inside the main building is where you’ll find a cozy library space to relax in. When you’re done reading your book, you can get a full body massage too. The massage robot is a key feature of Malaga Hills and is something you won’t find anywhere else in the area. The chair provides you with a full body deep tissue massage which includes a zero-gravity mode to enhance the effectiveness of the massage. You’ll definitely want to take advantage of the massage robot after a long day of hiking or exploring Competa on foot.
In the morning you’ll wake up to one of the best breakfasts you’re likely to ever have. The breakfast at Malaga Hills is based around local products and comes beautifully presented. As well as what’s displayed on the serving board, guests are welcome to enjoy a selection of drinks and bread from the bar area. You really can’t beat the view from the breakfast area either so it’s the perfect way to start your day.
If you’re a very early riser though, you may want to sign up for the daily yoga class. The class is adapted to beginners and it’s a nice feeling to be able to stretch every part of your body when you’ve just woken up. Even if you’ve never tried yoga before, it’s worth participating in at least once.
Even if you have a full schedule, you shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to relax on the sun terrace. In keeping with the theme of the eco-hotel, the sunbeds are made of wood and very little plastic can be found. Each guest will also have their own towel for use at the pool and on the terrace, and when you’re done you just need to hang it up. This eliminates the need to bring a towel from your room which is a great idea. The sun shines practically all day on the sun terrace at Malaga Hills so you can work on your tan whenever you want.
Malaga Hills is easily one of the best places to stay in the Province of Malaga. Although the Costa del Sol is a hotspot for tourists, it’s nice to be able to retreat into the mountains and for some peace and quiet too. This is a great wellness hotel to base yourself from, whether you’re interested in hiking around the Malaga mountains or you’re in need of a tranquil place to rest your head.
>> Find your perfect room at Malaga Hills Boutique & Wellness Hotel <<
Is Competa worth visiting?
Competa is one of the most popular white villages in Malaga. With so much to see and do both inside the village and in the surrounding areas, it’s not hard to see why. Competa is certainly worth visiting, or staying at, for those of you who like to get off the beaten path and explore less touristy places. There are a lot of things to do in Competa, so even if you can only plan a day trip to Competa it’ll be worth it.
Have you been to Competa before? If you have any other tips regarding things to do in Competa or nearby, let me know in the comments section. You can also get in touch via email and follow along with my travels on Instagram for more travel tips.
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