Instinción offers a specific reason to plan your visit around the festival calendar: the celebrations of San Sebastián and the Virgen de la Candelaria. There is also the Cerro de la Cruz viewpoint, with panoramic views of the town and the Andarax Valley. Its elevated position on a platform near the riverbed, together with its historically shaped surroundings, gives the town a distinctive setting.
Festivals and special customs
The most important festival in Instinción takes place on 20 January in honour of the patron saint, San Sebastián. The celebration of the Virgen de la Candelaria is also known by a name of its own: locally, it is called “Virgen de los Papelicos”. During the procession, visitors and residents wait for the image to pass; colourful pieces of paper are thrown from terraces and balconies. The local Candelaria customs take place at different points during the celebrations: on the eve, Roscos de pan dormido are made and sold for the children’s offering; a cake is traditionally raffled in the church. San Sebastián on 20 January and the Candelaria customs are two separate reasons to visit; choose your dates according to which festival you have in mind and check the current year’s programme.
Views and trails in the landscape
Cerro de la Cruz offers panoramic views of Instinción and the surrounding Andarax Valley. A steep footpath or an unpaved track from the A348 road leads to the viewpoint. When choosing between the two routes, therefore, take the gradient and surface into account; check access conditions before your visit. Instinción is one of the municipalities whose territory is included in the Sierras de Gádor y Énix Special Area of Conservation. Before outdoor activities, check the protected area’s boundaries and management rules. The sequence of stages on a long-distance trail lists Instinción together with Barriada de Alcora, Bentarique, Terque and Alhabia. If you include this route information in your travel plans, also check trail conditions and signage.
Church, crafts and regional history
The parish church of San Juan Bautista is among the oldest churches in Almería province. It survived the Morisco Revolt of 1568. The church’s age places it in a regional comparison; the year 1568 also anchors its history to a specific historical event. Traditional crafts in Instinción include making wooden beehives. Bees are kept in the hives to produce honey and wax—the craft and beekeeping go hand in hand here. Historically, winegrowing in Instinción was connected to the La Alpujarra region in social, economic and cultural terms. Thus, the history of winegrowing extends beyond production and forms part of a regional context.
Discover more destinations: Olula Del Río, Láujar De Andarax, María, Fernán Pérez, El Hijate, Armuña De Almanzora, El Contador, Arboleas
For the broader travel overview: Almeria.
