The cave houses are considered a defining feature of Hinojares and are of significant ethnological value. Other highlights include a town centre with traditional buildings, the parish church of San Marcos, local customs and striking natural formations. The town’s history, traditions tied to specific occasions and a cascade that depends on rainfall offer different starting points for planning your visit.
Townscape and History
The town centre has traditional whitewashed houses with gabled roofs made of Arab tiles. The parish church of San Marcos was built in the late 17th century; inside is an altarpiece dating back to the Renaissance. The church’s construction and the altarpiece’s origins thus point to different periods.
Los Castellones de Ceal also forms part of the area’s historical context: this important Iberian settlement is located close to Hinojares and is one of the most significant of its kind. Visitors interested in earlier settlement history as well as the townscape will find another point of interest here.
Natural Features and Orientation
The Cascada de la Vinatera forms only temporarily after heavy rain, so its appearance depends on rainfall. The Piedra del Reloj is different: this vertical rock formation has three step-like ledges whose shadows indicate the time of day.
At Arroyo Turrillas, a massive formation of conglomerates, silts and clays with carbonates of continental origin is exposed. It forms a spectacular fan of strata. At the Hinojares saltworks, you can observe the extraction of spring salt—another way to discover the local landscape and how it is used.
The entrance to the Vereda de Arroyo Molinos al Cerrillo–Cordel Romeral in the Hinojares area is at the start of a track branching off the JV-3266. It is on the right when you are driving towards Huesa. This guidance identifies the access point, not the route’s duration or difficulty.
Customs and Local Specialities
La Candelaria begins in February with bonfires being lit while bells toll for the deceased. The old carnival tradition of “Los bordos” involved weaving rushes from the aneas plant; the material was used to make chair seats. The two customs have different emphases: a festival tradition tied to February and a tradition centred on weaving rushes.
Tortas de San Marcos are distributed to both locals and visitors after the saint’s procession. This means the speciality is associated with a specific occasion. For anyone interested in regional food culture, the local tradition encompasses not only the product itself but also its connection to the procession.
Getting There and Planning Your Visit
Hinojares is accessible via the A-315 Torreperogil–Baza regional road. Between Huesa and Pozo Alcón, turn onto the JA-8200 road. As road conditions can change, check them before travelling.
To visit the cave houses, you must stay in one of the houses or contact the respective owners. If you plan to visit the cave houses, check the arrangements in advance, as access rules may change.
Based in Hinojares, Guadiana Menor Turismo operates in activity, sports and adventure tourism. If you would like to include this provider in your plans, confirm its availability before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Navas de San Juan, Arjona, El Almicerán, La Iruela, Iznatoraf, Cárcheles, Santisteban Del Puerto, Siles.
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