Hiking and route selection

A hiking brochure about Águilas published in June 2023 names Majada del Moro as the starting and ending point of the PR-MU 112 Sendero del Baladre route. The shorter circular hike is listed as the PR-MU 112.1 Barranco del Baladre variant. It avoids the road section; its stated effective walking time is no more than two and a half hours.

A regional route page updated on 15 February 2025 lists an elevation gain of 331 metres for the PR-MU 112 and describes it as well signposted. Check the markings on site before setting out.

Comparing the route numbers helps with planning: the PR-MU 112.1 is the shorter loop, avoids the road section and has its own effective walking time. The elevation gain and signposting refer to the PR-MU 112. When weighing up the options, match each detail to the route name rather than attributing the time and elevation gain to a single route.

Ramblas and natural environment

The PR-MU 112 runs mostly along the Rambla del Baladre and also connects to the Rambla de los Mayorales. It lies within the Natura 2000 network. The names are not interchangeable: the Baladre is the main part of the route, while the Rambla de los Mayorales is the additional connection. The watercourses in the ramblas along the route are usually dry, but retain moisture underground even during the summer months. This seasonal characteristic does not mean that visible water can reliably be found.

Protected species such as the Eurasian eagle-owl, peregrine falcon, Bonelli’s eagle and spur-thighed tortoise occur in the route area. This refers to their presence in the route area, not to a promised sighting. The surroundings of the signpost in Majada del Moro are also specific: it stands among greenhouses, esparto grass and pine stands. Species presence and the signpost’s surroundings offer different clues for understanding the landscape character of the hike.

Cultural heritage in the area

There is a cultural and historical landmark in the vicinity of Majada del Moro: Pilica del Portazgo is listed as an asset of cultural interest. It is the surviving pier of an aqueduct that crossed the Rambla de la Majada del Moro. To understand the site, it helps to distinguish between the structural element and the structure: Pilica del Portazgo is the pier, while the aqueduct is the structure that crossed the rambla. The name is also important for geographical orientation: the Sendero del Baladre runs mostly along the Rambla del Baladre, while the aqueduct crossed the Rambla de la Majada del Moro. This keeps the similarly named watercourses and their respective connections distinct.

The “Acueducto y Pilica de las Escalericas” waypoint is on the PR-MU 112; the condition of the structure may change.

Discover more destinations: Valentín, Lorquí, Santa Gertrudis, La Corona, Las Moreras, La Condomina, Fuente Amarga, Bolnuevo

For the main travel overview: Murcia.