The valley of the river Jorox is located on the diffuse boundary that joins and separates the Sierra de las Nieves from the Guadalhorce region, which makes it one of the natural enclaves with the greatest variety of landscapes in the area. It is a small meadow that starts in the rural hamlet of Jorox, within the municipality of Alozaina.
It has been inhabited since Palaeolithic times, as evidenced by the remains found in several of the caves that surround it, such as the Tajo de Jorox cave, remains of habitat have also been found in the Jorox party; in the “Cueva del Algarrobo o de las vacas” where hunting tools from the Upper Palaeolithic Solutrense period were found and in the “Cueva de la Mesa” a burial site and two gold trumpets from the Bronze Age, which are in the Archaeological Museum of Malaga, were discovered.
This idyllic valley owes its splendour to the spring that gives rise to the river of the same name. The water from this spring is distributed through a complete network of irrigation channels and pools of Arab origin, to be used as a driving force for a total of nine ancient mills, as well as for the irrigation of the fertile terraces that are home to rich and lush orchards. These nine flour mills that existed along the Jorox riverbed no longer serve their purpose, but some of them have been preserved in good condition.
The main peculiarity of this valley is the contrast offered by the canyon or gorge that serves as the headwaters of the stream and the orchards and fruit trees that accompany the course of the river during its first stretch. This contrast between the limestone rocks and travertine and the irrigated areas can be seen from the road that provides access to the hamlet. The magnitude of the canyon, which is an area of influence of the Sierra de las Nieves, is impressive. There are numerous caves and chasms in the area, making it a favourite spot for speleologists.
The Ermita de la Veracruz hermitage and the high plateau known as La Mesa, places of pilgrimage during the pilgrimage at the beginning of May, stand out in the village as a whole. The caves, the Nacimiento and the Charco de la Caldera are the natural emblems of this beautiful enclave with its incomparable landscape.
It can be visited all year round.
Location: A-366 road, 4 kms. from Alozaina in the direction of the village of Yunquera.