Sierra de la Pandera
The roof of the Sierra Sur de Jaén: 1,872 metres of limestone, wind and dark sky, a short drive from the gate.
What it is
The Sierra de la Pandera is the highest point of the Sierra Sur de Jaén, at 1,872 metres, and part of the Subbetic range. You climb it from Los Villares on a narrow road that gains height through olive groves before breaking out onto bare rock.
What you see from the top
From the summit viewpoints you can pick out Sierra Nevada, the Mágina and Cazorla ranges and the Quiebrajano reservoir. It's one of those summits where half of Andalusia's geography suddenly makes sense.
The sky
The summit lies inside the Starlight Reserve of the Sierra Sur de Jaén, considered one of the best places to observe and photograph the planets, thanks to the darkness of the sky and the clarity of the air above 1,800 metres.
When to go
The climate here is mountain climate: in winter temperatures drop below zero at altitude and the wind can be strong on the summits. In summer, the height turns the climb into the best plan for the middle of the day.
For cyclists
La Pandera is known as a Vuelta a España summit finish, one of the toughest on the calendar. If you've come to climb it, Villa Fuji has a locked bike store, a wash area and a repair stand.
A little history
The range has been crossed since Roman times and served as a strategic refuge during the medieval conflicts between Christians and Muslims.
Staying the night here?
Villa Fuji is a step away from all of this. A whole house for eight, private pool and a bike store.