After a long time, we were finally able to make one of the most interesting cultural visits that can be done in Malaga. We are talking about the archaeological site La Araña, which takes us back to times when man did not live in cities and where the coastline was seven kilometers (4 miles) from the current one, out to sea.

The visit to the complex takes place in two parts. The first, in the Cuevas de la Araña Reception Center, which is located near an old watchtower by the sea. In a natural environment of great beauty, with the Peñón del Cuervo cove framed in its windows, the reception center introduces us to prehistory through the evolution of different hominids up to today’s homo sapiens. Remains and recreations help to understand the evolution of the human species effortlessly.

restos arqueologicos centro interpretacion la araña malaga — Explanatory exhibition of the evolution of the human species and findings in the archaeological site La Araña

In a second room we admire archaeological remains of societies that lived in the site, skeleton bones and pictorial recreations of what the local environment would be like tens of thousands of years ago.

entrada yacimiento arqueologico la araña malaga — Road to the archaeological site La Araña

Entrada a la Cueva del Humo — Entry to the Cueva del Humo

The second part of the visit is at the site itself. We have to cross the road through an underpass and approach the rocky massifs where this story was forged. The complex of the archaeological site La Araña consists of caves and shelters. The shelters, unlike the caves, are not plugged from the outside, they are hollow in the rock like a kind of giant niche.

But the undisputed star of the visit is the entrance to the cave of smoke, a magical place where our ancestors took refuge and which currently has its access at the level of the coastal road N-340. Here you will not see impressive stalactites or stalagmites as in the Cuevas de Nerja (although it has some) or cave paintings as in the Cuevas de la Pileta (which also has them, but they are not in sight).

archeological site la arana cave — Inside the Cueva del Humo

archeological site la arana malaga — Cueva del Humo access area

What we liked the most, and that is why we believe it is a unique and unequaled visit, is that it is a living site. A site in the process of excavation and discoveries, which arouses interest and intrigue about what will appear next, although the researchers of the complex already have their own hypotheses.

sala rito agua cueva humo malaga — Water room for initiation rites

But above all we want to highlight the passion driven by the members of the association, and specifically Álvaro, who was an exceptional guide and who infected us with his love for archeology and for this particular excavation in which he himself has worked.

archaeological site la araña smoke cave — Prehistoric smoke-stained ceiling detail, which gives the cave its name

detalle estalactita cueva humo malaga — Detail of stalactite formation in Cueva del Humo

We could have explained in this article the passage of the Neanderthals, or that of our closest relatives some 30,000 years ago, or even discoveries such as bifaces, flakes and numerous prehistoric objects discovered in the archaeological site of La Araña. However, we let you discover all this for yourself, because it is really worth the visit and learning it in context.

fabricacion silex bifaces — Our guide Álvaro showing how our ancestors work flint

If you want to discover this landmark of Malaga’s cultural heritage, the visit is normally made in Spanish and lasts about 4 hours. Here in Voilà Málaga we can help you with a translated visit to English, so if you want to, contact us and we can arrange a visit for you. Don’t miss it!