The Copper Forest is changing colour right now. Between late October and November, the chestnut trees of the Genal Valley turn copper, and the whole valley seems to glow. The best part for anyone landing in Málaga: it is less than 2 hours from Malaga Airport, and your car is waiting for you in arrivals.
No queues, no bus, no tour group setting the pace. Just you, the mountain roads and one of the most beautiful autumn landscapes in Andalusia.
What the Copper Forest actually is
Bosque de Cobre is the name given to the large, dense chestnut woods that cover the Genal Valley, in the Serranía de Ronda, inland from the Costa del Sol. Most of the year they are simply green hillsides. Then autumn arrives, the leaves start to fall and the treetops turn orange, gold and ochre while the ground is carpeted in copper.
The contrast is what makes it special. The evergreen Mediterranean woodland around it stays dark green, so the bare, burning chestnuts stand out even more. Chestnuts are also the economic engine of the area, and the fruit is harvested between September and October, so the trees are part of daily life here, not just scenery.
White villages along the Copper Forest
The chestnut woods wrap around a string of small white villages: Alpandeire, Benadalid, Benalauría, Cartajima, Faraján, Genalguacil, Igualeja, Jubrique, Júzcar, Parauta, Pujerra and Yunquera, according to the official Andalucía tourism guide to the Genal Copper Forest.
Each one is a natural stop. Park, walk the narrow streets, have a coffee and get back on the road to the next. With a car you can link several of them in a single day and choose your own route through the valley, instead of seeing just one viewpoint from a coach window.
Driving the Copper Forest at your own rhythm
The Copper Forest rewards slow travel. There are walking routes through the woods and several lookout points where you can stop and watch the light change. The regional tourism board describes the forest at its most striking with the last light of the day, as the sun sets behind the hills.
That is exactly the moment a bus timetable makes you miss. In your own car, you decide when to stop, how long to stay and when to head back to the coast.
If you enjoy the Serranía, you can also add the town that gives it its name. Our post on Ronda from Malaga Airport explains how to plan an afternoon at the Puente Nuevo and the Tajo.
Pick up your car and head for the Copper Forest
The season is short, so the easiest plan is to land, collect your keys and go. At Fetajo Rent a Car we have been handing over cars at Malaga Airport for 40 years, with clear conditions and a direct handover in arrivals. You book directly with us, and the rest of the day belongs to the Copper Forest.
Whether you are travelling as a couple, with family or with friends, a car turns this autumn escape into something simple: one road, a valley full of copper and no one telling you when to leave.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see the chestnut trees change colour?
The chestnuts of the Genal Valley turn copper between late October and November. It is a seasonal show, so check the weather before you set off and go while the leaves are still on the trees.
Which area of Málaga province is the Genal Valley in?
The Genal Valley is in the Serranía de Ronda, in Málaga province. It is less than 2 hours by car from Malaga Airport.
Where do I collect my rental car?
Your Fetajo car is waiting for you in arrivals at Malaga Airport, so you can start the drive as soon as you land.