Río Chíllar Access Restriction?

NRJ Rio ChillarRío Chíllar in Nerja has become very popular, especially during the hot months, Unfortunately, some people do not know how to look after it.

Like the Junta de los Ríos above Otívar, the series of waterfalls and rock pools Río Chíllar provides an almost water-park-type venue and whilst the ‘green-minded’ amongst us take care to leave the area as we find it, there are others who use them as rubbish dumps for their picnic leftovers and wrappers.

As if that weren’t enough, some mindless slob has used spray paint on the rocks to leave evidence of his or her stupidity, albeit in the form of a confession of love.

Plastic bags, empty drink cans, discarded flip-flops, and tinfoil wraps of some long-digested roll are just some of the items of litter abandoned in this place of natural beauty.

And, of course, this kind of person spoils it for everybody else because sooner or later entrance will be restricted or even forbidden.

For all of the above reasons, the new Town Council, formed by a PSOE/IU coalition, has decided to do something about it, taking advantage of a new understanding with the Junta de Andalucia (both administration are under the same party).

The Nerja Councillor for the Environment has requested an appointment, as soon as possible, with the Provincial Department of the Environment for the Regional Council, where he will put forward certain ideas.

One of the ideas is to restrict entrance to a certain amount per day. How? By putting a gate and hut at the entrance, like at the Otivár waterfalls access point. The difference would be that the gate guard is there to restrict entrance and not to charge anybody an entrance fee.

It is worth pointing out that in the case of the Otívar waterfalls, the Cooperativa de Cázulas does not charge excursionists access to the river – they can’t as it is public domain – but for crossing private land to reach it.

I am not sure over the legality of this because I personally cannot recall any IVA listed on the entrance ticket.

But anyway, concerning the Junta de los Ríos in Otívar, what was once a natural paradise open to all has now become almost the exclusive business killing for private excursion-organizers from down on the coast or even across the Málaga border, who are quick to eject anybody approaching the river that haven’t paid at the gate, threatening independent visitors with calling the police. I have personally experienced this so it is not hearsay.

A sad state of affairs and one that is no doubt awaiting the rock pools and waterfalls of Río Chíllar, thanks to excursionists with the mentality of pigs that are turning it into a rubbish dump.

(News: Nerja, Axarquia, Costa del Sol, Malaga, Andalucia)

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