Things are moving on the opening for access to Río Chíllar, although there is no cause to get out the party hats and farting cushions.
The Junta published news in the Official Regional Gazette (BOJA) about the opening of a public consultation period for requests to open access for this popular river leisure area, which officially recognises two business proposals to operate in this area.
One of which was submitted by Iniciativas Turísticas Ardales S.L.U. (Travelnatura), and another by Construcciones Sánchez Domínguez-Sando S.A.U.
The previous attempt to get permission to mount a business in this natural reserve was rejected in March 2025 after receiving “unfavourable technical reports.”
Anyway, this period for submitting the business proposal will be open for one month so that everybody can consult them and submit an objection, if they wish. You can view the proposals on the Junta’s website or by striding into the Junta’s regional office in Málaga, slamming your fist on the desk and stating, “Over my dead body!” (In triplicate.)
These companies are applying for the task of controlling access to Río Chillar along the lines of the very popular Caminito del Rey model; i.e., controlled tourist use through daily quotas, security, and potential associated services.
Now, it’s all very tricky because concerns for environment, safety, access, and parking remain crucial for definitively unblocking the project. It was precisely these necessary technical reports that led to the previous proposals being rejected.
The Río Chíllar has been closed since August the 8th, 2023, because the amount of human activity had become too great for the environment; i.e., the flora & fauna, as well as an accumulation of rubbish, so the Nerja Town Hall shut it down, prohibiting access. On some summer weekends, up to 3,000 visitors per day were flooding through there.
(News: Nerja, Axarquia, Costa del Sol, Malaga, Andalucia: Source: E Cabezas/Sur)
Keywords: Río Chíllar Access Problem, Frigiliana, Junta, Town Hall, Flora & Fauna, Public Viewing Period
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