Campillos, Spain: travel guide to the lagoons of inland Málaga and the Guadalteba country

Campillos is a town in the province of Málaga, in Andalusia, set at around 460 metres in the Guadalteba district on the western edge of the Antequera region, amid rolling fields of cereal and olive groves. Home to about 8,500 people, it is best known for the remarkable group of lagoons that surround it, a haven for flamingos and other birds in the heart of inland Andalusia.

For travellers searching for Campillos Málaga, the Lagunas de Campillos nature reserve, birdwatching in Andalusia or inland Málaga towns, it offers wetlands, quiet heritage and a handy base near some famous attractions.

The lagoons and nature

The Reserva Natural Lagunas de Campillos protects a cluster of lagoons, among them the Dulce, Salada, Redonda, Capacete, Marcela, Cerrero and Camuñas, an important wetland where flamingos, storks and many waterbirds gather. Though some of the lagoons dry out for part of the year, their ecological value led the regional government of Andalusia to declare them a nature reserve, and they make Campillos a favourite spot for birdwatching and quiet walks.

History and town

The area has been a crossroads since prehistoric times, with Neolithic and Ibero-Roman remains found nearby, and the town itself grew as an urban settlement in the 15th century after the Christian conquest. Its main monument is the Church of Nuestra Señora del Reposo, begun in the 16th century and given a fine Baroque façade, while a long tradition of leather and clothing manufacture gave the town much of its prosperity.

Practical information

Campillos lies about 80 kilometres north-west of the city of Málaga and around 30 kilometres from Antequera, easily reached by road. It sits close to the great flamingo lagoon of Fuente de Piedra and to the spectacular Caminito del Rey in the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, making it a good base for exploring inland Málaga.