La Muela, Cala Aguilar and the Senda de los Amarillos

We set off on another route along the coastal and mountainous landscape of Cartagena, a territory that always welcomes us brilliantly.

We leave from the TAIGA Costa Cálida campsite in El Portús, and the start offers no mercy: we climb up the Loma Garrofero, a direct ascent that wakes you up in minutes and already rewards you with wide views over El Portús. We keep gaining height until reaching the Hermitage of La Muela and the spring of the same name, where most of the elevation gain is already behind us. Only the final stretch remains, taking us to the summit of La Muela at 546 metres above sea level.

We descend via the iconic metal stairs, the famous green steps, a section as easy as it is photogenic, linking the summit with the southern slope.

And here comes the classic trick of this route: you think you’ve already done “the hard part” because you’ve reached the highest point of the day… but there’s still plenty of adventure ahead, including the most beautiful section. That said, the accumulated elevation and a couple of slightly exposed passages mean you shouldn’t get distracted if you’re prone to vertigo.

We descend along the eastern face of Cabezo Colorado, a comfortable and well built path, like most trails in the Region of Murcia, a legacy of its military past, until we reach Cala Aguilar. A small, wild cove hidden between cliffs, accessible only on foot or by sea. Perfect for a refreshing swim that feels glorious.

After cooling off, we regain height by retracing our steps back to the Collado de la Aguja. From there, we take a short detour to visit the remains of the old military shelter known as the Casa del Comandante del Cabezo de la Aguja, an intriguing spot with plenty of history.

We return to the collado and join the GR 92, the coastal stretch known here as the Senda de los Amarillos. It’s a beautiful path, slightly exposed in two places where a chain offers support, really only necessary when the rock is wet. The return is spectacular: open views from the Bay of Cartagena all the way to Cabo Tiñoso, a slow, contemplative trail meant to be enjoyed without rushing. We pass the Cueva de los Amarillos and traverse above the Cala del Barranco de la Muela before finally descending to the beach of El Portús.

A complete and characterful route: mountains, sea, military history, hidden coves and a coastline that never disappoints. A perfect day out on the Cartagenan coast.

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