CxM Villa de Casares

CxM Villa de Casares

The CxM Villa de Casares is a mountain race through the trails of Sierra Crestellina and its surroundings, starting and finishing in Casares, one of the most spectacular white villages in Malaga province. In 2026 it celebrates its ninth edition.

Casares, perched on a hilltop and crowned by its 13th-century Arab castle, is the starting point for a course that crosses pine forests, cork oak groves, streams, and limestone ridges through the Sierra Crestellina Natural Area and Monte del Duque.

The course

The CxM Villa de Casares offers two main categories:

• Trail 21K — 1,094m D+. A competitive, demanding course through Sierra Crestellina, with steep climbs, stream crossings, and a technical descent back to the village square. Cut-off time: 5 hours.
• Hiking Route 14K — A non-competitive option to enjoy the landscape at a more relaxed pace.

The terrain combines mountain trails, forest tracks, and technical sections along the sierra’s limestone ridges. The race starts with a sharp climb from the village square, and the final stretch descends from the castle back to the center of Casares.

Casares and Sierra Crestellina

Casares is famous for its white silhouette crowned by the ruins of a 13th-century Arab castle. The village, birthplace of the Roman physician Julius Casarius, blends history, gastronomy, and landscapes stretching from the mountains to the coastal beaches.

Sierra Crestellina is a protected Natural Area known for its limestone formations and biodiversity. The course also passes through Monte del Duque, an extensive cork oak forest that’s one of the best-preserved woodlands in the area.

Part of the race proceeds go to Asociacion Botika, which provides socio-health assistance and therapies for people with neurodegenerative diseases.