Ruta Cordel de los Marchantes

Details of the Route:
Length: 9 Km. (4.5 Km. more to get to Naveros)
Route: Linear
Difficulty: Easy

Sight-Seeing Highlights:
Scenic views with Mediterranean forest, wildlife, etnological value on the livestock paths.

Beginning of the Route:
We will start on the Carretera (Highway) de Medina A-346 (on kilometer 6). During the rainy season, the access to this route might be difficult because of the swelling of the river that can block the path and create large puddles. It is better to take this route in summer, as there is a lot of water to drink from.

Description:
This type of livestock path, 37.61 meters wide, represents the widest path of the various types that exist in the area, and as well is the most representative of our region, as it connects Chiclana with Puerto Real, Vejer, and the Corredor Verde "Dos Bahías".

Although the origen of this path is situated in the territory of Puerto Real, the route begins at the cross with the path near the Carretera de Medina (A-346).

Just after beginning our route, we will cross the River Iro or otherwise known as the Salty Brook (arroyo Salado), which is strongly affected by the tides of the sea. Crossing arid zones recently repopulated by city hall, we arrive at the Descansadero del Pozo de Lázaro (The resting well of Lazarus), which has recently been restored. This is the end of the Path of the Vereda de la Asomada. At the top of the mesa, there are the archeological remains of a farming village from the Muslim Period of Spain´s history.

At the end of the route, we will come across some gullies and river run-offs. One of which
stands out is the arroyo de la Cueva (Cave brook). Because of the zone´s climate, this arroyo has an irregular swell, which arrives at its maximum capacity in the winter and almost dries up in summer.

Continuing the route, and without diverting from the road until we get almost to the woodland, there is a stronghold of ancient coastal acorn trees that occupy the Bay of Cadiz, that of which provide great ecological value and scenery. Leaving the wooden grove, the scenery changes to cultivated land, where our journey ends, unless you would like to continue for another 3 kilometers to reach Naveros, which is under the jurisdiction of Vejer. From here we can return to the starting point by travelling on the local highway called Pago del Humo.