XXVI Travesía a Nado Bajondillo-Carihuela

For centuries, the fishermen of La Carihuela have looked toward the sea, entrusting their lives and livelihoods to the Virgen del Carmen. Every July, the town honors its patron saint with a traditional maritime procession, where the statue is carried out onto the waters that define the local identity. This same stretch of coast, where boats once sought shelter from the winds, serves as the setting for the XXVI Travesía Bajondillo-Carihuela, a race that bridges the historical divide between the old Bajondillo beach and the traditional fishing quarter of La Carihuela. As you stand at the start line near the beach bars, you are tracing a path through a landscape of deep antiquity. Beneath the surface and along the shoreline, the area guards remnants of a long human history, from the Neolithic tools found in nearby caves to the Bajondillo Cave, where Neanderthal hearths have provided evidence of sophisticated shellfish consumption dating back 150,000 years.

A swim through history

Navigating the 1200-meter course, you swim parallel to a coastline that has evolved from a series of strategic watchtowers to a modern coastal hub. To your right, the Torre de Pimentel stands as a silent sentinel; this Nazari-era adobe tower, built around 1300 to defend against North African pirate raids, gave the town its name and still dominates the view from the water. Further along the seabed, hidden from casual observers but integral to the town's heritage, lie the remains of Roman thermal baths discovered at the Peñón del Castillo. These structures, including a well-preserved frigidarium, point to an expansive network of galleries that remain largely beneath the streets of Torremolinos today. While you focus on your stroke, the dramatic silhouette of the Sierra de Mijas provides an imposing limestone backdrop, its pine-covered slopes contrasting with the azure Mediterranean horizon. This event, organized by the local sports authorities with the support of the Club de Remo, is a community-focused test of endurance that draws swimmers who also frequent the Travesía María de Valdés or the nearby Travesía a nado Puerto de Málaga. Held annually in late August, the race offers a modest entry fee, ensuring that the spirit of local sea-faring culture remains accessible to all. Participants receive a full-print technical t-shirt to mark the occasion, a small token for completing a route that connects the ancient caves, Roman foundations, and the enduring fishing traditions of the Costa del Sol.