⛰️ The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar (Pilgrimage of the Cross of Juanar) is much more than a hike in the mountains. It is a day of faith, physical effort, popular devotion and contact with pure nature.
Far from the glamour of Puerto Banús and the luxury terraces, this pilgrimage connects participants with the deepest roots of Marbella.
The date is every 1st of May, a date marked in red on the city's festive calendar. The tradition dates back to the 18th century, when a group of sailors, lost in a dense fog off the coast, promised to erect a cross on the highest peak they could see if they managed to save their lives. The miracle happened, the fog lifted and the imposing Juanar Peak appeared.
Since then, generation after generation, the people of Marbella have kept the promise by climbing to the summit to honour the cross. Today, The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar has evolved: in the past, people would climb and stay for two or three nights on the mountain, with rituals such as rubbing garlic on their legs to ward off evil spirits.
Today, most people go up and down on the same day, although the most traditional still camp. The mass at the summit, officiated by the parish priest of Marbella, is the heart of the day. And after the blessing, the party begins: guitar, wine, country food and dancing in the open air.
At The Sun Places, we have prepared a unique experience for you to live The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar with all the luxury you deserve, combining tradition with the best comforts.
When is The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar?
📅 The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar is celebrated every 1st of May, coinciding with Workers' Day and, traditionally, with the beginning of good weather on the Costa del Sol. The next edition will be on Saturday, 1st May 2027.
Activities start early in the morning: around 08:00, the earliest pilgrims begin the ascent from the Hotel Don Miguel or from Puerto Rico Bajo.
The mass at the summit is held around 12:00 in front of the historic wrought iron cross (built in 1945 with rails from the old mining railway).
After the blessing, the party lasts until 17:00 or 18:00, when most begin the descent to reach Marbella before nightfall. The best time to start the ascent is between 08:00 and 09:00, to enjoy mild temperatures and avoid the midday heat.
The weather in May is usually perfect: 20-25°C during the day, clear skies and gentle breezes in the mountains. However, at Juanar Peak (over 1,200 metres above sea level), the wind can be cool, so we recommend bringing a light jacket.
If you want to experience The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar in total comfort, The Sun Places can arrange a private transfer to the starting point and a luxury refreshment stop at the summit.
📍Where is The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar located?
The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar takes place in the Sierra Blanca, specifically at Juanar Peak, which is part of the municipality of Marbella.
The most common starting point is the Hotel Don Miguel (also known as the Juanar Refuge), located about a 15-minute drive from Puerto Banús along the A-355 road. From there, two main routes depart: the short route (steeper, about 2.5 hours of ascent) and the long route (gentler, practically flat, but longer).
The summit, where the Iron Cross is located, is at 1,178 metres above sea level and offers spectacular views of the Costa del Sol, the Mediterranean, the African coast and, on clear days, Gibraltar and Ceuta.
The proximity to iconic spots is absolute: from our Luxury Apartments in Puerto Banús it takes just 15 minutes by car to the start of the route.
The Marbella Municipal Market is a 10-minute drive (ideal for buying supplies for the pilgrimage).
The Beach Bars of Marbella, such as La Plage Casanis or Trocadero Arena, are a 15-minute drive away to celebrate the descent with a good sardine skewer.
📜 History of The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar
The history of The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar is fascinating, blending legend, faith and oral tradition. According to the most widespread version, in the mid-18th century, a merchant ship became trapped in dense fog off the coast of Marbella. Unable to navigate and about to crash into the cliffs, the sailors promised the Virgin that if they saved their lives, they would erect a cross on the highest peak they could see and would make a pilgrimage to it every year.
At that moment, the fog miraculously lifted and the imposing Juanar Peak appeared. The sailors kept their promise and planted a wooden cross at the summit. That first cross rotted away over time. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was replaced by a wrought iron one.
During the Spanish Civil War (1936), that cross was damaged. Nine years later, in 1945, the people of Marbella carried a new cross up on the backs of mules, built with rails from the old 'San Juan Bautista' mining railway (which transported iron ore from the Peñoncillo Mine to the port of Marbella). This is the cross we see today.
In the 1970s, The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar lost momentum and almost disappeared. It was rescued in the 1980s by a group of friends nicknamed "Los Romeros de la Cruz" (The Pilgrims of the Cross), who paid out of their own pockets for radio and television adverts to encourage people to climb again.
They also convinced Father Tejera to set the date of 1st May and to officiate a mass at the summit, the central act that continues to this day. Since then, the pilgrimage has continued to grow. For The Sun Places,
The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar is a perfect example of how tradition and luxury can coexist, offering our guests an authentic experience without sacrificing comfort.
The perfect plan with The Sun Places for The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar
Experiencing The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar with The Sun Places is completely different. We propose an exclusive plan that combines the essence of the pilgrimage with the best luxury services. From the moment you stay in our Luxury Apartments in Puerto Banús, everything is designed so that you only have to worry about enjoying yourself.
The night before The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar, we recommend dining at La Plage Casanis to build up your strength with their Sunday Sunset Ritual. The next day, our private driver picks you up at the time of your choice and takes you to the start of the route.
If you prefer not to walk, we can arrange a private 4x4 vehicle to take you up to the base of the hill, just where the last section on foot to the cross begins.
At the summit, you will have a reserved space with a gourmet picnic prepared by a private chef, featuring products from the Marbella Municipal Market: extra virgin olive oil, 100% Iberian ham, Andalusian cheeses, seasonal fruits and wine from Ronda.
While other pilgrims look for shade, you will enjoy the mass in the front row and the best views. After the descent, a relaxing shower in your apartment and an afternoon at our wellness centre spa await you.
And to round off The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar perfectly, dinner at Trocadero Arena with sardine skewers and red tuna, watching the sunset.
This is how The Sun Places turns a popular tradition into an unforgettable luxury experience.
🌄 The two routes to climb The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar
The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar offers two main routes to reach the summit. The short route (recommended for hikers in good physical shape) starts at Puerto Rico Bajo and follows the path: Puerto Rico Bajo → Puente Palo → Puerto Rico Alto → Llano de la Cruz.
It is the most beautiful and direct, but also the steepest, with steep slopes that will test your legs. The duration is approximately 2.5 hours of ascent.
The long route (ideal for families, children or less fit people) also starts at the Hotel Don Miguel but skirts the mountain on its north face, taking a longer but practically flat detour. You will miss the most dramatic views, but you will reach the finish line with much less effort. The duration is variable, but significantly longer than the short route.
During The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar, both routes are signposted and have civil protection volunteers. We recommend mountain footwear, plenty of water, sun protection and comfortable clothing.
✨ The legend of the origin of The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar
The legend is the soul of The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar. According to oral tradition, the shipwrecked sailors promised to erect a cross if they were saved. But there is a lesser-known version involving some 19th-century bandits.
It is said that a group of bandits, pursued by justice, took refuge in the mountains and also promised to build a cross if they managed to escape. Whatever the origin, the truth is that The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar has lasted for more than 250 years.
A curious fact: in the past, pilgrims would rub their legs with garlic from the knees down to ward off evil animals (wolves, wild boars or even "lost souls") during the two or three nights they camped at the summit. That ritual has disappeared, but the memory remains.
Another mystery: the name Juanar has nothing to do with any legendary Juan. Toponymists have shown that it comes from the Latin *fonte* (spring), meaning "place of many springs". Indeed, dozens of streams and springs are born on the slopes of Juanar, which later flow down towards Marbella. So when you climb The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar, remember that you are stepping on a place whose name perfectly describes its geography.
The Sun Places invites you to discover these secrets with our exclusive audio guides that will tell you the history and legends as you walk. Because for us, The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar is not just an event, it is a journey back in time.
🏅What The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar means for Marbella, Andalusia and The Sun Places
The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar is, for Marbella, the most authentic link to its rural and fishing roots, in contrast to the luxury of Puerto Banús. It is the day when the city turns to the countryside and recovers its most humble and devout essence.
For Andalusia, this pilgrimage is a perfect example of how popular religious traditions remain alive and adapt to the times without losing their original meaning. It is one of the few mountain pilgrimages in the region that is not centred around a hermitage, but a simple cross.
For The Sun Places, The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar represents the opportunity to show a different side of Marbella: more spiritual, more natural, more authentic. We want our guests to take away the memory of having shared a picnic blanket with the people of Marbella, having heard a flamenco guitar on a mountain peak, having tasted the best olive oil in the world in the middle of nature.
That is why we integrate The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar into our offer of exclusive experiences, combining it with the luxury of our apartments, with dinners at La Plage Casanis and with visits to the Marbella Municipal Market. Because at The Sun Places we know that luxury is also about living unique and authentic experiences.
⛪ The current cross of The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar
The cross that presides over The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar is a symbol steeped in history. It is not the original wooden one, which rotted away centuries ago. Nor is it the first iron one, which was damaged during the Civil War. The current one was carried up on the backs of mules in 1945 and has a fascinating origin: it is built with rails from the old 'San Juan Bautista' mining railway, which transported iron ore from the Peñoncillo Mine to the port of Marbella.
Thus, the cross is a silent witness to the city's mining history. It is approximately 3 metres high and firmly anchored in the rock, resisting winds, rain and snow. Every year, before The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar, volunteers clean it and touch up its paint. During the mass, flowers are placed at its feet.
Many pilgrims bring small votive offerings or coloured ribbons that they tie to its base, asking for wishes or giving thanks. It is a beautiful tradition that The Sun Places wants you to experience.
Because The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar is a moment that deserves to be remembered forever. Furthermore, the cross is situated on a natural viewpoint from which, on clear days, you can see the coasts of Morocco, the Rock of Gibraltar and even Ceuta (thus recalling the connection with the VIII Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup).
🌿The meaning of the name Juanar in The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar
Few pilgrims know the true meaning of the word Juanar in The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar. It does not come from any St. John or any man named Juan. Philologists and toponymists have shown that it derives from the Latin *fonte* (spring), which evolved into *huante*, then *uante* and finally *juan* plus the abundance suffix *-ar*: "place of many springs".
And it is completely true: the slopes of Juanar Peak are crisscrossed by dozens of freshwater springs and streams. During the ascent to The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar, you will cross them constantly. The oldest pilgrims even stop to drink water directly from the springs, convinced of their healing properties.
The Sun Places invites you to bring a reusable water bottle and fill it at the Fuente del Pino (Pine Spring) or the Arroyo de la Víbora (Viper Stream). It is a small gesture that will connect you with nature and the etymological history of the place. Furthermore, our private guides will explain this linguistic phenomenon to you in detail during the walk. Because for us,
The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar is also an opportunity to learn and appreciate the intangible heritage of Andalusia. And what better way to do it than by walking on the land that gave it its name.
Gastronomy, tradition and nature at The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar
Gastronomy is a fundamental part of The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar. At the summit, after mass, families and groups of friends lay out their tablecloths and share country dishes: Spanish omelettes, empanadas, chorizo in wine, Manchego cheese, serrano ham, bread with extra virgin olive oil (the best in the world, which you can buy at the Marbella Municipal Market), fruits and, of course, wine and beer.
Andalusian gazpacho is a must to cool down. The most traditional even prepare migas or stews on portable stoves. It is common to hear guitars, tambourines and flamenco singing while eating.
The nature surrounding The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar is spectacular: pine forests, cork oaks, strawberry trees, rockroses, thyme, rosemary and a fauna rich in mountain goats, foxes, eagles and griffon vultures. The name "Juanar", according to toponymic studies, comes from the Latin *fonte* (spring) and means "place of many springs".
And it's true: during the ascent you will cross dozens of springs and crystal-clear streams. If you want to enjoy The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar without giving up luxury, The Sun Places can organise a unique experience for you: a private chef prepares a gourmet picnic for the summit, private transport to the start of the route and a relaxing afternoon at the Sunday Sunset Ritual — La Plage Casanis after the descent.
📞 Contact The Sun Places and let us organise your experience at The Romeria de la Cruz de Juanar. Tradition, nature and luxury on the Costa del Sol. ⛰️🌿
But if you prefer other destinations, The Sun Places also has ready for you: Luxury Apartments in Barcelona, Luxury Accommodation on the Costa Brava, Luxury Apartments in Seville and unique experiences such as the VIII Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup or Polo in Sotogrande. We look forward to seeing you!