The Sierra Almijara are located in the east of the Axarquia, bordering the provinces of Malaga and Granada. This mountain range has a steep landscape with high mountains close to the Mediterranean Sea and has furrows with deep ravines perpendicular to the coastline.

Navachica is the highest peak at 1,808 metres. Some of the other locally known landmarks are Cuesta del Ciel (Hill of the Sky) at 1,505 metres, Tajo del Almendron (Almedron gorge) at 1,504 metres, Sol (Sun) at 583 metres, Cerro Romero (Romero Hill) at 616 metres, Penon de los Castillejos (Castillejos Rock) and Cerro Mangueno (Mangueno Rock).

The mountains are composed mainly of limestone, which give them a characteristic white aspect, and extensive schists around the base of the mountains. With the limestone mass resting on the impermeable schists, any rain falling on the sierras accumulates here and creates numerous mountain springs. Narixa, the Moorish name for Nerja, means abundant springs. Where the water has dissolved the limestone, spectacular formations such as the Nerja Caves have formed. Many other caves are scattered around these mountains. There are two permanent rivers, the Chillar to the west and the Rio de la Miel (Honey River) to the east.

Evidence of early occupants in the area can be seen in the palaeolithic remains at Nerja Caves. Roman and Arab civilisations have also left their mark as can be seen from the vestiges of a road and two bridges from the Roman era behind the San Joaquin factory and at the Rio de la Miel. Arab farmhouses and a fortress are found in this river´s valley.

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