Things to Do in Juzcar, The Blue Village in Malaga
Juzcar, commonly referred to as the Smurf village, had been on my list for a while. I had heard mixed reviews about the village, and not long ago I decided to pay it a visit.
There’s a story behind this town, which I’ll talk about later, but for now, you might want to know that the village has undergone changes, and it isn’t the Smurf village anymore but the Aldea Azul (The Blue Village).
Is it still worth visiting? Yes. Seeing a village mostly painted in blue in such a beautiful setting is a hundred per cent worth it.
However, if you’re coming for the Smurfs, you’ll be a bit disappointed. At least I was.
In this blog, I’m going to cover Juzcar’s history, the must-see spots around the village and other tips to make the most of your day out.
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Location
Juzcar is nestled in the beautiful Genal Valley, one of the best places to visit for an autumn escape in Malaga. Here is where you’ll find several small villages surrounded by nature. If you love the autumn foliage and hiking, this is definitely your spot.
As many travellers do, you’ll either travel from Malaga or Ronda to visit Juzcar. It’s a 1-hour and 45-minute drive from Malaga, and a 30-minute drive from Ronda.
Due to its location, you’ll need a car to get to Juzcar. There is no public transport available. Nor are there tour companies that offer day trips to Juzcar.
The good thing about this is that there are no tourism problems, unlike other towns in Malaga, which you might feel are too crowded and touristy.
Driving here is also out of the way, making it ideal for anyone who wants to visit off-the-beaten-track destinations.
If you wonder what the road is like, well, it’s windy and not for everyone. However, other mountainside towns in Malaga have worse roads. I can assure you of that.
History of Juzcar
Juzcar became very famous after June 2011, when it was chosen as the filming location for “The Smurfs.” This happened because the PR company that collaborated with Sony Pictures suggested temporarily painting this former traditional white town blue.
The town painted all the houses and important buildings blue, like the town hall and Santa Catalina de Siena Church. They also installed large Smurf statues across town and painted the walls with Smurf-related designs.
Nevertheless, residents decided to keep everything as it was after the film, which boosted the local economy by bringing in visitors.
In 2017, the town lost the rights and couldn’t be the Smurf Village anymore. Hence, it’s now the Blue Village (the Aldea Azul).
Since then, Juzcar has kept its colours and some of the Smurf elements, but there are far fewer than before. For example, the big statue of Papa Smurf, Smurfette and others are no longer there. If you see them, you’ve probably seen old pictures or videos of Juzcar!
Things to do in Juzcar
Check the map next to the tourist office
I don’t usually check out the tourist office as I always research places in advance. Occasionally, I might go to get a map, but only on rare occasions.
In this case, you don’t even need to ask for one. There’s a big panel with a map with different routes: street art, hiking, and kid-friendly spots.
Take a photo of it and use it as a reference during your visit. Google Maps isn’t good for finding street art and statues. Some pictures are quite old too.
📍Location: Av. Havaral, 29462 Júzcar, Málaga
Stop by Parque de Juzcar
To my surprise, the park next to the Juzcar entrance and tourist office was closed. It seems like they’re working on restoring it to how it was, since I could see the floor was cracked and lifted a bit from ground movement.
Hopefully, it’s restored soon, and kids can play here, and, we, adults can take nice pictures!
📍Location: 29462 Júzcar, Province of Málaga
Have lunch at Casa del Bandolero
This hotel also has an on-site restaurant serving delicious traditional dishes.
My husband, my friends and I enjoyed lunch here. While the menu doesn’t have many options, it has some classic dishes you might want to try. We had the meatballs in sauce with homemade chips and the ham croquetas. Both were really good, although if I had to choose one, I’d pick the meatballs. The sauce is unbelievable; it reminds me of the one my grandma makes, and it’s perfect for dipping your bread in.
The prices are reasonable for the large portions you get!
📍Location: Av. Havaral, 43, 29462 Júzcar, Málaga
Take a picture with Gargamel at Avenida Havaral
Avenida Havaral is the first street you’ll walk into Juzcar. It’s past the Casa del Bandolero Hotel. Take a funny picture with Gargamel, the evil wizard from The Smurfs, in the street. It’s a good start to get into the Smurf vibe.
📍Location: Avenida Havaral, 29462, Province of Málaga
Wander Calle Fuente Caraila
I would say this street is one of the most picturesque in Juzcar. I found myself spending quite a bit of time here admiring the house decor, paintings, letterboxes (yes, beautiful ones!). Even the benches are pretty, painted in different colours.
You can spot paintings of mushroom houses, snails, trees, dogs, bees and more.
I love how the locals are proud of their facades and decorate them with lovely flower and plant pots, gnomes and tiles.
📍Location: 29462 Júzcar, Province of Málaga
Check out Calle Sol
At the corner where this street starts, there is a charming rural home called Casa de Don Quijote, with a Don Quijote statue next to the wooden door.
If you go down the street to Calle Cruz, a hilly street, you’ll find another photo opportunity here before you reach the mushroom-shaped kiosk and viewpoint (see next point).
📍Location: 29462 Júzcar, Province of Málaga
Enjoy the views from Mirador de la Torrichela
The Torrichela viewpoint is one of the best in Juzcar. Papa Smurf sculpture used to be here. While you can’t see it anymore, there are two little mushroom-shaped huts resembling the Smurf houses and the statue of big eagles.
Take photos here with these and the beautiful town views.
Buy a souvenir from Tienda de regalos Milagros
If you’re looking to buy unique souvenirs from Juzcar, visit Milagros souvenir shop. Unfortunately, it was closed for the holidays when I went, so I couldn’t peek inside or buy anything.
But it’s worth knowing there’s a place where you can find gifts for yourself or others. From what I read, they have traditional souvenirs but also Smurf-related items like figurines, mugs and more.
📍Location: 29462 Júzcar, Province of Málaga
Find the blue stairs
You might come across more than one set of pretty blue stairs, but I found these ones and thought they were great photo spots. The blue stairs with flower pots on both sides are so picturesque.
I love the house on the left side at the top of the stairs, as it has bougainvillaea flowers around it.
📍Location: C. Alcalde Diego Fernandez, 11-1, 29462 Júzcar, Málaga
See Juzcar’s main church
Iglesia de Santa Catalina de Siena is Júzcar’s main church. What makes it different from other churches is that the outside of the building was painted blue, and it’s still the same.
There’s a church square where locals celebrate main events, and I love the street that leads to the church because there’s a well first, and then they set out colourful sunshades made out of yarn in the summer. It looks lovely.
📍Location: Plaza Virgen de Moclón, 29462 Júzcar, Málaga
Spot the few Smurf paintings across the village
As I mentioned earlier, the statues are no longer in Júzcar, but you can find some Smurf paintings in buildings. I wouldn’t say there are many, but it’s still nice to find some. The one you see above is in Calle los Riscos.
Admire the views from Mirador del Pueblo
Once you leave the town, I recommend checking out this viewpoint on one side of the road; just watch out for other cars.
From here, we enjoyed the best panoramic view of Juzcar.
📍Location: MA-7301, 29462 Júzcar, Málaga
Go on a hike
One of the best things to do in Juzcar is going on a hike. It’s surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes that will make you fall in love with the area.
I personally love hiking in the Genal Valley, which includes Juzcar, in autumn, especially in early to mid-November because it’s usually the time when the autumn foliage peaks here.
The Juzcar to Cartajima walking route is ideal for this time of the year. You can find more information on Wikiloc.
Where to eat in Juzcar
On my day trip to Juzcar from Malaga, I had lunch at Casa del Bandolero as I mentioned above. The village doesn’t have many food options, to be honest. However, other places you might want to check out because of their popularity and good ratings are:
- Bar Torricheli. They serve tapas, plus a good selection of meat and fish dishes. Unfortunately, it was closed for the holidays when I went, so I couldn’t try the food, but the reviews are good. Many customers mention how lovely it is to sit outdoors and enjoy a view of the village while you eat.
- Bar ParribaPabajo. It’s a good option for everyone, even for vegetarians, as they have a few options available. It’s kid-friendly, and dishes like the Blue Burger (to continue the Smurf theme) will appeal to adults and kids.
Where to stay in Juzcar
The only hotel in Juzcar is the Hotel Restaurante Bandolero, which you’ll find right at the entrance of the village. This 2-star hotel offers spacious rooms with the essentials, including air conditioning and free WiFi, a restaurant and a pool available during the summer.
Alternatively, a few rural homes are available, such as La Casa de mis Padres, which has very good reviews.
My top tips for visiting Juzcar
- Pair Juzcar with another nearby village or Ronda. As lovely Juzcar is, you only need a few hours to explore and take photos. You don’t need half a day or a full day. You could visit Parauta or Cartajima before Juzcar or explore Ronda, which has much more to see, and then visit Juzcar for a few hours.
- Don’t spend lots of time looking for a mural. My husband, friends, and I spent some time trying to find a mural I saw on Instagram. After checking Google Maps a couple of times and doing loops, we found the spot and realised they’d painted over it. So, yes, the paintings aren’t permanent, and they might be removed or replaced.
- Park at the beginning of the town. There’s enough space to park near the tourist office.
- Wear comfortable shoes. There are some hilly streets in Juzcar, and believe me, you don’t want heels or sandals!
Map with things to see in Juzcar
Short FAQ
Why is Juzcar blue?
The town was initially white, as all the towns in the area are; however, locals painted it blue when the Smurf village was released there.
Are the Smurf statues still in Juzcar?
No, they removed all the Smurf statues due to copyright issues. They replaced them with animal statues representing the area.
Can you visit Juzcar without a car?
No. There’s no public transportation to access Juzcar from Malaga or Ronda. You need a car.
What villages can I visit near Juzcar?
Cartajima, Parauta, Pujerra and Igualeja. All of them belong to the Genal Valley.
Conclusion: Is Juzcar worth visiting?
Yes, I think it’s a lovely small village to spend a few hours. Since they removed the Smurf statues, the popularity of the village has decreased, so you won’t find as many travellers, making it more authentic and less of a “tourist attraction”.
I recommend supporting the village’s economy by eating at one of its restaurants or buying something there.
Would you like tailored advice on where to travel in Southern Spain? Book a call with me, and we can start planning your dream trip.
Enjoy your time in Juzcar!
Cristina
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