Day 5 – From the Sierra Nevada to Gibraltar: Snow, Monkeys, and the Gateway to Africa

A Familiar Morning Rhythm

We started the day as we now almost routinely do, getting up around 7:00 a.m. This rhythm has quickly become our rally routine. Breakfast was relaxed, even if communication once again required a bit of creativity. English and German weren’t widely spoken, but as everywhere so far, people were incredibly friendly and helpful. Coffee, orange juice, and toast with cheese were more than enough to start the day comfortably.

Person (Viator) in a blue hoodie leans into the rear of a pink SUV with a roof rack, exposing the black interior seats, against a gray stone building and cloudy sky backdrop.

Wooden table with a white plate of cheese toast, two cappuccinos in floral cups, and two glasses of orange juice, creating a casual breakfast setting

Today’s Goal: Gibraltar

Our destination for the day was Gibraltar, located right next to the ferry port of Algeciras from which we’ll cross to Morocco tomorrow. With that in mind, today already felt like a transition day — the last full stage on European soil before Africa.

Through the Sierra Nevada — A Winter Surprise

The route first led us straight through the Sierra Nevada, a high mountain range in southern Spain and the highest range on the Iberian Peninsula. We climbed to around 1,000 meters above sea level, driving across a wide plateau.

What surprised us most was the scenery: snow. There was still plenty of it lying on both sides of the road, and for a while we were driving through a proper winter landscape — an unexpected contrast, considering how close we already were to the Mediterranean and Africa. Only when we reached the area near Málaga did the landscape change again and the sea came back into view.

Curvy coastal road winds through green hills under a dramatic cloudy sky, with distant sea and a rocky formation on the horizon, suitable for travel and road trip stories

Along the Mediterranean Toward Gibraltar

From Málaga onward, we followed the Mediterranean coast, making good progress. In total, we covered just over 530 kilometers today. We parked on the Spanish side just outside Gibraltar and crossed the border and the runway of the airport of Gibraltar on foot into the territory.

Red Land Rover SUV with roof rack and spare tire, front view on a paved area under a cloudy sky, mountain backdrop, clear branding of Land Rover.

Smiling couple as Team Insanire selfie in front of a Gibraltar sign mounted on a stone wall with blue sky, capturing a travel moment during a road trip with Team Insanire

Exploring the Rock of Gibraltar

After a light lunch inside Gibraltar, we took a taxi up to mid‑level on the Rock to visit the famous St. Michael’s Cave. Inside, the impressive stalactite formations combined with dramatic lighting created an almost surreal atmosphere — a truly memorable experience.

From there, we continued on foot, walking along the Rock toward the Skywalk. The views were spectacular, stretching across the Strait of Gibraltar and toward Africa.

Inside a vast cave bathed in purple lighting, stalactites hang from the ceiling as a metal walkway guides visitors along illuminated rocky chambers.

Limestone cave interior with dripping stalactites and mossy green walls, rugged rock formations, earthy tones, and mineral textures.

Berber Monkeys Everywhere

Throughout our walk, the famous Barbary macaques were everywhere. According to our taxi driver, there are around 300 monkeys living on the Rock. Despite their reputation, they were calm and peaceful to us, allowing us to observe them closely and take a few photos.

Even Mr. B‑Bear couldn’t resist the moment and made sure to get his own photo with one of the monkeys.

There’s a local legend that the Barbary macaques reached Gibraltar through underground tunnels from Morocco — a story that adds to the mystique of the place. Historically, however, Barbary macaques were once native to parts of southern Europe, so perhaps they were simply here long before borders existed.

Monkey with brown fur sits against a concrete ledge beside a metal railing, one leg extended, the other bent, relaxed posture on a sunlit sidewalk.

A Long Walk Back and a Perfect Sunset

In total, we walked around 10 kilometers on the Rock. Finding the way down wasn’t always straightforward, and we asked locals twice for directions before finally making it back to the center.

On the central square, we took a short break and let the evening settle in. As the sun slowly began to set, we made our way back across the airport runway, which famously doubles as the border crossing. Timing couldn’t have been better — we were rewarded with a beautiful sunset over the runway, a truly fitting end to the day.

Devil's Car Road street sign mounted on a beige stucco wall under a bright blue sky; a white building to the right and a red-framed plaque reading Escalera Del Monte is visible below

Ready for the Crossing

After a short 15‑minute drive from Gibraltar, we reached our hotel for the night. Tomorrow, the journey continues with a major milestone: crossing to Morocco.

Europe is behind us. Africa is next.