The route starts and finishes in Álora. The MA-5403 takes you to El Chorro, at the foot of the Gaitanes gorge, and up to the Guadalhorce reservoirs, one of the finest lake landscapes in the province.
It then heads to Ardales, in the Guadalteba area, and turns towards Carratraca, the village of the old spa, before dropping back into the Guadalhorce valley to close the loop in Álora. It crosses the municipalities of Álora, Ardales, Carratraca, Casarabonela and Pizarra.
It is about 59 km and around two hours without stops, with nearly 170 bends and no hairpins. Altitude ranges from about 80 m to 540 m. The area is very popular because of the Caminito del Rey: at weekends expect parked cars and walkers by the road near El Chorro.