“Nerja and the Secret Star - A Story of Caves, Cliffs, and Curious Kids”
Once upon a sunny morning in the town of Nerja, three friends—Luna, Max, and Nico the dog—set off on an adventure. They were armed with a beach bag full of snacks, a pair of binoculars, and a map that Luna’s grandmother had drawn by hand.
“This is no ordinary map,” she’d whispered. “It holds the secrets of Nerja’s past… and a hidden star that only the most curious explorers can find.”
The map pointed first to the Balcón de Europa, the famous viewing point above the sea. Luna stood in the very centre, right where the compass rose is drawn on the tiles. She closed her eyes and felt the sea breeze. “It’s true,” she said, “Granny said you can feel the energy of the old kings here!”
“Did you know,” Max added, “this place was once a lookout tower to watch for pirates?” They imagined sailors shouting from the cliffs and cannons firing to protect the village.
Nico barked and tugged the map with his teeth. The next stop was deeper into history…
They hopped on the little tourist train and rode all the way to the Cueva de Nerja—the Nerja Caves. As they stepped inside, Max’s voice echoed, “Echooooo!”
“Shh!” whispered Luna. “This is where five boys went looking for bats… and found secret tunnels instead!”
The cave sparkled with crystal shapes and gigantic columns that looked like melted candles. One of the guides told them that the paintings inside might be more than 40,000 years old—drawn by people who lived here long before there were even houses.
After the caves, the trio followed the path down to the old sugar factory ruins. “This used to smell like warm molasses,” Luna said. “Sugar was super important here.” Max pretended to be a sugar merchant from 200 years ago, and Nico chased butterflies through the dry grass.
They picnicked at Playazo Beach, where local families still come for sunset barbecues. Max helped Luna build a giant sandcastle with a moat, while Nico sniffed at someone's forgotten bocadillo.
As the sun began to set, they followed the cliffs above the beach until they reached the rocky trails of El Cielo, the mountain that locals say is full of mystery. Luna held out the map. “Look! The star is marked right here.”
They found a small painted rock near the trail, shaped like a star. It wasn’t gold or shiny, but it glowed warm in the evening light.
“This is it,” said Max. “The secret star of Nerja.”
“What does it mean?” Luna asked.
Nico wagged his tail as a soft breeze blew past. A tiny tag was tied to the stone:
“The real treasure is knowing the stories beneath your feet.”
That night, back home, they made a scrapbook of their adventure: the echo of the caves, the pirate towers, the sugar stories, the scent of salt and sea.
And from then on, whenever they stood at the Balcón and saw the waves roll in, they remembered they were standing in a town full of secrets, stories—and stars.
🧭 Fun Explorer Notes:
The Nerja Caves were found by 5 boys in 1959 when they went searching for bats!
The Balcón de Europa was once a fortress. Now it’s where everyone goes for the best views.
“Nerja” means “Abundant Spring” in Arabic—because of the water that runs underground.
You can still visit the Verano Azul boat from the famous Spanish TV series!
Wild goats live in the nearby hills. Keep your eyes open on nature walks.
