Alcaucin is to be found approximately  20 kilometres from Velez-Malaga and 54 from Malaga. The village lies on the western slopes of Mount Maroma, in the middle of the Sierra de Tejada with an elevation of 510 metres above sea level. Its layout, consisting of an intricate web of streets climbing up the moun­tain slopes, is a clear example of the popular town planning of the Malaga area, with the habitual Moorish air. The municipal area contains the sulpherous water springs of Las Ma-jadas, and the Sierra Alcazar Nature Reserve. One of the most interesting features of the countryside here is the site known as El Boquete de Zafarraya, a huge U-shaped formation which appears on the mountainside close to the boundary between the provinces of Malaga and Granada and through which runs the road linking the two. Prehistoric sites have also been discovered at various points in the municipal area of Alcauci'n, the most outstanding of which is a cave, situated near to El Boquete de Zafarraya, where remains of a Neanderthal Man were found.

The interesting sights in the area in­clude the Castle and village of Zalfa. This origins of this fortress go back to the Phoenicians, though it was also later used by the Moors. Together with the castles of Comares and Bentomiz, this formed the defensive triangle of La Axarqufa.