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Colmenar is at an altitude of 700 metres and lies 35 kilometres from Malaga and 49 from Velez-Malaga. To the north are the dying foothills of the Sierra de Camarolos and to the south Mount Miraflores. The economy of Colmenar is based on agriculture, livestock farming and a number of food and drink industries. There are also many beehives in the area, reminding us of the origins of the name of the town (the Spanish word "colmena" means "beehive"). The town has two clearly-distinguishedsections, the upper area, its steep, nar­row streets clustering around the church, and the lower area, the site of more recent construction. The Parish Church of Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion, its white tower stand­ing out over its other dependencies, dates back to the 17th century. Another notable building in Colmenar is the Shrine of Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria, also constructed in the 17th century, but since then much altered. According to legend, it was built by seamen from the Canaries in thanks for having been saved from a terrible storm off the coast of Malaga. Historical records referring to Colmenar go back as far as 1488, when the Catholic Monarchs, after conquering La Axarqufa, bought these lands from Named el Suque.

The territory was later sold by Philip II to the nobleman Gabriel de Cohallo in order to help finance the wars in Flanders. The annual festivities in Colmenar begin on 2 February, and are held in honour of the Virgin of Candlemas. On 3 May, there is a romerfa known as "El Dia de la Pipa", when hornazos, local sweetmeats, are consumed. Fiestas in honour of Our Lady of the Assumption take place in summer, on 14 August. From Colmenar, the last stop on the Route of Oil and Mountains, we can either return to Velez-Malaga along the C-roads 240 and 335, or to Malaga along the C-345 (the Mountain Road) or the N-321, passing through Casa-bermeja.