The Dehesa del Mercadillo Peri-urban Park is mainly covered by stone pine, with the odd case of black pine, while special mention should be made of some large old holm oaks, mixed with areas of pastureland. Its location, alongside Ronda with all its monuments, make this nature area a good place to start your visit to the town.

Small woodland birds abound here, providing a pleasant soundtrack to walks in the area. Another attraction here are the stunning views of the Ronda gorge that you can enjoy around the park. You can also admire this natural frontier from the Monte Público area, specifically Puerto de la Muela.

The name of this area ("dehesa", pastureland) is thought to come from a livestock market that used to be held in the pastureland area on account of its proximity to the town and the existence of various livestock trails between the two. Nowadays, this network of public footpaths provides access to the Peri-urban Park and is also used for sports such as hiking, cycle touring and horse riding. However, these trails have not lost their traditional use either, with the annual celebration of a parade of stud horses put on public display by the Armed Forces. This unusual event seems to date back to the 19th century.

The Peri-urban Park also has a number of Recreational Areas where you can rest, relax and recharge your batteries.