Gaucín's position between Ronda and the coast puts it within reach of several worthwhile destinations.
Ronda is the most obvious excursion — about 45 minutes by car on the A-369. The dramatic gorge, the old bullring, and the Moorish old town make it the most visited town in the Serrania de Ronda. Go early; it draws large tour groups by mid-morning.
The white villages of the Sierra de Grazalema — Grazalema, Zahara de la Sierra, Olvera — form a natural circuit northwest of Gaucín and can be covered in a day's driving. The natural park around Grazalema is excellent walking country and is one of the wettest spots in Spain, which explains its lush vegetation and dramatic limestone scenery.
South toward the coast, Casares is a striking pueblo blanco perched on a cliff, closer to the sea and often quieter than the better-known villages. Gibraltar is about an hour's drive and worth half a day — the cable car to the top, the Barbary macaques, the tunnels, and the views across the Strait.
The Cueva de la Pileta, with its 25,000-year-old cave paintings, is only 15 kilometres away on the Ronda road and makes a natural half-day from the village — combine it with a visit to Ronda.