Colmenar is a municipality in the province of Málaga, in the autonomous community of Andalusia in southern Spain. It lies within the comarca (district) of Axarquía, inland from the Mediterranean coast and north of the provincial capital, Málaga.
The town sits in the foothills of the Montes de Málaga, a mountainous area that forms part of the natural backdrop to the city of Málaga. Its inland position gives it a character distinct from the coastal resorts of the Costa del Sol, with a landscape of hills, olive groves and cereal fields typical of the province's interior.
Colmenar serves as a local service centre for the surrounding rural area and is connected by road to Málaga and to nearby towns such as Casabermeja and Riogordo. Like other municipalities in the region, it observes the traditional festivals and customs of Andalusian village life.