Introduction The Alpujarra is a region of mountain villages to the south of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, which nestle in sheltered valleys and gorges running down towards the Mediterranean Sea. Its terraced farmhouses have a year round supply of water from melting snow above, giving the area the appearance of a high altitude oasis. This area is perfect hiking terrain with beautiful hikes between the snow and the Mediterranean where you will discover the southern slope of the Sierra Nevada. The English writer Gerald Brenan lived for a couple of years and even had Virginia Woolf as a guest.
Here we invite you to enjoy a week of intermediate level hiking staying in peaceful family run hotels in three different villages. You will spend your first night in Granada, with its old Moorish quarter of Albayzín (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Then you travel with public transport to the Alpujarra, you start in the village Trevélez (the highest at 1,470m) which is famous for its ham-curing. The second village you stay in is Busquístar, which means "hidden Moorish paradise". It is one of the best examples of typical Alpujarra architecture. Bubión is the last village you will stay in on this hiking tour. It is situated in the Poqueira valley, at some 1,300m above sea level. The Poqueira valley, carved out millions of years ago by the Poqueira river in its descent from the year round snow melting above to the sub-tropical coast to the south, is spectacular for its contrasting landscapes. Here you will also spend two nights and have the chance to visit the villages of Capileira and Pampaneira on your last day of hiking, before your return to Granada.
Itinerary Day 1: Granada You arrive to the historical city centre where you will find your hotel and all the documentation (map and information of Granada, map and route description for the hike, cultural information). In the afternoon you will visit the Alhambra, a complex of fortress, royal palaces and gardens. It is one of Europe's most visited monuments and you will see why... Built in the 14th/15th Centuries it survives in almost perfect condition to this day. At night you can try the famous "tapas" and perhaps discover some traditional flamenco... Day 2: Transfer (by public bus) Granada - Trevélez After breakfast you still can have a stroll through the delightful streets of Granada before taking a local bus (they are modern and comfortable) to Trevélez (at 10-12 or at 17 o'clock). The journey takes about 3 hours, but the time will fly watching the landscape change as you leave Granada and climb up into the mountains to penetrate the inaccessible lands that were the last stronghold of Granada's Moorish population. Day 3: Trevélez - Trevélez (along Trevélez river) The first part of the hike climbs high above the village of Trevélez (approx. 2,000m). After about three hours you cross the river for the first time. From there you follow the course of the river back down to the village. This river is rich in trout and on your return you could try a specialty of the area: trout with cured ham. 5 hours, 14 km Day 4: Trevélez - Busquístar Today you walk to your next destination, Busquístar, passing through an oak forest, accompanied by the alluring scent of thyme, oregano and lavender. In Busquístar you stay in an old restored village house, once the residence of the village notary. Enjoy the stunning views of the valley from the balcony of your room. 5 hours, 14 km Day 5: Rest Day in Busquístar During your rest day you could go for a gentle walk in search of the ruins of an ancient mosque, or perhaps you would prefer to go on horseback... You will also have a description for another full day hike! Day 6: Busquístar - Capileira From Busquístar you pass through most of the villages of the "Taha", passing through horse chestnut forests and terraced fields, whose network of Moorish irrigation channels, built in the 10th-11th centuries, function to this day. Finally you get to a stone outcrop from where there is a magnificent view of the whole Poqueira valley, crowned by the majestic peak of Veleta (3,391m). From here you head zigzagging down to your destination, Bubion. 4 hours, 13 km Day 7: Capileira - Capileira Your last hike takes you into the deep, steep Poqueira valley, passing through the picturesque villages of Capileira and Pampaneira. These are two of the most famous villages of the Alpujarra for their instantly recognizable architecture and for their local crafts (especially hand-woven clothe, fabrics and carpets). Not to mention the typical Alpujarra cuisine. 4-5 hours, 9 km Day 8: Capileira - Granada Early in the morning or in the afternoon you head back to Granada by bus (more or less 2 hours). Make the most of the ride to enjoy scenery unique in Europe as you wind through the mountains.
You can also extend your stay in Granada and get to know it in depth!
Optional: Extra night Granada: 84 euros double room with breakfast buffet.
GRANADA Granada was first settled by native tribes in the prehistoric period, and was known as Ilbyr. When the Romans colonised southern Spain, they built their own city here and called it Illibris. The Arabs, invading the peninsula in the 8th century, gave it its current name of Granada. It was the last Muslim city to fall to the Christians in 1492, at the hands of Queen Isabel of Castile and her husband Ferdinand of Aragon.
One of the most brilliant jewels of universal architecture is the Alhambra, a series of palaces and gardens built under the Nazari Dynasty in the 14th C. This mighty compound of buildings - including the summer palace called Generalife, with its fountains and gardens - stands at the foot of Spain's highest mountain range, the Sierra Nevada, and overlooks the city below and the fertile plain of Granada.
At the centre of the Alhambra stands the massive Palace of Charles V, an outstanding example of Spanish Renaissance architecture. Other major Christian monuments found in the city are the Cathedral, including the Royal Chapel where Isabel and Ferdinand lie buried, the Monastery of La Cartuja and many churches built by Moorish craftsmen after the Reconquest, in Granada's unique "mudéjar" style.
The hill facing the Alhambra is the old Moorish casbah or "medina", called the Albaicin, a fascinating labyrinth of narrow streets and whitewashed houses with secluded inner gardens, known as "cármenes". The Plaza de San Nicolas, at the highest point of the Albaicin, is famous for its magnificent view of the Moorish palace.
The Sacromonte hill, which overlooks the city from the North, is famous for its cave dwellings, once the home of Granada's large gypsy community.
The name Granada is ancient and mysterious. It may mean "great castle", for the Roman fortress which once stood on the Albaicin Hill. When the Moors came here, the town was largely inhabited by Jews, for which they called it Garnat-al-Yahud - Granada of the Jews. The Jews are said to have been one of the first peoples to settle in Spain, even before the Romans.
TREVELEZ This village (the highest at 1,470m) is famous for its ham-curing. The high mountain air and the area's own special bio-climate during the curing process (at least one year) give the ham its special taste. This ham is exported all over northern Europe and even to Japan. During your stay you shouldl visit one of these famous "secaderos" where they will explain the whole process in detail.
BUSQUISTAR Today you hike to Busquístar, which means "hidden Moorish paradise". It is one of the best examples of typical Alpujarran architecture, especially in the use of "launa" (a special type of clay found in this area) in roof construction.
CAPILEIRA Located in the Poqueira ravine, between the Mediterranean coast and Sierra Nevada, Capileira has a special charm, typical of the towns that are on Alpujarra's route. Capileira has the typical appearance of the towns of the region of Alpujarra, Granada, with houses that have been adapted to the rugged terrain and the local climate, situated on narrow streets where the visitor can see the vestiges of the town's Moorish past. These cubic houses are generally two storeys high, with a flat roof. In the city centre we find the Pedro Antonio de Alarcón Ethnological Museum, which exhibits the popular customs of the region of Alpujarra, and the church of Santa María la Mayor, from the 18th century.
Accommodation Whenever possible on our tours, we use welcoming accommodation with a personal service offering a good level of comfort (heating, hot water, bar/restaurant, etc.) and quality cuisine (based especially on traditional regional cooking). Where the possibility exists we also choose establishments with architectural interest, which fit in with their surroundings (converted farmhouses, cave houses, refurbished mills, country houses and rural lodges, etc.), and, again wherever available, we use accommodation offering services related to the cultural and adventurous spirit of the routes (thermal baths and massages, cultural entertainment, etc.).
Given that tours tend to run through rural areas, the client/traveller should accept that occasionally it may not be possible to choose exactly type or style of accommodation ideally desired. In any case, the minimum services of any establishment should include: · Bathroom with standard facilities including bath or shower · Heating and hot water · Restaurant/Cafeteria facilities within the establishment or close by within the village (500m from hotel) · Beds with clean sheets and warm blankets
Climate Andalucia is Spain's warmest region. It has average yearly temperatures of 17 degrees centigrade around 600mm of rainfall and some 3,000 hours of sunshine with long hot summers and short mild winters.
Getting there (to Granada) If you arrive via Malaga: A taxi from Malaga to Granada costs €150 (at night and during weekends you will have to add an €20 surcharge - the transfer can be booked beforehand and the driver will expect you with a sign and your name at the airport)
Taking the bus from Malaga to Granada: You first need to get to the bus station either by taxi (€20 - €25 ) or take the Bus No. 19 that leaves right in front of the arrival hall - it leaves every half an hour, takes about half an hour and costs €2.
Malaga bus station - Granada bus station (1 hr 45 min, 9 €) daily departures: 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:15, 12:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:15, 20:00, 21:00
From the bus station in Granada to the hotel it will be around € 8 , or take the bus Nº. 3 or 33 to the city centre, get off at the second stop ‘Gran Via'.
Price includes: · 7 nights accommodation in double room with breakfast, with private shower/WC or bathroom · Luggage transfers each day · Entrance to the Alhambra Palaces and gardens · Documentation (cultural information & description of the routes with detailed information and original map) all the necessary information provided (a map of the Sierra Nevada 1:40.000 with the route marked, full descriptions of each stage, cultural and useful information about the region, a city map of Granada, monuments opening hours, suggestions where to have dinner or to have some tapas... ).
Optional Extra - It is possibility to use a portable GPS with the uploaded tracks to follow the itinerary (deposit required).
