La Alpujarra
What is the Alpujarra?
The Alpujarra (or Alpujarras) is a mountainous area situated to the south of Granada near to the mediterranean sea. It is a 2.5-hour drive from Malaga airport, and about 1 hour from Granada. It has a "land that time forgot" atmosphere, typified by quaint villages with whitewashed houses bathed in a special almost magical light.
Day Trip to the Alpujarra from Granada
Enjoy a route through the most emblematic towns of the Alpujarra region. Stroll through several villages and discover the whitwashed walls and flower festooned balconies. Duration 7 hours. Starting time 9:00 AM Instant confirmation. Live tour guide in Spanish and English.
To book an organised day trip from Granada to the Alpujarra. click here.
Who would like the Alpujarra?
It is an ideal holiday destination for people who want to wind down, relax, recharge their batteries and get away from it all. Also it is perfect for the outdoor type who wishes to take advantage of the many outdoor activities such as walking, cycling etc.
Natural park status
The Alpujarra has been declared a Natural Park by the Government of Andalusia and UNESCO has granted it Biosphere Reserve status.There is a wide variety of landscapes and there is a wealth of plant and animal life such as mountain goats, wild boar, eagles, goshawks and partridges.
The Alpujarenian Climate
The climate is warm and sunny although due to the altitude it very rarely reaches the opressivley hot temperatures experienced by the rest of Andalusia during the summer. If the south of Europe is too hot for you but you if you like warm days and blue skies this maybe a good place to be in the summer. In the winter it can be cold at night but it is normally possible to wear shirtsleeves, during the day even in January.
Famous Writers
The peace, tranquility and characteristics of the Alpujarra have attracted many people to live in here. The include famous writers. The most notable are Gerald Brenan and Chris Stewart.
Gerald Brenan: Lived in the village of Yegen just after the first world war. His book "South From Granada" tells of his life in the village.
Chris Stewart: For many years his autobiographical account "Driving over Lemons" about life on a farm near Orgiva was in the bestsellers list.
The pace of life
The pace of village life is slow and tranquil. The ecomomy is still largely agricultural and it is not unusual to see sheep or goats herded through the village streets.
There are many attractive villages with whitewashed stone houses festooned with flowers. The houses have a simple contruction of chestnut beams, the roofs are flat and all of them have large chimney pots.
Mass Tourism
If this area were in France or Italy it would almost certainly be overrun by mass-tourism. Tourism does exist but it is very low key. Hopefully, the Alpujarras will remain charming and unspoilt well into the future.
Mass Tourism
An added attraction is that the city of Granada is only a short drive away. If you want to chill out, relax, wallow in the peace and sunshine the Alpujarras is an excellent place to visit.