Alpujarras Mountain Drive
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Port
Motril (Granada), Spain
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Activity Level
Moderate Activity
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$190
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 5½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals included
Relax on a drive from Motril to the region of mountain villages known as Las Alpujarras (the Grasslands), where white-washed towns cling to the southern flanks of the Sierra Nevada, bisected by deep, sheltered valleys and gorges that run all the way down to the Mediterranean.
The Alpujarra area is famous for its unique mini-ecosystem. Its terraced farmlands are constantly watered by the snowmelt from above, creating a high-elevation oasis of greenery dramatically contrasting with the arid foothills below. The cultural interest of the region lies in its fifty-odd villages, which were the last stronghold of the Spanish Muslims — the Moors.
You'll stop for photos at Presa de Rules and pass through Orgiva before arriving at Pampaneira Village, which lies almost 5,000 feet above sea level. Pampaneira has retained its traditional Berber architecture — terraced clusters of grey-white box-shaped houses with flat roofs — a style that is still common in the Rif and Atlas mountains of Morocco.
Taste local tapas in Ruta del Mulhacen. Afterward, you'll have some free time to explore.
Drive back through the village of Orgiva, and a short stop in Lanjarón, before you head back to the pier in Motril.
Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring a jacket; it can be cool at higher elevations.