The Alpujarra is a region of southern Spain, located in the province of Granada. It is a mountainous area, with a landscape of rolling hills, valleys, and ravines. The Alpujarra is home to a unique culture and history, with a strong Arabic influence.
The Alpujarra is calm and peaceful, it is about living slowly and caring for the important and small things.
A paradise in the middle way between the city of the Alhambra and the tropical coast.
In this article, we will guide you and advise you to pull out the best to visit La Alpujarra in 2 days. There is nothing like a weekend surrounded by nature, mountains, and fresh air to come back home full of energy.
Day 1
We will be starting our day in the gateway to the Alpujarra, Lanjarón.
Lanjarón water is famous for its medicinal and relaxing properties. So we recommend visiting the thermal baths of Lanjarón, known for their healing properties.
In that quiet space, Federico García Lorca wrote at least two poems that in 1928 appeared in the first edition of Gypsy Ballads and also sent letters to important personalities such as Buñuel or Dalí, his friends and colleagues at that time in the student residence in Madrid.
Are you ready to let yourself be inspired by Lanjarón?
Let´s continue with the next destination, after Lanjarón visit it is time to drive to the village of Pampaneira. Pampaneira is one of the most popular villages in the Alpujarra, and it is easy to see why. The village is beautifully situated in a valley, and it is home to several whitewashed houses, narrow streets, and traditional Moorish architecture.
It´s been an active morning so it is time to stop and have lunch. Be sure to try the local specialty, the plato alpujarreño, which is a hearty dish of potatoes, eggs, ham, sausage, and vegetables. Many places offer this exquisite but one of our favorites is Casa Julio.
After a long and late lunch, it is time to come back to Granada, or maybe you prefer to sleep in a cozy hotel such as Estrella de las Nievas in Pampaneira?
Day 2
We will be starting the day with a hike in the Poqueira Valley, so make sure to have a full breakfast. The Poqueira Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is home to some of the most stunning scenery in the Alpujarra.
In the Barranco del Poqueira, the itinerary through Pampaneira, Bubión, and Capileira allows the traveler to contemplate one of the most beautiful corners of Spain.
The architecture of the Poqueira towns is simple, due to the historical isolation of the area, which forced the use of materials that were easy to find in nearby areas.
The simplest way to build is to find flat spaces on the mountainside. Each home rests on the one below. The streets are steep and the houses are staggered, with flat slate roofs that serve as a terrace for the one located higher up, in the manner originally found in North African houses.
The homes are fully adapted to the mountainous terrain on which they sit. One of the best expressions of space use is the Alpujarra ‘tinaos’, characterized by covered public streets between one house and another, on which new space is created.
Our lovely hiking route will finish in Capileira, the last stop on our way. But after visiting the village and getting lost in its narrow streets, how about a nice lunch?
We propose La Trastienda de la Monja, a small tavern where you will try tapas and Spanish wine.
After lunch, it is time to go for a walk around Capileira, which is the highest village in the Alpujarra, and it offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
Have you saved some space for shopping? In Capileira there are several craft shops where they sell “jarapas” (carpets) of a thousand colors, which is one of the most typical souvenirs of this area and that you will see on the doors of numerous houses acting as curtains since they let in the fresh air and repel insects.
Now that you have all the tips and information the nest step is to look for a free weekend and go for the adventure.
