Capileira seen from Pampaneira
High Alpujarra holiday guide – Capileira, Bubión & Pampaneira (the Poqueira Gorge)
With its backdrop of the Sierra Nevada peaks, the Poqueira Gorge is the best-known and most photographed holiday choice in Las Alpujarras. Just 5 kilometres separate Pampaneira below, Bubión halfway up the river gorge and Capileira in pride of place at the top, from where the Sierra Nevada road continues up to the National Park. Energetic walkers can visit them all via not always well-maintained paths that zigzag the steepish countryside. Plenty of other easier and spectacular walks await you here.
Capileira is the most alive and welcoming of the three villages. It has more to offer in terms of café-bars, restaurants and craft shops, and the position for views is exceptional. The village square creates a focal point for locals and visitors alike.
Bubión is a sleepier village that is still well worth exploring. Like Capileira, it is mostly traffic-free and has pretty nooks and corners. Climb up paths above the village for a view of the Mediterranean Sea at sunset.
Pampaneira is set in a hollow at the foot of the gorge, where it is often hidden in shadow. It has become a popular stopping-off point for tourist buses thanks to its many souvenir shops.
With its backdrop of the Sierra Nevada peaks, the Poqueira Gorge is the best-known and most photographed holiday choice in Las Alpujarras. Just 5 kilometres separate Pampaneira below, Bubión halfway up the river gorge and Capileira in pride of place at the top, from where the Sierra Nevada road continues up to the National Park. Energetic walkers can visit them all via not always well-maintained paths that zigzag the steepish countryside. Plenty of other easier and spectacular walks await you here.
Capileira is the most alive and welcoming of the three villages. It has more to offer in terms of café-bars, restaurants and craft shops, and the position for views is exceptional. The village square creates a focal point for locals and visitors alike.
Bubión is a sleepier village that is still well worth exploring. Like Capileira, it is mostly traffic-free and has pretty nooks and corners. Climb up paths above the village for a view of the Mediterranean Sea at sunset.
Pampaneira is set in a hollow at the foot of the gorge, where it is often hidden in shadow. It has become a popular stopping-off point for tourist buses thanks to its many souvenir shops.
Poqueira Gorge what-to-do visitors' guide
-Hire mountain bikes or road bikes from Alpujarra Bikes in Bubión and feel the freedom of the mountains
-Explore old Capileira village with its curious architecture and quiet, labyrinthine streets
-Browse craft shops on the square and La Alacena local produce shop on the traffic-free street by the church. Visit J. Brown’s leather workshop and store for quality handmade leather goods. Te Encanta on the square has pretty clothes, some from India.
-Walk down to the River Poqueira. Walk out of the main square past Bar La Tapa (see Alpujarra restaurants) and keep below the hillside apartments along the track out of the village and along the gorge towards the mountains. It is signposted as the Abuchite walk. This soon becomes a path which remains level for about ten minutes before doubling back to the left and continuing down all the way to the river and footbridge. The river is quiet enough to take a (cold) dip in if the day is hot. Duration: 1 hr 15 mins there and back.
See more: Alpujarra Walks .
-Drive up through Capileira and continue up the Sierra Nevada highway 13 km to the entrance to the Sierra Nevada National Park. Park and walk in (there is no charge). Great views and pure mountain air.
-Take the tourist bus up into Sierra Nevada National Park. This runs from late spring to the end of summer and is the only passenger vehicle permitted inside the National Park. If you want to hike Mulhacén, it’s possible to get up and down in time for the last bus back if you take the early departure.
-Hike up Mulhacén, at 3,479 m the highest mountain on the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). Use a guide book and maybe a guide (ask us for contacts) and prepare for a high altitude hike where it is always cold, even at the height of summer when the heat is baking in the village. Wear layers, take water, a hat, and wear sun protection. In winter, snow may make this hike impossible.
-Hire the services of an experienced and professional English-speaking walking guide to discover the best trails in the Alpujarras
-Learn flamenco dancing in Granada's mountains at Capileira's flamenco dance school.
-Discover Vedic Art on a course with Maryse Alen at her Capileira Vedic Art centre
-Go horse riding. Dallas Love’s stables approx. 2 km above Capileira have an excellent and deserved reputation. Book short rides in advance on. Phone (+34) 958 76 30 38.
-Walk down to neighbouring Bubión. It’s only 2 km down the hill and there's a path most of the way there. To find the path, walk through the small park below the two-level outdoor parking. in Bubión, visit or shop at El Telar or Hilacar weaving workshops, hire a bicycle, or maybe try the Bubión sunset walk and have drinks afterwards at El Teide.
-Continue from Bubión down the path to Pampaneira and browse the souvenir shops. The path begins opposite the church. Time it right and you can get the bus back to Capileira from Pampaneira.
Discover: Capileira village
Discover: Alpujarra walks
-Hire mountain bikes or road bikes from Alpujarra Bikes in Bubión and feel the freedom of the mountains
-Explore old Capileira village with its curious architecture and quiet, labyrinthine streets
-Browse craft shops on the square and La Alacena local produce shop on the traffic-free street by the church. Visit J. Brown’s leather workshop and store for quality handmade leather goods. Te Encanta on the square has pretty clothes, some from India.
-Walk down to the River Poqueira. Walk out of the main square past Bar La Tapa (see Alpujarra restaurants) and keep below the hillside apartments along the track out of the village and along the gorge towards the mountains. It is signposted as the Abuchite walk. This soon becomes a path which remains level for about ten minutes before doubling back to the left and continuing down all the way to the river and footbridge. The river is quiet enough to take a (cold) dip in if the day is hot. Duration: 1 hr 15 mins there and back.
See more: Alpujarra Walks .
-Drive up through Capileira and continue up the Sierra Nevada highway 13 km to the entrance to the Sierra Nevada National Park. Park and walk in (there is no charge). Great views and pure mountain air.
-Take the tourist bus up into Sierra Nevada National Park. This runs from late spring to the end of summer and is the only passenger vehicle permitted inside the National Park. If you want to hike Mulhacén, it’s possible to get up and down in time for the last bus back if you take the early departure.
-Hike up Mulhacén, at 3,479 m the highest mountain on the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). Use a guide book and maybe a guide (ask us for contacts) and prepare for a high altitude hike where it is always cold, even at the height of summer when the heat is baking in the village. Wear layers, take water, a hat, and wear sun protection. In winter, snow may make this hike impossible.
-Hire the services of an experienced and professional English-speaking walking guide to discover the best trails in the Alpujarras
-Learn flamenco dancing in Granada's mountains at Capileira's flamenco dance school.
-Discover Vedic Art on a course with Maryse Alen at her Capileira Vedic Art centre
-Go horse riding. Dallas Love’s stables approx. 2 km above Capileira have an excellent and deserved reputation. Book short rides in advance on. Phone (+34) 958 76 30 38.
-Walk down to neighbouring Bubión. It’s only 2 km down the hill and there's a path most of the way there. To find the path, walk through the small park below the two-level outdoor parking. in Bubión, visit or shop at El Telar or Hilacar weaving workshops, hire a bicycle, or maybe try the Bubión sunset walk and have drinks afterwards at El Teide.
-Continue from Bubión down the path to Pampaneira and browse the souvenir shops. The path begins opposite the church. Time it right and you can get the bus back to Capileira from Pampaneira.
Discover: Capileira village
Discover: Alpujarra walks
Stopping off for refreshments
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