Alpujarra Almeriense

Why visit Alpujarra Almeriense

The Alpujarra Almeriense is the eastern end of the Alpujarra, a range of terraced valleys on the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada that continues west into Granada. Here the landscape is drier and more open than its Granada neighbour, with the Andarax river valley running between the Sierra Nevada and the Sierra de Gádor, lined with orange groves, vines and whitewashed villages. Laujar de Andarax is the main town, surrounded by forest at the head of the valley, while hamlets such as Bayárcal and Paterna del Río sit high on the mountainside. It suits walkers, wine lovers and anyone after the slower rhythms of mountain village life.

Main attractions in Alpujarra Almeriense

Laujar de Andarax is the natural starting point, with its Baroque town hall, the forested Nacimiento del Andarax recreation area and vineyards producing the local Alpujarra wines. Terque’s ethnographic museum tells the story of the uva de barco, the table grape once packed in barrels and shipped from Almería to northern Europe, a trade that also shaped Ohanes and Canjáyar. Alhama de Almería has long been known for its thermal springs. The Almería side of Sierra Nevada National Park offers high-mountain walking from Bayárcal and Paterna del Río, while the Sierra de Gádor and the river tracks of the Andarax suit hiking and mountain biking. Expect hearty dishes such as migas and pork from the matanza, fruit from the riverside orchards, local wine at village fiestas and the traditional Moorish-influenced terraces that still frame every view.