WHAT TO DO IN THE VALLEY AND SURROUND?
Guided tours of the area: Lecrin Valley
ACQUAINT YOURSELF WITH THE LECRIN VALLEY- BOTH CULTURALLY AND CULINARILY
Each destination is home to its own stories, traditions and flavors. That’s why we have developed 9 routes through the Lecrín Valley with culture and cuisine as the focus. Each tour is led by our expert local guides.
We’ll start with a visit to the ‘Barrio Alto’ and then climb toward the hermitage through a pine forest while we’ll learn about reforestation and environmental concerns in the area. The main attraction of this trail is the hermitage where the view opens up to reveal some of the valley’s best scenery. Here we’ll learn about the site’s history as well as the valley and Sierra Nevada mountain range. Your guide will not only lead the way but also help you put what you see into historical and geographical context. If you would like to follow this further into mountainous territory, simply consult the guide.
Considerations: This is a demanding route and in the summer months it is advisable that this route be done in the morning or late afternoon to avoid extreme heat.
This route will take us through the entire town, including both upper and lower neighborhoods and the places of greatest interest. After our arrival at the church of the ‘Barrio Bajo,’ we’ll enter the area of olive orchards and citrus groves and reach a massive oak that is well known to locals. Our route will conclude near the ‘Barranco de Zazar’ where we’ll examine and discuss the abundant water and hydraulic infrastructures (canals, bridges, mills…) that help us tell the story of the different cultures that have made our valley home throughout time. This ravine offers a stunning view that we’ll appreciate from several angles before entering a lush leafy area cultivated since Roman times.
Considerations: This route intersects with a road at one point
Departing from the upper neighborhood we’ll pass through the entire town and head down towards the reservoir, making use of the ‘Alauxa’ hiking trail. We’ll arrive near the reservoir, passing through orchards and stopping to examine significant places such as caves and remnants from various eras. Along the way you’ll enjoy the best views around the reservoir and come across impressive specimens of trees that have been cultivated since ancient times, clearly illustrating an irrigated Mediterranean agriculture that remains productive even today. After leaving the orchards, we’ll pass the reservoir dam and then hike up into a pine forest surrounding an old quarry. We’ll continue on towards an area of orchards where we will see more examples of some of the most ancient olive and carob trees in our area before returning to the town via the cemetery path. The route can be lengthened by following the Camino Real to the nearby town of Acebuches by way of a road used since ancient times to connect Granada with the port town of Motril, identifying several sites with relics of the structures of that important and highly trafficked road.
Considerations: The route at some points runs along a stretch of road and at times can be subject to unpleasant odors due to it passing a local butchery.
All hikes can be extended or adapted for your group. Pinos del Valle is truly a village rich in interesting treks, magnificent scenery and sites of historical importance. This is only a small sampling of nearby trails, so consult our guide to find your perfect path or to adapt one of the above routes to suit your levels of energy and curiosity!
