The Sierra Nevada National Park is situated between the provinces of Granada and Almeria and is located about 120 km from Malaga city. In the Sierra Nevada is located the highest peak of the peninsula, the Mulhacén, 3.481 meters high. The National Park of the Sierra Nevada is a nature reserve declared by UNESCO.
There are two ways to reach the Sierra Nevada. One runs inland, on the Highway A-72. It is a very entertaining journey, slowly increasing in altitude, as we move away from the coast and the lush subtropical vegetation. After the mountain pass "Las Pedrizas" nearly 800 metres above sea level, before our eyes open vast spaces of mountains and countryside, only occasionally punctuated by country houses and large olive groves.
Traveling from Málaga to Granada on the A-72, we can find some interesting villages on the road such as Loja, Alhama de Granada and Montefrio, about 70 km from Malaga. These villages, tucked behind hills and close by rivers, retain a rich and diverse historical legacy.
Arriving in Granada, opens a majestic view, the peaks of Sierra Nevada, which for much of the year are covered with snow, under a deep blue sky.
From Granada city the well signposted A-395 leads to the most southerly ski resort in Europe, Prado Llano, whose lifts are also open to the public in summer and therefore it is a great choice for excursions year-round.
From the Pico de Veleta you can see on clear days the Mediterranean coast and even the Rif Mountains in Morocco. If get up to this height, take a warm coat, also in summer, as temperatures are usually quite low!
Another route through the Sierra Nevada from Granada is to the south on the A-44, through Lecrín Valley, whichin spring is covered with blossoming lemon and orange trees. Taking the winding road A-348 to Lanjaron, we can literally feel like going through "the Gate" to the magical Alpujarra, on the southern slope of the Sierra Nevada.
Here, time moves at a different pace; the white villages have kept to this day their Arab heritage; deep valleys with a special microclimate and fruit trees and numerous springs, many of them with medicinal properties. Here we can find charming villages such as Bubión, Pampaneira or Capileira, the Buddhist monastery Oseling on Mount Atalaya, located at 1.800 meters, and one of the highest villages in Spain, Trevelez, at almost 1.500 meters, which is famous for its ham (Jamon Serrano).
The newly opened A-44 instantly takes you back to the coast, with a descent of nearly 600 meters in altitude. However, the much prettier route is the old national road to the coast, the N-323, through Velez de Benaudalla, who takes us through spectacular mountain scenery, opening in the last bends to the Mediterranean breeze, a pure pleasure to drive this route!
The coast of Granada greets us with her white village Salobreña, situated on a hill. From here we can enjoy the coast road and appreciate the differences in the Granada coastline, with steep cliffs, holding with their wild and rugged aspect a particular beauty that contrasts sharply with the massive building along the Costa del Sol. We can also quickly return on the A-7, which leads back to Malaga city, the heart of the Costa del Sol.
For all of you who don´t require to rent a car in Malaga, there are Malaga airport transfers services for groups from Malaga to Sierra Nevada.
