- Alpujarra — the inhabited south slope of the range: terraces, white villages, acequias (irrigation channels).
- Mulhacen — the highest peak on mainland Spain. A mountain walk, not a car park.
- Puerto de la Ragua — the pass that crosses from the Alpujarra to the Guadix side.
Sierra Nevada — from the subtropical coast to Mulhacen
Sierra Nevada is the highest range on the Spanish mainland. Mulhacen stands at 3,479 metres. On a clear day you can see snow and the Mediterranean in the same view. The south face drops toward avocado and mango at Motril; the north face looks at Granada and the cave country of Guadix. In winter the ski station above the city is the usual goal. In summer the same road is a walk into high ground.
This page is a circuit, not a single afternoon: coast to Lanjaron, through the Alpujarra, over the Ragua pass to Guadix, then back toward Granada and the ski road. Related pages: Granada, Sierra Nevada and the Alpujarras, Granada, Sierra Nevada by car, white villages of the Alpujarra.
*You cannot drive to the summit of Mulhacen. The last stretch is on foot, usually from Capileira in summer or from the high road near the ski area.
Words you will meet
Motril to Lanjaron
Start in the dale of Motril if you are coming from the Costa. Subtropical terraces — avocado, mango, chirimoya — give way to pine as the road climbs. Lanjaron is the old spa town, the usual “gate” to the Alpujarra: bottled water, fountains in the street, fruit trees, a ruined castle above the valley. The change of air in one hour is the point of this first leg.
The Alpujarra
From Lanjaron the road threads the south face: almonds, terraces, villages stacked on the slope. Orgiva is the service town. Trevelez is one of the highest villages in Spain and cures ham in the cold air. The hamlets grouped as Alpujarra de la Sierra keep the same pattern of flat roofs and chimneys. Spring blossom and autumn colour do the obvious work; in summer the walks follow the acequias, the old water channels.
Puerto de la Ragua to Guadix
East through Valor and Mairena the road climbs the Puerto de la Ragua and drops onto the north side. The green terraces stop. Guadix opens as a dry basin of badlands and cave houses — people still live in rooms cut into the clay. From there the Sierra de Huetor stands between you and Granada. The Diezma viewpoint is the place to look back at the whole snow line if the air is clean.
Granada, the ski station and Mulhacen
From Granada the A-395 climbs to the ski station at Pradollano. It is one of the highest asphalted approaches in Europe. In winter it is a ski day. In summer the road and the old track toward Veleta take you onto alpine ground — thin air, little vegetation, a view that on the right day includes the sea.
Mulhacen itself is a hike. The usual summer start from the south is Capileira, often with a park bus to a high trailhead. From the north you use the ski-area road and then walk. There is no public car park on the summit.
Capileira to Mulhacen
How to reach Sierra Nevada
From the Costa del Sol the coast road to Motril and then inland to Lanjaron is the south approach. From Malaga or Granada the A-44 to the city and the A-395 to the ski station is the north approach. The Alpujarra roads are slower and narrower. Guadix sits on the A-92.
Car hire: the flexible option
Cars with room for ski equipment, so you can drive from Malaga to the station or on through the Alpujarra. Book a larger vehicle if you are travelling with boards and bags.
Car hire Malaga Airport
Taxi or private transfer
From Malaga Airport or the Costa del Sol to Granada, Lanjaron or the ski station, with space for skis. Minibuses with trailers are available for groups, in winter and in summer.
Book a transfer*No credit-card details or advance payment are needed to request a quote. Cancellation is free. Book ahead in high season to avoid price rises and to secure the car or group size you need.
Other options
Buses run from Granada to the ski station in season and to the main Alpujarra villages. From the Costa the usual combination is a bus or train to Granada, then a local service. Capileira in summer often has a park bus toward the high trailheads for Mulhacen.
Practical tips
- Do not try Motril, Trevelez, Guadix and the ski station in one day. The mountain roads are the visit.
- Winter tyres or chains can be required on the A-395. Check the road before you leave Granada.
- Mulhacen is a full mountain day. Start early, take water and a layer, and use the official trailheads.
- Trevelez ham is the local cure. Guadix is the cave houses. They are different stops on different sides of the range.
- The snow-and-sea view depends on a clear day. It is not guaranteed from the car park.
Frequently asked questions about Sierra Nevada
Can I drive to the top of Mulhacen?
No. You drive as far as the ski road or a summer trailhead such as Capileira, then walk. The summit is 3,479 metres.
Is there really a view of the sea from the snow?
On a clear day, yes. The range stands close enough to the Mediterranean for both to show in one photograph. Haze hides it as often as not.
Where should I stay?
Granada for the ski road. Lanjaron or Orgiva for the Alpujarra. The ski station itself in winter if skiing is the only aim.
What is special about Trevelez?
Altitude and ham. It is one of the highest villages in Spain, and the cold air is used to cure jamón.
How do I reach the ski station from Malaga?
Motorway to Granada, then the A-395 into the mountains. Allow a morning. In snow, check the road before you leave the city.
Do I need a car for the Alpujarra?
Buses link the main villages to Granada. A car is how you add Lanjaron, Trevelez and the Ragua pass in one loop.
