Almuñécar (half day)
Visit Almuñécar, a pretty resort on Spain’s Costa Tropical, between the cities of Almería and Málaga. It is in a picturesque location surrounded by mountains, and its old quarter is dominated by a Moorish castle.
Almuñécar’s site is of ancient origin. The first settlement here is believed to have been a Phoenician colony, and Roman remains have been found in the area. Aside from the development of modern tourism, the chief industry is the growing of tropical fruit.
Lecrin Valley (half day)
The Lecrin Valley is an area of outstanding natural beauty, which has not yet experienced the mass tourism seen along the coastal strip and parts of the Alpujarras.
A number of delightful small towns and villages includes Acequias, Beznar, Tablate and Talara, sometimes known as Lecrin. The valley is home to over 300 species of wild flowers, 66 of which are endemic to this area, and wild animals including boars and mountain goats.
The valley is especially beautiful in springtime, when the almond trees are in blossom and the distant peaks of the Sierra Nevada are still capped with snow.
In addition to the above, the following excursions are included on standard holidays of 14 nights or longer. Subject to availability, guests staying fewer nights may be able to purchase these excursions:
Granada City Tour (full day)
Nestling below the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains, Granada is one of the loveliest cities in Spain. It was the last Moorish city to fall to the Christians, in 1492.
This Andalusian city is justly proud of its delightful location and for the richness of its Moorish architecture, which is equal to anything in North Africa.
Attractions include the Royal Chapel, where the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella are buried. It adjoins the cathedral built in the early Renaissance style on the site of the former mosque.
This excursion involves quite extensive walking, including numerous flights of stone steps.
Órgiva (half day)
Situated in the fertile valley of the Guadalfeo river, Órgiva is the largest town of the western Alpujarras. It is surrounded by olive, lemon and orange groves.
Just off the main street is a Baroque 16h-century church, with an impressive altarpiece and an image of Christ that is considered to be the work of the renowned religious sculptor Juan Martínez Montañés.