The whole region around Polopos, the Alpujarra, is a fantastic location for hiking. From the Contraviesa mountain range where Polopos is located you get the added bonus of beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea. Starting in autumn and all through winter you also have a big chance of seeing the mountains of Marocco sticking their peaks above the horizon. Walking trips around Polopos, whether they be short hikes or day long journey’s, are simply amazing.

We often have guests that ask us if we have suggestions for nice routes for them to follow. We have many, but it is not always easy to explain to someone who has never been here where they should turn left or right on the other side of the mountain… Luckily, there are apps and websites that make life easier. We have found that Wikiloc has a good selection of hikes that have been mapped by users. Below you will find a selection of hikes variating in distance and taking you to various points of interest in the area. Below each map you will find a link to the Wikiloc page for that route, so you can zoom in and out and use the map as a guide while you are on your way.

Hike 1. Kilometers: 6. Time 1,5 hours

This is the easiest hike with the least amount of elevation. It will take you to Las Casillas, an abandoned village, and to a 17th century watermill that is being restaured by our neighbour Pepe. There is a good chance you will find him working on the mill or in the garden there and he is easy to approach and will probably like to tell you more about it.

Hike 2. Kilometers: 6,5. Time 1,5 hours

Hike 2 starts in Polopos, takes you over the mountain in the direction of Sorvilan, and then turns towards the sea and back to Polopos. With each turn there are magnificent new vistas and perspectives to be found.

Hike 3. Kilometers: 8. Time 2 hours

Hike 3 takes you higher up the mountain and actually through the vineyards where we were pruning in March and where the photo of Thysa at the beginning of this blog post was taken.

Hike 4. Kilometers: 12. Time 3 hours

Three hours walking time for this hike, but it will probably take you longer, because you will want to stop and pause every now and then. Not only because of the climbing and the amount of kilometers that you will cover, but also just to take in the views.

Hike 5. Kilometers: 19. Time 5,5 hours

Hike 5 is a big one. It will take you to Sorvilan, our neighbouring village. Just like Polopos it is situated at 800 meters above sea level, but you will have to go over a mountain to get there. The route also passes through Haza del Lino, the highest village that is part of our municipality. There is a restaurant where you can eat authentic food from the region. Last but not least you will reach the highest peak of our side of the Contraviesa, the Cerro de la Salchicha, from where you can see the majestic Sierra Nevada mountain range and the white Alpujarran villages scattered over its southern slope.

We aren’t the first to make a selection of walks and share some maps of course. Thes two photo’s are of a booklet that the previous owners of the Vieja Posada wrote for their guests.

This is it for now. We hope you will find this post useful and it will invite you to explore the area around Polopos! Don’t forget to put on some good shoes and bring some water with you.