Holiday homes in Alpujarras, Andalusia, Spain

Mountain bikes can be used anywhere in the National Park boundaries and they can be hired locally. However we have several old bikes that you may use at your own risk and there is no charge for our bikes.

The best cycling route from the cortijos is walking with your bike to the camino forestal (Forest road). To do this go directly up beyond the pool and follow the red marks .Then you can cycle right to Trevelez and left to other mountain trails including the road towards Mulhacen peaks or continue along this road to Capileira.

1. From cortijos to Camino Forestal and Capileira (Time 2 hrs)

   Horses on the walking and cycling path from Trevelez to Capileira Horses on the walking and cycling path from Trevelez to Capileira

   Either From the Cortijos take your bike up to the camino forestal and then turn left to Capileira or take the tarmac road to Trevelez. Just before the village take the road to the left. On the left you see a forest track which you take and, after a tough 400m ascent, leads to the highest point. Once across the Barranco de la Bina the track starts the descent towards Capileira. After having crossed several gullies you reach the Loma de los Cotos and shortly after you could take the dirt track off to the left which descends pleasantly to Portugos. Or you could continue along the same forest track up to the Area Recreativa Rio Bermejo. Once past this you descend the Loma de Las Tonadas, skirt round the Picon del Monte (1781m) and join up with the asphalt track from Capileira to el Veleta. Follow this track down to arrive within a few minutes in Capileira.

2. From the Hermita del Padre Eterno to Canar via Puente Palo (Time 5 hrs)

   The sunset over the Alpujarra valley Horses on the walking and cycling path from Trevelez to Capileira

   The hermitage is situated between km 61 and 62 of the GR-421 road to Capileira. It is 8 km from Puente Palo to the hermitage. Begin the ascent opposite the hermitage up the forest track. This leads up along the eastern slope of the Barranco del Rio Chico to the Casa Forestal de Prado Grande (1340m). At this point the asphalt ends and the route becomes a track. Keep cycling up across a firebreak in the Labores Del Rincon (1578m) and the headwaters of the Barranco del Certero until reaching another firebreak before crossing the Rio Chico. You cross this firebreak again on the other slope before reaching the recreation zone of Puente Palo (an oak forest, formerly much larger). Keep going until coming across the track leading up from Canar. Take this track for an interesting descent, having passed Cerro Man and the Llano del Manzano.