Trévelez is the highest village in Spain, surrounded by dramatic countryside that makes it a great base for trekking. There are also lots of pretty villages where you can sample some of the hearty specialities of the Alpujarras.
There are a wide variety of small hotels, guesthouses, self-catering and camping options in Trevélez and the surrounding villages.
Also see our VoiceMap audio tours in the Alpujarra
This section of the GR-7 long-distance walking path takes you between the picturesque villages of Juviles and Trevélez. The climb up from Juviles is fairly long and steep, but the views of the high mountains get better and better. From the highest point you descend gently through a forest, which opens up into idyllic pastureland shortly before you reach Trevélez. If you have to wait for the bus, you can enjoy a cold drink and sample some of the famous ham in one of Trevélez’s many bars and restaurants.
This is one of the most attractive legs of the GR-7 long-distance walking trail, and it is a great place to start exploring the beautiful countryside of the Alpujarras. The walk starts in Trevélez, then takes you to a picturesque waterfall, through a forest of holm oaks and past various crumbling farmhouses, before descending to the pretty village of Busquístar. In spring the gorse and broom come into bloom, producing a sea of bright yellow flowers.
Encompassing the spectacular River Trevélez valley, steeply terraced farmland and the quaint village of Nieles, the Ruta Medieval is the Alpujarras in a nutshell. Wherever possible it follows stone paths that have been used by local people since the Middle Ages. The climb up from the river is quite tough, but there are great views of the high mountains for you to enjoy when you need a rest.
This relatively short circuit takes you through two tiny, beautiful villages that time appears to have forgotten. The paths mainly wind their way through a patchwork of agricultural fields, but there is also a section of scrubland where you have great views of the steep gorge created by the River Trevélez. In spring and early summer there are lovely wild flowers everywhere along the route.
This is the most accessible leg of the Sulayr long-distance walking route, as it runs between two of the most popular villages in the Alpujarras, Capileira and Trevélez. As you walk up from Capileira you get some great views of the high mountains, as well as back down to the villages below you. The trail takes you up into the open landscape of the high Sierra Nevada, before eventually bringing you back down to Trevélez, taking in a number of beautiful waterfalls along the way.
Nestled high up in the Sierra Nevada, the green meadows around the Siete Lagunas, or seven lakes, provide a vivid contrast to their barren and desolate surroundings. The long climb up from Trevélez in the Alpujarras makes a great day walk, but the strategic location of the lakes means that they are also a favourite camping area for hikers heading for Mulhacén and Alcazaba, which tower over them.