• Day 1

  Granada – Capileira – Alto del Chorrillo – Mulhacén – Poqueira Refuge

  On this day we will travel from Granada to the highest point in the Sierra Nevada.
  Transportation from Granada to Capileira. From there we will take the ‘servicio de interpretción de Altas Cumbres’ (SIAC) which takes us to Alto del Chorrillo with a height of 2,690 m.

  From the Alto del Chorrillo we will start our hike along the path known as ‘La Loma’ (the hill) to the highest point of the whole Iberian Peninsula: Mulhacén (3,479 m).
  The ascending height difference on this excursion is 820 m in a distance of 5.7 km. Our guide will explain special features about the high mountain region, the characteristics of the ecosystem of the Sierra Nevada National Park and its unique flora and fauna.

  After we reach the top of Mulhacén we will rest and have a picnic at the Poqueira refuge close to the river valley. The descending height difference to the refuge is 958 m in a distance of 4.2 km. This refuge is located in the heart of the Sierra Nevada at 2,500 m. In the refuge there is an authentic mountaineering atmosphere. We will have dinner and stay one night in the refuge where we will sleep in rooms with bunk beds.

  The costs for dinner/breakfast and the overnight stay are not included. Let us know if you are a member of a mountaineering association because this information is necessary at the time of booking. The payment will be made in the refuge and please bring cash because credit cards are not accepted.
  
  Route characteristics:

  • Route length: 10 km
  • Time: 8 h
  • ascent: 820 m
  • descent: 958 m
  • Difficulty: High, because we will be at a high altitude and the height difference is considerable. The hike is not technically difficult

• Day 2

  Poqueira Refuge – Valley of the river Seco – University hostel

  Breakfast at 7:30 am and we will leave Poqueira refuge at 8:00 am.

  On the today’s hike we will change to another mountain and we will walk south. The water in the southern part of the Sierra Nevada flows into the river Mulhacen towards the Alpujarra and towards the river Monachil which flows down to a village of the same name, near Granada. The most southern ski resort in Europe, the Sierra Nevada ski resort, is located at the top of Monachil.

  We will leave the refuge and walk to the Mulhacén valley. In the valley of the River Seco which we cross, we will see lots of little waterfalls and streams. At the end of the valley, we will see the lake of the river Seco (2 h). It is a lovely spot to have a break.
  From there the hike will be along an old road which crosses the Sierra Nevada. Nowadays it’s a track for walkers and cyclists.

  Before we reach the ‘Carihuela del Veleta’ hill (1.5 h from the lake) we can visit ‘Cerro de los Machos’ down to the green water lake ‘la laguna de Aguas Verdes’, excellent for a picnic. Those who want to go up to the peak of Veleta can do this from here in less than one hour.

  The descent from Veleta, which is about 650 m, is along a paved road. We can be picked up by the ‘servicio de interpretación de altas cumbres de la zona Norte’ (SIAC) that bring us down to the university hostel (Albergue Universitario) which is located at a height of 2,500 m.
  If we decide to descend on foot we will reach the hostel in a couple of hours. During the hike, we will discover traces of glaciation, lakes and some endemic species like the endemic butterfly of the Sierra Nevada.

  While we wait for the bus back to Granada we can have a beer and talk about our experiences of the trekking trip. The bus will pick us up at 5 pm and will drop us off at the bus station in Granada.

  Route characteristics:
  

  • Time: 8 h
  • ascent: 909 m to ‘Carihuela del Veleta’ and 1,119 m to the summit of Veleta
  • descent: 650 m from ‘Carihuela del Veleta’
  • Difficulty: High, because we will be at a high altitude and the height difference is considerable. The hike is not technically difficult.

   

• What’s included

  • 2 guided days with expert knowledge of the area, not only in terms of hiking but also in the characteristics of the ecosystems. Senior guides, biologists, and geologists
  • Transportation from Granada to Capileira and onward to Alto del Chorrillo (Servicio de Interpretación de Altas Cumbres Sur)
  • Transportation from Veleta to University hostel (Servicio de Interpretación de Altas Cumbres Norte)
  • Transportation on a public bus back to Granada
  • Booking arrangements for the refuge
  • Accident and liability insurance (there is no need to be a member of a mountaineering association to be insured on the trip)

• What isn’t included

  • transportation to Granada from your hometown
  • picnics or lunches, which we can bring with us or buy in the refuge
  • the costs for dinner, breakfast, stay and drinks
  • To consult prices, please click on the following links:
    http://refugiopoqueira.com/tarifas-2011-2/
    http://www.alberguesierranevada.com/tarifas.html

• Recommended equipment

  • Sunglasses, sun cream, protective lip balm and a hat
  • a backpack for 2/3 days
  • snack food such as dried fruit and nuts, energy bars etc.
  • 1.5 litre water bottle or camelbak, with drinking tube if possible. The water in the refuges is not potable
  • technical mountain clothing, breathable shirt (no cotton) with short sleeves, long sleeves and a warm layer/fleece, hiking trousers, jacket made of Gore-Tex or a similar fabric to act as a wind stopper
  • hiking footwear, boots or shoes with ankle protection
  • small wash bag with soap and towel
  • sheet sleeping bag. The refuges have duvets so there is no need to bring a normal sleeping bag. We recommend bringing a pillow case.
  • head torch
  • camera, mobile phone and other electronic devices and their chargers
  • small first aid kit and any personal medication
  • notebook and pencil (optional)
  • personal documents, such as identity cards and  European health insurance cards
  • cash. Credit cards are not accepted in refuges
  • We recommend hiking poles.

• Meals

  The main meal will be the dinner. It is not advisable to eat too much during our hikes.
  You can take your meals for the two days in a vacuum bag or order a picnic bag in the refuge for the second day which costs around 10 Euros. Drinks can be purchased as well.
  It is recommended to eat small amounts (energy bar, almonds, fruit) of food several times during the hike. We will have short breaks for picnics.
  In the refuges dinner is two courses and a dessert. Drinks will be paid for separately and the tap water is not potable so we need to purchase bottled water or take water purification tablets.
  If you are vegetarian or have any allergies please let us know in advance.

Start and finish of the hikes

On Day 1: we will leave Granada at 7:30 am.
On Day 2: breakfast around 7:15 am and we will start walking at 8:00 am.

We will have a few hours rest with proper stretching before we eat dinner. Dinner in the refuge will be at 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm.

The bus back to Granada leaves at 5:00 pm and arrives at Granada bus station at 6:00 pm.

Weather in the Sierra Nevada

The weather on the peaks of the sierra is severe even in summer. The strong sun will make us sweat and we might be able to walk in t-shirts.
A variety of clothing is needed due to the changeable weather conditions.
During the night the temperature can drop below zero degrees.
We recommend checking the weather forecast.
According to our Terms & Conditions the Guide in charge can decide to change the route in case of the prediction of blizzards or storms which could be a risk for our group.

Guides and Safety

All our guides have the necessary training to ensure the complete safety of the group. We will keep the group together and in contact by using walkie talkies. Our guides have all taken first aid courses.

Medical considerations

We ask that our hikers inform us of the existence of any chronic or cardiovascular illnesses which could interfere with hiking activities. To this end, we will send out a form which must be completed. The personal information which is given is covered by our data protection policy and will not be used for anything other than to provide us with the information necessary for this activity to be carried out well.
For the same reasons we need to know about any allergies.
A good level of physical fitness is required and previous experience of routes of a similar difficulty is necessary. The pace that we will follow is not a sporting one but a pace which will allow interpretation and interaction, however, experience of regular hiking is essential.

Price:

Our prices are estimated taking into account the number of participants registered on the deadline of the inscription. The deposit into the account is made in order to reserve the vacancy and also to know, in advance, the number of participants that will be realizing the activity. In case the activity is cancelled, the deposit would be returned. On the other hand, if the activity is successfully organized, a second pay would be realized with the final amount.

Included: 2 guided days with expert knowledge of the area, transportation and insurance

Group size

Minimum 4 participants and maximum 7

Payment

Deposit of €100 of the total before indicated date.

Cancellation and refund policy

In case of cancellation, the following policy applies.

• More than 25 days prior to the starting date of the trip, we will grant you a full refund minus a €50 administrative fee per reservation.
• Between 24 days and 10 days prior to the starting date of the trip, we will retain 50% of the trip cost.
• Less than 10 days prior to the starting date of the trip, or once the trip has begun, there will be no refund.

Terms and conditions and environmental policy

SierraySol is an enterprise that belongs to the Asociación de la Carta Europea de Turismo Sostenible de Sierra Nevada. If you are looking forward to realize an activity truly responsible with the environment in this green space, we encourage you to use the services of the organization since all the enterprises adhered are accredit by Europarc. They also make a great effort to minimize the environmental impact and to contribute with the local development. In the next PDF you will find every enterprise of the organization. You can also find information about them in www.ecoturismosierranevada.com
Ecoturism