Guide to Los Guajares.
Los Guajares consists of three villages, set in a beautiful sub-tropical valley with bananas, olives, mangoes, loquat, etc, growing in abundance. From the village of Guajar Faraguit you can enjoy spectacular views of the mountains and "castillejo" (a medieval settlement, approx. 3/4 hour walk from the village). Indeed the villages have the benefit of being set in a beautiful mountain landscape, whilst being only 20 minutes from the nearest beaches at Salobreña and Motril.
The main village is Guajar Faraguit with Guajar Fondon and Guajar Alto close by. This valley is the perfect place to escape the pressures and demands of modern life, spending your precious free time in the most stunning part of Spain. The pace of life here is slow, with working mules still an everyday sight, as arboriculture is the main agricultural employment in the area, and many paths into the countryside are not accessible by car. As you walk through the village you will be greeted by the villagers with a 'hola' and a 'vaya con dios' (go with God), as the number of foreign visitors is still small and they are warmly welcomed by the locals.
There are several bars, restaurants, bakeries and grocers in the villages and also a bank and pharmacy, so you do not need to leave the valley whilst on holiday. There are two daily deliveries of fresh bread, and also fish deliveries, frozen goods etc. (which many locally rely on, as they often do not have cars).
If you do decide to leave the valley, you can find bars, shops, restaurants, etc on the nearby coast, in the pretty white village of Salobreña and the bustling town of Motril. Salobreña is a popular resort with the Spanish. There are plenty of restaurants, bars, supermarkets etc. There is also a walk up to the castle – nice for an early evening stroll.
In winter you have the choice to spend a day on the beach or skiing in the Sierra Nevada or in fact you can do both on the very same day!! Only 1½ hours away in the Sierra Nevada you find Spain’s most modern ski resort, Europe's ski station with the most sun hours in winter. The high guarantee of snow, long and wide ski slopes (up to 75km!), low prices and the very pleasant ambience make this a ski destination with an international reputation.
For those interested in golf, only 20 mins away from the valley, down on the coast, there is a superbly set golf course, between Motril and Salobreña. Play golf with the sea to one side and the snow covered peaks of the Sierra Nevada to the other. The family members, who don’t feel like joining you playing golf, can sunbathe on the beach, take a dip in the sea or enjoy the restaurants and cafes of the golf club. Another golf course will open soon near Salobreña and yet another one half way to Granada.
The area is also ideal for painting, walking, pony trekking, climbing, cycling and paragliding.
Travel to Los Guajares
Granada is the nearest airport (60km) with international flights and serves many destinations in the UK as well as France, Switzerland, Italy and Holland. Malaga (120 kms) has flights to just about all destinations in Europe. Almeria is also a possible airport for this area, being about the same distance away from the valley as Malaga. Car hire can be arranged at very competitive prices from all of these airports (and should always be booked in advance for the best value).
See Full Guide; Written by Rosalind Beck - Owner of Property 86636 in Guajar Faraguit, Spain
