Walking in the Alpujarras
Capileira-Poqueira Central (Approx. 3-3.5 hours) By car, take the main road out of the top of Capileira, past the bars and restaurants and the camping place on the right (Campileira). Keep to this main road for about 2 km. You will see a sign for Poqueira Central on the left hand side of the road - turn off and park up in the lay-by. At this point you can follow the road down to Poqueira central, a sort of lost village that used to house the workers at the electricity generating station there but now stands all but deserted. The road meanders down for about 3 km into the village which sits almost at the bottom of the Poqueira gorge, hugging the lower part of the ravine. There are no bars or restaurants here (so take water) but the walk offers splendid views down onto the white villages of the gorge area and upwards towards the often snow covered Sierra Nevada. At the bottom of the village is a disused church and at the top the electricity facility, Poqueira Central. Along the left side of village the river flows down from the high Alpujarra making this a lovely setting. Those wanting to go on can take the road out of the top of the village up towards the Sierra Nevada. The road forks just behind the electricity generating station and there are routes both left and right that bring you on a circular route back to Capileira - you will, however, need a map (see also the booklet rutas a pie, caballo o bici de Montana in the reading room at Casa de las Ollas - the text is in Spanish, but the maps are useful), sun protection and some provisions. Alternatively, head back up the same road, back to where you parked. You might want to begin your walk in Capileira, walking the first 2 km as well (see above) - this enables you to take a different route back to the village which involves you crossing the river gorge at Poqueira Central, near the church, and following the path along the opposite side of the ravine into Capileira
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