Las Alpujarras are around 2 hours from Malaga Airport by car, and in autumn they are one of the most rewarding drives you can plan from the Costa del Sol. Land, collect your keys in arrivals and head for the mountains: Pampaneira, Bubión and Capileira are waiting on the slopes of Sierra Nevada, with the high peaks right above them.
No queues at a desk, no bus to catch, no tour group setting the pace. Just your car and a road that ends in the sierra.
Las Alpujarras, a mountain escape south of Sierra Nevada
Las Alpujarras sit on the southern face of Sierra Nevada, in the province of Granada. It is a land of steep valleys, terraced slopes and small white villages that seem to hang from the mountainside. From the coast, the landscape changes quickly: the sea is left behind and the views open up to the peaks.
That contrast is what makes Las Alpujarras so special in autumn. Down below, the slopes turn golden and ochre. Up above, the summits of Sierra Nevada can already show their first white, as in the photo that inspired this post.
Pampaneira, Bubión and Capileira, one above the other
The three best-known villages share the same valley, the Poqueira gorge, and are stacked up the hillside one after another. Pampaneira sits lowest, Bubión is in the middle and Capileira is the highest of the three. The whole gorge and its villages are a protected historic site (Bien de Interés Cultural).
From a distance they look like a single white streak on the green and brown slope. Up close, they are a maze of narrow, steep lanes, flat roofs and chimneys. The streets are not made for cars, so the easy plan is to leave yours at the edge of each village and explore on foot. The official Andalucía tourism page on Pampaneira is a good place to start planning your visit.
Why Las Alpujarras are a road trip, not a day on a coach
Linking three villages, stopping at a viewpoint whenever the light is right and choosing when to head back: that is the kind of day a car gives you. With your own wheels, Las Alpujarras adapt to your rhythm, not to a fixed departure time.
Visiting Las Alpujarras by car also lets you combine them with other inland plans. If you enjoy autumn landscapes, our post on the Copper Forest of the Genal Valley is another drive that shines this time of year.
From arrivals to the sierra with Fetajo Rent a Car
At Fetajo Rent a Car we have been handing over cars at Malaga Airport for 40 years. You book directly with us, your car waits for you in arrivals, and the conditions are clear from the start. The sierra is at the end of the road.
Travelling as a couple, with family or with friends, the road to Las Alpujarras is simple: land, pick up the car and drive towards the snowy peaks.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Malaga Airport?
Around 2 hours by car. Check your navigation app before you set off, as mountain roads can be slower than the coast.
Which province are these villages in?
Pampaneira, Bubión and Capileira are in the province of Granada, on the southern slopes of Sierra Nevada.
Can I drive into the villages?
Their streets are narrow and steep, so it is more comfortable to park at the entrance of each village and walk in.