Guájar-Alto: Trails, Water and Culture

The “Los tres Guájares” route passes through Guájar Alto, following paths along the Río Toba through Guájar Alto, Guájar Faragüit and Guájar Fondón. As a circular hiking trail, it is just over 18 kilometres long; approximately eight hours of walking time are expected, and it is considered moderately difficult.

Hiking and Nature

The Ruta del Río de la Toba offers a detour to the Mirador de la Rebalosa, with views over part of the valley. The route begins at the entrance to Guájar Alto, where the Camino de Jurite meets Calle Casas Altas; the route information board is located there. After crossing the Barranco de la Fuente Santa, the Ruta del Río de la Toba follows a path between terraced fields and Mediterranean vegetation.

The Cascada del río de la Toba is a natural feature on the GR-4300 between Guájar Faragüit and Guájar Alto. The Ruta de las Albuñuelas begins in Guájar Alto; it leads through Los Paules, the Barranco de las Majadillas and the Barranco de las Parras, continuing through Juncales and Haza Real to the Cordal, the boundary between Los Guájares and Albuñuelas. One route descends to Guájar Alto via the Camino de la Toba.

The Poza de Los Paules is a small leisure and bathing area in Guájar Alto on the Río de la Toba, whose clear water invites visitors to swim there. In the vicinity of Guájar Alto, Los Paules offers the opportunity to bathe in its waters in July and August. Los Paules is about half a kilometre from Guájar Alto, on the road to Albuñuelas and beside a riverside forest. The Fuente de la Calle Casas Altas is located in Guájar Alto.

History and Culture

The Iglesia de la Encarnación in Guájar Alto was built in the Mudéjar style and dates from the first third of the 16th century. It has a rectangular nave with arches. The Iglesia de la Encarnación was rebuilt after the Alhama earthquake in 1884.

In the wider regional surroundings of Guájar Alto lies El Castillejo, an Almohad settlement from the 13th and 14th centuries. At El Castillejo, the layouts of the streets and houses, as well as water channels and a cistern, can be identified.

The patron saint’s festival in honour of the Virgen de la Aurora takes place in Guájar Alto from 14 to 16 August. It includes a daytime and nighttime fair, a solemn Mass, an evening procession, fireworks, dance events with orchestras and gastronomic tastings. Historically, fireworks were set off in front of the church during the patron saint’s procession in Guájar Alto. The recurring Jornadas Culturales of Los Guájares took place in Guájar Alto from 30 May to 2 June as a multi-day cultural and community event for the three districts.

Other places are Fuensanta, Molvízar, Caniles, Cástaras, Alhendín, Granada, Pinos Genil and Salar.

To the higher-level travel overview: Granada.