The Area...
The valle of Happiness...
The
Climate
Even by Mediterranean standards, the Valley of Lecrin enjoys a very favoured
climate. With Africa only a short distance away, spring starts very early
and summer can last right through to late October. In high summer Andalucia
gets very hot, but Acequias lies 1,000 metres up in the Sierras, which
makes for pleasantly cool summer evenings. InAcequias, you get Spanish
summer warmth without those hot and sticky nights.
The natural world
Each season has its flowers in Acequias – almond blossom in February,
brilliant red poppies in May and bougainvillaea in high summer. This part
of Spain also has some of the clearest skies in Europe. Shooting stars
are a familiar sight and the Milky Way really does look ‘milky’!
The village lies right on the edge of the Sierra
Nevada National Park, an area of rich contrast
ranging from the snowfields of Sol y Nieve to the lush vegetation of
subtropical valleys. Home to many
of Spain’s most precious animals and butterflies, you can walk here
for
days without seeing a soul.
Shopping
There’s only one way to shop in Acequias – by hailing one of
the local vans which pass through the village daily, laden with local
produce such as fresh prawns, peaches, tomatoes, bread and even live chickens.
Neighbouring Nigüelas village has a supermarket, shops, a market
on Mondays and
a fish market Tuesday to Fridays.
The local town of Durcal (10
minutes’ drive) has shops and banks while Granada
(30 minutes) is one of
Spain’s most fashionable cities.
Travel arrangements
We do not at present arrange flights or car hire. However, based on the
pooled knowledge of the owners, we can point you in the right direction
so you will be able to benefit from the best deals.
Some journey times
Malaga Airport
2 hours
The sea (Costa
Tropical) 30 minutes
Granada 25 minutes
The Alpujarras
30 minutes
The international ski resort
Sol y Nieve
45 minutesAround Acequias
There are plenty of things to do around Acequias
l visit the pretty villages just a few minutes’ drive away with exotic
names such as Melegis and Restabal. The villages in the Valley make a
pleasant excursion and most have bars and restaurants.
l Granada, an ancient Moorish town famous for
its history, architecture and the extraordinary
Alhambra Palace and Gardens, is just
30 minutes away.
l A half-hour’s drive to the east lies the Alpujarras – a unique
mountainous area of ancient hill villages with cube-like, whitewashed
houses which are very similar to Berber settlements found in North Africa.
l Drive south for just
30 minutes to the Costa Tropical, which has been unspoilt by package tourism.
Salobreña is
the nearest beach town
to Acequias and a
popular holiday resort
for Spaniards.
Enjoy the superb skiing facilities at Sol y Nieve, the international ski
resort high in the Sierras.
Sol y Nieve is an easy and spectacular drive from Acequias. The 1997 World
Downhill Ski Championships were held there.
l Visit Andalucian cities such as Seville
– the capital of Andalucia is
home to the most famous bullring in Spain and the Giralda Cathedral –
or Cordoba, famous
for its mosque dating from the 8th Century. Both cities are less than
three hours away.
