Location
Orgiva, Andalusia
Orgiva is located in Andalusia in South East Spain
Situated 45 mins approx. from Granada, 90mins from Malaga. Orgiva and Las Alpujarras are an easy getaway for a short break or longer holiday. Just a few hours on mainland Europe, you can feel a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of every day life after a relatively short journey. You can enjoy mountains and countryside whilst still being just 30mins away from the Costa Tropical beaches, or 60mins. from ski-ing in winter.
Las Alpujarras is an unspoiled and very beautiful holiday destination. Órgiva (pronounced Or-he-va), especially is an excellent base for discovering the essence of the region and all it has to offer. Órgiva is located on the southern slopes of the Natural Park of the Sierra Nevada. Situated in the valley of the Rio Guadalfeo and with a population in excess of 5,000, it is the largest town in the area and is effectively “the capital” of the Western Alpujarra.
Situated just 35 mins fron Costa Tropical and fifty minutes drive from the vibrant city of Granada where you can visit the wonderful Alhambra palace.
The fertile countryside is beautiful with plentiful swathes of orange and lemon trees, olives and pomegranates, bougainvillea, morning glory and jasmine. Although surrounded by mountains, Órgiva itself is not high up (only some 450 metres above sea level) and because of its excellent location it’s easy to travel from here – into the mountains, down to the coast, or across country to Granada.
Orgiva itself is an interesting mix of modern Spanish architecture and lifestyles combined with more traditional Andalucian characteristics. It is a bustling market town with a range of bars and restaurants, many embracing the tapas culture that this area of Spain is famous for.
The street cafes offer a great way to people watch where business men, young and not so young people, families and alternative type people all mix together. You will take in the charm of life in a town with a gorgeous 16th Century church with its Baroque and Renaissance influences. The orange tree lined streets and square, are culturally (if not geographically) a million miles away from the commercialised Costa Del Sol! The small supermarkets, bakeries, chemists, banks and health food shops will cater for most of your needs and although the town still enjoys a siesta where the things close down at 2pm and reopen at 5pm, this only adds to the relaxed appeal. There is the well known and lively Thursday market in Orgiva where people gather from miles around to buy and sell local organic products, everyday essentials and works of art and crafts. A thriving affair and an excuse for many to go into town to meet up with friends. Definitely worth a visit, if only to discover what Órgiva is all about!
Other activities: Orgiva is the perfect base for many outdoor activities including: walking, hiking, cycling and horse riding, that enable guests to enjoy and engage with the natural beauty.
Artisan Cheese is glorious in La Alpujarra. Learn the art of cheese making and delight your family and friends when you get back from your holidays. Click on Cheesemakingandalucia for details and dates.
In the Alpujarras, the chocolate is just fabulous. It is made before your eyes. You can find figs or prunes covered by a fine crust of black or milk chocolate. Also, some wonderful and unusual sweet and savoury flavours ranging from mango to mustard, or apple to banana. Our favorite: figs on white chocolate (yes, that’s right!).
Abuelailichocolates is a visit that we recommend to our guests wanting to indulge their palate while enjoying a visit to our neighbour village of Pampaneira.
The Alpujarras area provides great opportunities for climbing, trekking, walking or cycling. From the high and wild mountains in winter, to the more gentle spanish walking found in the hills of the Alpujarras.There is something to interest everybody. Spanishhighs provides mountain and travel guide and a wealth of resources for those travelling independently. If you just want to learn more about these wonderful mountains! we have plenty of information about it.
Download location map
By Air
There closest airports are Malaga and Granada. The best connected airport to reach Orgiva is Malaga with good deals and frequent flights from various parts of Europe and the UK.
You can arrange car hire from both airports. We recommend having a car to allow you to explore the area properly.
There are flights from London City Airport to Granada airport with British Airways.
From Malaga Airport
It’s easy. It’s motorway all the way apart from the last 20mins.
Driving via the coast road (N340) As you exit the airport, go straight over the first roundabout and take the left hand lane across the flyover direction Malaga.
Follow the signs for RONDA DE MALAGA, direction MOTRIL/ALMERIA. Continue on this motorway (E15/N340). After an hour you will have by-passed Motril and see the sign to Orgiva, La Alpujarra. Exit here. Follow this road for approximately 16km. It’s twisty but scenic.
20mins after turning off the motorway, you will see Orgiva with the twin church spires. You’ll go through a very short tunnel, once through this, immediately turn left over the main bridge, follow this road which will take you into the centre of Orgiva. You will come to a set of traffic lights, controlling one way traffic over a viaduct, with a cafe Nemesis on your left. You will see the twin-spired church, with the cobbled main street, straight ahead.
For the Guest House: Go up the main cobbled street, follow the one-way system around the plaza, past the Guardia Civil Post. There will be a large, free, public Parking area on your right. Park there. You will see our Guest House on the corner opposite the main car park entrance. We are opposite Teteria Baraka (see map).
For Villa Emma: Turn left. Follow the road out of Orgiva towards Lanjaron. You will pass a mini BP petrol station, cross a bridge, go up a hill. Take the second exit (i.e. straight ahead) on the mini roundabout. Go past a large BP petrol station. Continue on this road. You will pass a restaurant called ‘Venta Maria’ on your right. Pass over another small bridge, follow the road around until you come to a large car park for a camping establishment, ‘Camping – Puerta de las Alpujarras’, (see map). (Location: GPS: Lat: 36.9035 Lon: -3.4379 / GPS: 36° 54′ 12.6″ N 3° 26′ 16.44″ W), on your left. Park here. Call us. We will collect you from here. http://www.campinguia.com/campings/granada/camping-puerta-de-la-alpujarra/#vermapa. This is just a meeting place not the final location:).
From Granada
When you leave the airport take the main motorway towards MOTRIL look for the turning to Granada. Follow the motorway until you reach Granada and then look for the N323 south, direction MOTRIL. Follow the ring road motorway around Granada and keep going south until the road goes back into single lane. After approximately 37km take the turning right towards LANJARÓN and LAS ALPUJARRAS. Follow the signs to Lanjarón and follow through towards Orgiva (approx.17 km in total off the main road).
Approximately ten minutes from Lanjaron look for a large car park for a camping establishment, ‘Camping – Puerta de las Alpujarra’, (see map). (Location: GPS: Lat: 36.9035 Lon: -3.4379 / GPS: 36° 54′ 12.6″ N 3° 26′ 16.44″ W), on your right. For map click on this link….http://www.campinguia.com/campings/granada/camping-puerta-de-la-alpujarra/#vermapa. N.B. This is just a meeting place not the final location:).
For Villa Emma: Park here. Call us. We will collect you from here.
For the Guest House: Continue driving into the centre of Orgiva. You will come to a set of traffic lights. Turn left into the main cobbled street. Follow the one-way system around the plaza, past the Guardia Civil Post. There will be a large, free, public Parking area on your right. Park there. You will see our Guest House on the corner opposite the main car park entrance. We are opposite Teteria Baraka (see map).
Bus – Granada – Orgiva
Granada airport is 12km from the city centre. A taxi into the centre costs about 25 euros. There is also a shuttle bus service into Granada Bus Station where you need to connect with a bus to Orgiva.
For Villa Emma: Ask the bus driver to stop at ‘Jamones Rosillo’, which is just outside Orgiva. If you miss it for some reason, just disembark in Orgiva. Either way call us, we will pick you up.
For the Guest House: Disembark at the first bus stop, near Supermercado Alpujarra. Walk down to the traffic lights. Turn left into the main, cobbled, street.Go up the main cobbled street, turn right at the top. Walk diagonally across the plaza, past the Guardia Civil Post. There will be a large, free, public Parking area ahead of you. Walk up the street alongside it. You will see our Guest House on the corner opposite the main car park entrance. The property faces Bar Baraka.
There are only certain buses each day that drive up onto the higher villages in The Alpujarras. The first bus usually leaves around 8.30am and the last around 6.00pm.
Bus – Malaga – Orgiva
Malaga to Orgiva is approximately 3hrs by bus.
For the Guest House: Disembark at the main bus stop in Orgiva. Walk uphill to the centre of town. You will come to a set of traffic lights, controlling one way traffic over a viaduct, with a cafe Nemesis on your left. You will see the twin-spired church, with the cobbled main street, straight ahead. Go up the main cobbled street, turn right at the top. Walk diagonally across the plaza, past the Guardia Civil Post. There will be a large, free, public Parking area ahead of you. Walk up the street alongside it. You will see our Guest House on the corner opposite the main car park entrance. The property faces Bar Baraka.
For Villa Emma: Let us know when you arrive. We will pick you up.
Trains
Whilst there is no train station at Orgiva or nearby, there are good train links across Spain into Granada and Malaga for connecting buses. There a Rapid Train service (AVE) from Madrid to Granada.
Good information about moving between the provinces of Granada and Malaga at Retreat.es