Ananda’s Mundo For those of you tired of the same spanish holidays over and over, the Alpujarras mark a real difference. I won't bother with much lyrics, as the place sells itself, and most people that live here once came on an innocent visit. It's truly varied, plenty hippies, artists, bohemians and the like, spiced with the odd incognito superstar. Set in an impossible scenario of mountains and gorges, less than 20 miles from the southern mediterranean beaches and the high skiing slopes of the spanish's highest peaks. Somehow people has a tendency to fall for these uncompromising location. Will i sail or will i ski? tanga or peruvian woolhat? The weather is nice most of the year. You come here in winter and you think people's joking, calling winter to a three days in a row welcomed rain.
Do you like trekking? This is like a labyrinth of pathways and cleverly dig water conduction streams, continuously kept operative the same way since the moorish occupators who credit this marvelous job. Without it, this would probably be mostly a desertic rocky area, whereas now is full of life. Machinery is of little use here, donkeys mules and horses are therefore still operative.
No one, and i don't mean this as a tourist board shallow message, i repeat, no one will come and feel a stranger, because simply it cannot fit into categories. The locals are pure teflon in their folklore, not intimidated in no way for being less numbers than foreigners, and thus creating truly wonderful stories of integration through syncretism, rather than obeying weird established rules. Now, the stream of visitors is seasonal, but in winter it holds a steady row of diehards running away from the impetuous northern climates. Everything's flexible, that's why people likes it.
How to get there is pretty simple, even without a car, as there are several buses a day which will connect to Granada in less than 90 minutes. Granada has an international(ish) airport with flights to UK, Germany, Italy, Madrid, Barcelona and Majorca (ryanair mostly, some other spanish lines). Malaga is pretty close too, barely 100 miles away.
The most populated village in Alpujarras is Orgiva, (pop.5000). But the area has dozens more. Also different communities occupying different areas, such 40 year old Beneficio for hippies or the Buddhist monastery for Osel Ling, the Lama Kid, and word goes that crazy sects also find their way thanks to the anonymity it offers, which adds also some edge to what we call "diversity".
As this is a place for travellers, and the title of the forum too, not always people looks for fancy rural lettings with jacuzzi, i mean... i like them, who doesn't? but it's not a regular choice for a backpacker, like. Specially for a skint aging one with the excuse of resting and finding inspiration for writing.
Backpackers, in principle no official youth hostal in Orgiva, but there's a true gem which looks very much like that, a true world backpackers consulate, for showers, washing machines, internets, long distance calls, breakfasts, local first, second and third hand info, different languages, all in a city center beautiful setting. Started four years ago by an eclectic multinational family of travellers, it keeps the same flair and originality as when first opened, and still keeps the rule of looking after travellers' needs rather than going into mainstream economic tourism. And that's why they deserve a mention here.
Now they also offer accommodation, as they have added the whole building with clean basic rooms, kitchen and bath, recently decorated but still full of character like those of la Havana. Perfect base for a night or for a year. African style dealings if you want it long term, but in any case, the cheapest in town by far. For those interested, check "anandasmundo orgiva" in google or something. Please do.
Hope it'll help for people who wants to visit or come to live in Alpujarras and yet don't know where to start. Long Live Alpujarra Free.