Guájar-Alto: Trails, Water and History

The Cascada del río de la Toba is a natural landmark on the GR-4300 between Guájar Faragüit and Guájar Alto. Around Guájar-Alto, waterside trails connect with viewpoints, terraced fields and traces of history.

Nature and Trails

The Ruta del Río de la Toba begins at the entrance to Guájar Alto, where the Camino de Jurite joins Calle Casas Altas; the route’s information board is located there. After crossing the Barranco de la Fuente Santa, it follows a path between terraced fields and Mediterranean vegetation.

This route includes a detour to the Mirador de la Rebalosa, offering views over part of the valley. The Los tres Guájares route follows 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, takes approximately eight hours to walk and is considered moderately difficult.

The Ruta de las Albuñuelas begins in Guájar Alto and leads through Los Paules, the Barranco de las Majadillas and the Barranco de las Parras. It then continues through Juncales and Haza Real to the Cordal, the boundary between Los Guájares and Albuñuelas. Another route leads downhill to Guájar Alto via the Camino de la Toba.

Los Paules is located about half a kilometre from Guájar Alto on the way to Albuñuelas and beside a riverside woodland. The Poza de Los Paules is a small leisure and bathing area there on the Río de la Toba, whose clear water invites visitors to swim. In the vicinity of Guájar Alto, Los Paules offers the opportunity to bathe in its waters in July and August. The varying trail lengths, landscapes and bathing periods provide several clearly distinguishable options for planning your day.

Culture and History

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

The festival honouring the Virgen de la Aurora takes place in Guájar Alto from 14 to 16 August. It includes a day-and-night fair, a solemn mass, an evening procession, fireworks, dance events with orchestras and food tastings. Historically, fireworks were set off in front of the church during the patron saint’s procession.

The recurring Jornadas Culturales de 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.

In the wider region around Guájar Alto lies El Castillejo, an Almohad settlement dating 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 still be identified.

Further destinations: Cáñar, Moraleda De Zafayona, Benalúa De Guadix, Hernán-Valle, Pinos Puente, Castillo De Tajarja, Guejar Sierra, Fuente Vaqueros.

The Fuente de la Calle Casas Altas is located in Guájar Alto.

For the higher-level travel overview: Granada.