Órgiva (pronounced: OR-khi-va) is the capital of the Alpujarras, 450m above sea level with an eclectic population of about 6,000 living a bohemian lifestyle.  It nestles in a valley between two mighty mountain ranges; the snow-covered Sierra Nevada to the north and the Sierra Lújar to the south, both with peaks of over 2,000 metres.  The río Guadalfeo runs south of the town on its way down to the sea and passes under the Puente Siete Ojos (Seven Eyes Bridge).

It is a unique place immortalised by Gerald Brenan in “South from Granada” and characterised by Chris Stewart in “Driving over Lemons” and “Parrot in a Pepper Tree”.  The writings of these authors were inspired by the area which has its own unique mini-ecology.

Órgiva hosts a weekly market held every Thursday.  It has some small supermarkets and other shops that will serve most of your everyday needs.  There are restaurants, cafes and bars to quench the thirst and stifle the hunger of the day.

The Low Alpujarras climate is Mediterranean with a subtropical influence.  Temperatures are mild for most of the year.  Hot summers are pleasant by night.  Frosts are rare in winter; winters tend to be short and the occasion for irregular rainy periods.  

The region is rich in Arab descent and was the last holding place of the Moors before it fell to Christian conquest in the 16th century.  A lasting legacy from the Moors is the huge network of water channels called acequias that carry the melting snow waters down the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada providing welcome irrigation for the countryside and farms.

The area is simply stunning and invites mind-boggling scenic adventures.  Its location makes Órgiva an ideal base from which to explore the area.  The Mediterranean coast is a 30 minute drive, Granada a 45 minute drive, the white-washed villages of the high Alpujarra a 20 minute drive.  The Sierra Nevada ski resort is a 2 hour drive so you can be skiing in the morning and sunbathing on one the many Costa Tropical beaches in the afternoon.

There are many activities from walking the acequias to bungee jumping, water parks to mountain cycling.  There are many places to visit from fantastic cities to small villages clinging to steep mountain sides, from coastal towns and villages to the rugged beauty of the Sierra Nevada and Lújar mountains.  We have tried to give you a flavour of what's on offer on the pages entitled "Things to do" and "Places to go".