GORAFE DESERT

There is a place in Granada where time seems to have stopped and when admiring the landscapes transport you to immemorial times. You are at Gorafe Desert.
In the northern part of Granada region, we can find the Granada Geopark. It is a semi-desert area of thousands of gullies and the so-called “badlands” because of the aridity and the abruptness of the ground. A desert surrounded by mountains and in the background, the snowy peaks of Sierra Nevada.

The Geopark of Granada seeks to be declared a UNESCO World Geopark. Among other reasons that we will explain, when Europe was under glaciations, there was an inland sea and a river. They had dramatically eroded the current landscape of the “badlands”.

A range of earthy, reddish, ocher and yellow tones that change as the hours of the day pass by, will amaze you when you visit this place at less than an hour and a half from us.

The most characteristic town of this vast area is Gorafe. It is a very picturesque village, obviously due to its particular location. There are many “cave houses” and the Megalithic Park with 240 dolmens, thirty of them have been restored and are free to visit. It is one of the largest concentrations of dolmens in Spain, as well as in Europe.

Extremely important are also the paleontological sites found in the area. It is the place of Europe with the highest number of large mammals fossils. In the remains found, it is surprising that autochthonous species coexisted with species from Africa and Asia.

To visit the Desert of Gorafe, it is better to park the car in the parking of the Megalithic Park and make the route walking, by bike or hiring a service guide in 4x4, you will reach unsuspected places. Access is free.

Undoubtedly one of the most unique landscapes of the Iberian Peninsula will not leave you indifferent.