Busquístar is located in a privileged natural environment, next to the ravine formed by the Trévelez River and inside the Sierra Nevada national park. It was previously known as el paraíso escondido de los mozárabes (the hidden paradise of the Mozarabic). The exact origins of this village are not known, but evidence shows that is could be as early as the 13th century.

The village of Bérchules is made up of two smaller areas: Bérchules and Alcútar. The village is largely a working orchard, served by many different water sources. The sources of the river Guadalfeo, the river Chico and the river Grande are all located here, making it an ideal location for trout fishing. The name Bérchules is said to come from the Arabic word for orchard: berchul.

In this small village time appears to have stood still. The land and streets are just as they were during the Muslim dynasty, when the village first began. The narrow, steep streets and typically constructed houses are made with traditional materials such as slate, and have not changed in centuries. Although Neolithic and Roman remains have both been found here.

This village in Granada province has a lot to offer visitors. It is the perfect place to enjoy nature, a rich cultural history and the Mediterranean Sea, which is less than 20km away. The origins of this village are in the Arab dynasty. The village streets are white and narrow; they haven’t changed much from their Arabic origins, helping you to imagine life here all those years ago.

Most well-known for its mouth-watering cured ham, jamón serrano, the village of Trevélez is the highest in mainland Spain, at 1,476m. Its clear mountain air is ideal for drying the sweet-tasting ham, which has its own Denominación de Origen, although it′s not as pricey as jamón from Jabugo in the Sierra de Aracena.

Halfway between Capileira and Pampaneira in the Poqueira gorge is the sleepy village of Bubión, which like its neighbours is surrounded by magnificent views of the often snow-capped Sierra Nevada peaks and the Alpujarras. Bubión is also a good base for walking and is on the GR7 long-distance footpath. A great place to just wander around the narrow streets and admire the local crafts and flower laden balconies.

The highest of the three villages in the Barranco de Poqueira, at 1,436m, Capileira is a good base for walking in the gorge itself or up to the Sierra Nevada. Its twisting, steep streets are dotted with many springs gushing with fresh mountain water and there are superb views of the Poqueira gorge and the Sierra Nevada everywhere you look. With a population of 600, it′s also the largest of the three villages in the Poqueira gorge.

Around 50 km from Granada city and the first town you come to in the Western Alpujarras, Lanjarón is considered the gateway to the region. It is famous for its mineral water which is sold throughout Spain, while its spa waters have been celebrated for centuries for their curative properties and are considered to be some of the best in the country.

One of a trio of popular and picturesque whitewashed villages, Pampaneira – like its neighbours Bubión and Capileira – hugs the steep slopes of a lush river gorge, the Barranco de Poqueira. Pampaneira is the lowest of the three, at just over 1,000m. The small village – with a population of around 300 – centres on its pretty square dominated by a 16th-century Mudéjar church

The village's Moros y los Cristianos, a popular festival dating from the 16th century, is one of the most famous in Spain. As one of the last regio ns to harbour the Moors, the Alpujarras is one of the best places to watch these pageants, the other villages here being Trevélez and Pampaneira. The staging of the colourful re-enactment of the battle between the Moors and the Christians, the Moros y los Cristianos

The British writer Gerald Brenan immortalised Yegen in his book South from Granada, published in 1957. Today, you can see his former house, marked by a plaque, just off the main square, while there are reminders of his life in the village scattered all over Yegen, such as a road named after him and photos in the ayuntamiento (village hall) and various bars.

Chris Stewart's "Driving Over Lemons" told the story of his move to a remote mountain farm in Las Alpujarras. Find yourself laughing out loud as Chris is instructed by his daughter on local teenage mores; bluffs his way in art history to millionaire Bostonians; is rescued off a snowy peak by the Guardia Civil; and, joins an Almond Blossom Appreciation Society.

The village of Alpujarra de la Sierra is a must-see destination for students of the life and work of Gerald Brenan. The Hispanics writer originally from England, lived in the Yegen area of the village for more than 10 years. The beautiful surroundings and traditional architecture have made it an attractive destination for rural tourism enthusiasts and lovers of sports such as hiking, mountain biking and horse riding.