What is Granada Geopark

Garnata Tours in the Granada Geopark:

History of the Granada Geopark

In the north of Granada there is a geopark recognized by UNESCO that runs through the regions of Guadix, Baza and Huéscar, including the basins or holes of the first two. Its extension is greater than 4,000 km belonging to the quaternary period created by water erosion. This has resulted in a landscape surrounded by gullies called Badlands. A place of undisputed geological interest for its landscapes, its valleys and fossil discoveries. Its formation was due to the water present in these mountainous depressions forming lakes without exit to the sea. Everything that was formed as a result of time has a special geological interest and its research study as well as important paleontological fossil deposits of animals have been found and the oldest human remains found in Western Europe have been discovered.
This wonderful geopark is surrounded by some of the highest mountains in the peninsula such as Sierra Nevada (3484 m), Sierra de la Sagra (2381 m) and Sierra Mágina (2187 m), among others.

Scientific interest

Numerous tourist interpretation and information centers have been established on this territory where the tourist is offered landscape knowledge and diversity, maps, museums and activities for children. We also find an observatory located in the Collados de la Sagra whose altitude is 1700 meters, where astronomical investigations are carried out. La Puebla de Don Fabrique disseminates astrotourism since the sky seen from here is considered one of the most visual in all of Europe, being at high altitude and far from the light pollution of the population. Every winter and summer weekend you can enjoy this unique space with your family or group of friends where we can observe the stars.
Geological points of interest.

In the Granada Geopark there are numerous points of interest due to their geological importance. Next we will talk about some of them:

Guardal River Valley: it is located in the Huescar region where we can find a Karst canyon whose maximum slope is 100 meters of limestone rock. Under these enormous walls the water is located. We can also find flaws and folds.
Falla de Baza: also called Barranco Gallego. It is a fault that runs through 37 km of reddish sediments of millions of years.
Sismitas de Galera and Castilléjar: territory belonging to the quaternary period in which the soil has an appearance of "quicksand" due to the geological transformation process that they suffered millions of years ago created by earthquakes in which water, mud and mud they were part of this process.
Peña de Castril: presents limestone rocks present in the Paleogene period.
Fuente Nueva-3 paleontological site: area from the Quaternary where numerous remains of mammals have been found, including the Mammuthus.
Badlands of Castilléjar and Galera: in these municipalities we find the landscapes of the Badlands and gullies, specific to arid and eroded areas.
Miocene series of Cerro Molicies: limestone territory belonging to the Miocene in which the reddish and yellow tones stand out.
Negratín marine-continental transition: located in the Guadix-Baza basin where the grayish and red colors contained in the marls and calcarenites stand out.
Cárcavas de la Rambla del Moral, Cuevas del Campo: located in the Negratín dam where, thanks to erosion, there is a landscape called “pipings”.
Gor River Valley: linear valley from the quaternary located in Gorafe whose length is 30 km that reaches the Sierra de Baza.
Alamedilla pillowlavas: here we find soil composed of volcanic rocks.
Gorafe angular unconformity: terrain composed of limestone rocks from the Cretaceous period.
Travertines of the Baths of Alicún (Alicún de las Torres): these baths present groundwater from the Sierra de Baza.
Fonelas paleontological site: site with paleontological remains over 2 million years old.
Cerro Jabalcón (Inselberg): called the great viewpoint of the Granada Geopark formed by Jurassic limestones that form the Guadix-Baza basin
Cárcavas del Negratín: formed by eroded reddish rocks belonging to the Quaternary period.
Gullies of Gorafe (Graben) (Puntal de Don Diego): desert landscape of reddish tones in which gullies abound. Located in the municipality of Goraje.
Cárcavas del Marchal (piping): territory formed by gullies eroded by the influence of water.

Activities in the Geopark

In this desert, which is one of the few in Europe, you can also enjoy numerous outdoor activities and enjoy this wonderful creation from thousands of years ago. From hiking trails, riding a bike, to feeling the speed of 4x4s. And all this with the presence of one of our official guides who will accompany you at all times. Some activities that you can contract with us are:

• Granada Geopark Route in 4x4 from Granada or Guadix. Pack 1-4 people.
• Granada Geopark, local cheese and wine tasting in Tropolis
• For the family or group of friends in Trópolis

Routes through the Geopark

If you prefer to walk there are different routes where you can enjoy this great Geopark, a place of geological interest without a doubt, surrounded by research for the protection of this legacy. One of them is the route of the Great Path of the First Settlers where the towns of Huéscar, Castril, Galera, Orce, Castilléjar and La Puebla de Don Fadrique are crossed. It will cover about 143 km and it will take us about six days. If what we prefer is a one-day route to do about five hours and a route of about 10 km, our route will be that of Cerro del Buitre, where we can observe forests where vultures live, specifically the griffon vulture. If what we prefer is a family route that is short of about an hour, we can find the Cerrada del Río Castril route and the Acequia del Toril route and Alicún dolmens, where we can walk quietly in complete safety and in the latter we can see dolmens. , a canal that dates back to the Paleolithic age which is one of the key points of geological interest of the geopark. If you wish, you can enjoy the spas and their healing properties at the end of the tour.