Between the provinces of Almeria and Granada, southeast of the city of Granada, stretches the impressive Sierra Nevada massif.

The park presents an unusual variety of landscapes and microclimates, from Mulhacen and Veleta, the highest snow-capped peaks of the Iberian Peninsula, to fertile valleys that are home to charming little villages, each with a valuable cultural heritage. The important diversity of both flora and fauna has led Unesco to award the area the title of Biosphere Reserve.

The GR-420 highway - the highest in Europe - leaves Granada and leads to the Pradollano ski station. In the summer months, when the snow and ice have melted, the road linking Pradollano and the Alpujarreña town of Capileira becomes visible again. This road climbs up to the summit of Veleta and then winds its way down between glacial cirques and lakes. This is the season when you can watch the herds of Spanish goats that populate these mountain peaks. Looking south as the sun sets, off in the distance you will see the Mediterranean Sea and the mountainous silhouette of the Rif Mountains away off in Morocco.