“Conquer” The Iberian Peninsula’s two highest peaks on the same day without stress – Pico de Veleta (3,394 m) and Mulhacen (3,482 m)

A hike description from Pico de Veleta to Mulhacen.

It sounds ambitious for “normal” people, and is not described in very many places on the internet, but it is actually possible to hike the Iberian Peninsula’s two highest peaks on the same day – without stress – and without getting too much sweat on your forehead.

It requires a little preparation. Here is the story of how I and Martin managed it in a long week-end from Friday 28 to Sunday, August 30. It was a prerequisite for the realization of the trip that our wives were prepared to drive the car the 102 km. from our starting point in the Sierra Nevada to our ending point in Capileira in order to pick us up.

Preparations:
We booked two double rooms on www.booking.com at Hotel El Guerra, Ctra. Sierra Nevada km. 21,3, 18160 Sierra Nevada – arrival after work Friday, August 28^th. € 45 per. double room incl. Breakfast.

We booked two seats in the Junta de Andalucia organized bus to the highest ski resort in the Sierra Nevada. Telephone 671564407 – ask for Inma (Centro de Interpretacion the Altas Cumbres). The bus departs at 08:00 from Albergue Universitario, Carretera de Sierra Nevada Km 36, 18142 Sierra Nevada, Granada. It is about 10 km. from the hotel. Tickets to be paid for in Albergues reception no later than 07:45 the same day. We tried to buy the tickets the night before, but it was not possible. Inma had left fo rthe day!

We booked two seats in the Junta de Andalucia organized bus from the stop at Mirador de Trevelez to the village of Capileira in Alpujaras. Reservation ask for Conchi, (Centro de Interpretacion the Altas Cumbres) telephone 95 876 ​​3090. The bus departs from the Mirador de Trevelez at 16:15 and again 18:45. Tickets to be paid for on the bus.

We booked two double rooms on www.booking.com at Hotel El Cascapenas de Alpujara, Carril 5, 18413 Capilleira. € 50 per. room incl. breakfast.

Last but not least we booked our Helle Hollis rental car.

On our way

The hotel in the Sierra Nevada was a really nice and positive surprise. We would originally have had another hotel which we know very well, but it was fully booked that day. El Guerra is beautifully situated overlooking the village of Guejar Sierra and the artificial lake Pantana de Canales. If you have more time on your hand, I highly recommend staying a few more nights. The hotel’s rooms, all with balcon are completely renovated. Dinner on the terrace was absolutely lovely, without being a culinary experience. The Ukrainian waiter was incredibly attentive and welcoming. Ingelise and Emma praised the breakfast for its really good coffee, bacon and eggs and yoghurt etc. All included in the room rate. Martin and I did not get to have any breakfast at the hotel. We had to be on the mountain at 7:45 to pay for the tickets tickets for the bus, and breakfast at the hotel only started at 07:30. In return we got a cup of coffee in Albergues bar. They open early and you can get both toast, ham, coffee and juice.

After having our coffee, we were ready to let the bus take us the approximately 7 km. up the mountain. The bus stopped exactly 3.5 km. from the Iberian peninsula’s second highest peak – Pico de Veleta

Although the air is thin in 3,000 meters altitude, we managed the last approximately 400 altimeters in about half an hour.
We took the obligatory photos but stayed only for a short time to enjoy the stunning views from the top. We have been there many times before, but not so early in the morning.

It is a very beautiful sight to see how the mountain ranges are fading into the distant mists, and how at this time of the day every mountain has different shades of gray. (not to be confused with the book!)

We hiked the aprox. 3 km. down, the same way as we had come up. Here we turned left onto a wide dirt road (not to be mistaken) and continued through the most beautiful mountain scenery, at quite passable dirt roads. After a short time we arrived at a fork in the road. Select the left via “Puntal de Loma Pua”, past “Laguna de Aguas Verdes” which has the most beautiful cyan color, “Collado del Lobo”, from which there are spectacular views back to the “Pico de Veleta”, along the “Rio Seco”. At this point, we left the gravel road and began a path that led us up a mountain ridge with stunning views of “Laguna de la Caldera” and the Iberian peninsula’s highest peak – Mulhacen. We could also have continued on the gravel road, but it would have meant a detour of about 4km. The path is not to be mistaken, and it is impossible to get lost as you can see Mulhacen in front of you all the way.

On the way down from the mountain ridge, hiking towards Laguna de la Caldera we met for the first time a small technical challenge. Over approximately 200 meters the path was eroded, making it necessary to find support with your hands as well as your feet. This is where my walking sticks proved their worth. But Martin managed without sticks, just hanging on to the rock with his hands.

From Caldera – which by the way also houses a permanent biuak with room for 10 people. We climbed the path up over the next hillside until we reached the top of Mulhacen. This climb goes over 1.5 km and is very steep. We are both in pretty good shape, but the incline alone made us stop every 100 meters to get our heart rhythm back under control. Remember that atmospheric oxygen is greatly reduced at 3,000 meters above sea level.

Now about 4 hours after we left the bus we stood on top of the Iberian Peninsula, making the obligatory photos and enjoying the spectacular and dramatic view to the full.

The walk from here down to the bus stop on the other side, the “Mirador de Veleta” is very easy. The route consists indeed of trails, but they are everywhere well marked by hundreds of cairns.

After a total of about 19 km. we arrived 15:00 at the bus stop – a lot earlier than we had expected. We could have waited for the bus to pick us up and drive us the 20 km down to Capileira and to our hotel, but instead we chose to continue our walk further 9 km down to the “Hoyo de Portillo”.

It is possible to go with a normal car from Capileira until Hoyo del Portillo where the road is blocked by a barrier. From the parking lot here we called Ingelise and Emma, ​​who came to collect us in our Helle Hollis rental car.

We were tired after a total of 28 km. walk – that is for sure – but we were full of wonderful impressions of nature. Besides the ubiquitous mountain views we saw eagles, falcons and vultures, and a few times we were very close to wild mountain goats. All in all, a perfect day in the Sierra Nevada.

Needless to mention that the pending cold pint of beer and the subsequent shower was a godsend ……

The hotel itself in Capileira is good and clean. Breakfast is typically Spanish. Toast, coffee, buñuelos.

To learn more about this trip please contact Hans Hugo From, Managing Director, Helle Hollis Car Rental

Click to read  our other aticle about a hike to Mulhacen .

Practical tips for the hike:

Clothing.
It is cold in the morning before sun up, and it’s hot when approaching Capileira mid-afternoon. It is therefore wise to dress so you have several layers to take off. Remember hat and gloves for the trip up to Veleta. If there is heavy winds, it can get very cold.

You may want to bring a walking stick.

Take plenty of water. I brought 1.5 liters of water and a can of Aquarius, but ran out before we were down. There used to be a couple of mountain streams along the way, from which you could take drinking water but they were all dried up on this occasion.

Remember proper shoes with good anti slip soles.