Casa Benisalte

Book your tickets online in advance (recommended) and spend a day exploring the stunningly beautiful and fascinating Alhambra on the outskirts of Granada. Official website - www.alhambra-patronato.es. The prettiest time to visit is in May when all the Spring flowers are out, there are also night visits too.

Thursday is market day in Orgiva - a fantastic opportunity to stock up on fresh produce such as aubergines, peppers, watermelons and courgettes, as well as olives and spices. There are also a number of stalls selling clothes, shoes and lots of interesting bits and pieces! People come from far and wide to experience this weekly event.

In less than 30 minutes drive, you have the opportunity to visit the beautiful hilltop villages of Pampaneira,Bubion and Capileira. Visit their quirky shops, have a coffee in one of the pretty squares, enjoy the views of the sierra and sample the local cuisine in one of the tapas bars.

Visit the chocolate factory and shop in Pampaneira, ideal for those with a sweet tooth or looking for a present to take back home - www.abuelailichocolates.com

Indulge yourself with a thermal spa treatment at the Balneario de Lanjaron followed by lunch at the organic restaurant - www.balneariodelanjaron.es

Walk this 9km circular trail around Orgiva, observing the different fruit and olive trees, some of which are over 100 years old. Enjoy views up towards the Sierra Nevada and the Lecrin Valley. You can pick up this particular route just a few metres away from the villa.

Try the locally caught espeto de sardinas down on the coast at Salobreña. Look out for them on the menu at any one of the beach bars.

The Cuevas de Nerja are large and fascinating, with halls, galleries and a wealth of stalagmites and stalagtites. If you're at Casa Benisalte in July, you may be lucky enough to catch the famous Nerja Cave Festival of Music and Dance in the underground auditorium. For further information consult www.cuevadenerja.es

Stroll around the marina close to La Herradura admiring the yachts. Boat trips and water sports available for hire.

Take the children to the mini-Hollywood set where films such as Indiana Jones and The Good, The Bad & The Ugly have been filmed. An action-packed day out - www.oasysparquetematico.com

Visit these interesting and unique original cave dwellings where people still live today.

You can be on the lovely golden sands of the Costa Tropical in just over half an hour. Take your pick from a variety of coastal towns - Salobreña, topped by its hilltop castle, is a picturesque choice.

Granada is one of the birthplaces of flamenco in Andalucía (Cádiz, Sevilla and Jerez have the same claim to fame) so visit a traditional 'tablao' in the city and discover the passion.

Stroll around the tapas bars in Granada, for every drink you purchase, the waiter will treat you to a free tapa! This applies in some of the bars in Orgiva too.

There are several dive schools in Almuñecar, La Marina del Este and La Herradura. This is a great idea to see multi-coloured coral, rare fish, starfish, seahorses and plant species as well as mysterious Phoenician and Roman shipwrecks. You may even be lucky enough to be accompanied by a pod of dolphins!
 

The main waterpark in the area is www.aqua-tropic.com to the east of Almunecar, there is also a smaller version close to the city of Granada. In summer months it has also become popular for inflatable waterparks to be set up off shore at Salobreña and La Herradura. You can pay for a day or hourly pass.

A family run establishment which offers lessons and various treks through the picturesque Alpujarran countryside - www.horse-riding-in-spain.com. They are based a 10 minute walk up the lane from the villa.

Drive up to the village of Trevelez and sample some of the air-dried ham. The village is one of the highest in Spain at over 1400m.