Andalucia Skiing

The ski resort of Sol y Nieve is located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Andalucia. It is the most southerly ski resort in Europe and is small in comparison to other European resorts. The Sierra Nevada ski resort has numerous runs of varying difficulties to satisfy all skiing desires. Natural snow is supplemented by snow cannons on some runs. Being so far south, many skiers are pleasantly surprised to find the air temperature is usually warmer than other resorts.

The season is December to April. The resort hosted the 1996 world ski championships.

The Sierra Nevada resort is only 45 minutes drive from Granada city, one hour from Granada airport and 2 hour drive from Malaga airport. Visitors should also consider visiting the attractions in Granada city.

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  Climbing :

The most popular and spectacular mountain range for climbers is the Sierra Nevada. Its peak, Mulhacén is the highest peak in the Iberian peninsular. ( 3.482m) There are many possible locations for climbing in this area. There are several mountaineering clubs and some challenging rock faces, particularly around the area of El Chorro, near Alora. Sierra de las Nieves, between Ronda and Malaga or Sierra Almijara are also popular with climbers. Other sugested areas for climbing are; Subetica Cordobes, Sierra de Grazalema, Sierra Magina in Jaén, Sierra Filambres and Sierra Maria in Almeria.

Information about mountaineering clubs may be obtained from the Spanish Mountaineering Federation, (Federacion Espanol de Montanismo) Calle Alberto Aguilar, 3-4 iz, Madrid 28015. This society will also provide maps for mountain areas. It is obviously important to employ a qualified and experienced guide when climbing in an unfamiliar area, available through climbing schools and clubs. Also note that Spain does not have a sophisticated mountain rescue service, such as you find in Alpine countries and if you get into trouble you will need to rely on your own resources and those of your companions.

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Paragliding

This is not one of those sports that you can just turn up and do, like tennis or lawn bowls. However, Andalucia provides some near-perfect terrain for those who have mastered the basics and for beginners wishing to learn more. Paragliding is very similar to hang-gliding, except that, in the latter, the pilot hangs beneath a parachute in the sitting position and flies with the wind, whereas hang-gliders fly in a horizontal position beneath a framed wing.
A gentle slope is ideal for the first-footer and there are plenty more challenging launch sites scattered throughout the province.

For more information, contact the Club-Escuela Parapente Aventura, at calle Tulipan 6, Fuengirola (Tel: 952 664722), or the Escuela de Parapente Abdelajis, at calle Sevilla 2, Fuengirola (Tel: 92 489 180)

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Microlighting

A licence is required for this sport. This will prove, among other things, that you know how to take off and land plus more or less in which direction you are headed when you are airborne. Micro lights come in one and two-seater versions, so you can experience all the thrills of flight while letting someone else do the donkeywork.
Micro lights require a decent length of flat ground from which to take off, so the coast is ideal for the purpose. This also allows you to fly along the shoreline and get stunning aerial views of the land to one side and the Mediterranean to the other.

There are a number of schools in the region, where courses can be taken. Experienced pilots will also take passengers.
For more information, contact the Federacion Andaluza de Deportes at Arenal 9, Malaga (Tel: 952 21 69 48/60 13 61)

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