The Polje de Zafarraya is a closed karst depression with a flat floor. It stretches about 10 km from east to west and 3.5 km from north to south. Its water is drained by one or more ponors, natural swallow holes. When planning your trip, this combination of a flat basin and natural drainage offers a distinctive way to understand the landscape: its extent can be considered in two directions, while the ponors explain what happens to the water. Zafarraya is therefore not just a landscape, but also a characteristic karst phenomenon.

The Polje and the Viewpoint

At the Mirador del Polje de Zafarraya, there is a parking area and an information board about the polje. From there, the view extends southwest over the karst basin. The board and the view complement each other: the information relates to the polje, while the vista takes in its landscape. Check the condition of the facilities locally before your visit.

Access to the Sumidero Antoñico is free of charge; the sinkhole lies beside a paved local road. Check access conditions locally before your visit.

Nature and Trails: Two Spatial Scales

The “Paseos por el Llano” route uses a dense network of rural paths that provides access to different parts of El Llano. The Camino de Lucena is a branch of the loop route. This means the route describes a network of paths for finding your way around El Llano, rather than just one named path.

The Pozo de los Muertos can be visited on the way to the Zafarraya cemetery. The ZEC Sierra de Loja offers opportunities for hiking, among other activities, and spans the municipalities of Loja, Salar, Alhama de Granada and Zafarraya. The route around El Llano and the protected area spanning several municipalities are therefore distinct geographical reference points for hiking. Up to seven bat species are found in the ZEC; hiking opportunities and wildlife are two different aspects of nature there.

San Marcos and Local History

San Marcos on 25 April includes a communal outdoor lunch attended by residents of El Llano. Hornazo and Roscos de San Marcos are typical foods for the festival. The date, 25 April, gives you a specific calendar reference if you would like to plan your trip around San Marcos. Check the event dates for the relevant year.

The Centro de Interpretación del Terremoto del Poniente covers the effects of the severe earthquake in the Poniente de Granada. It occurred on 25 December 1884 at 9:08 p.m. The focus of this topic is both the earthquake’s regional context and its precise historical date.

The outdoor area of the Iglesia Vieja is freely accessible. Check the access arrangements locally before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Güevéjar, Salobreña, Baúl, Gualchos, Diezma, Orce, Cáñar, Cónchar

For the broader travel guide: Granada.