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El Acabucal is a tiny village that can be reached by track from either Competa or Frigiliana. However, the route from Competa can be quite difficult so a four-wheel drive is recommended. The scenery approaching the village from Competa is dramatic and worth the drive alone to this pretty hamlet known locally as “the lost village”. Originally a stop off point on a trading route to Granada, this small village is better known for it's more recent history following the Spanish Civil War.

The pueblo was “lost” in 1948 following the civil war, when the Franco regime ordered the residents of the village to abandon their homes and not to return. As the village sits just below the Almijara and Tejedar mountain ranges, the military suspected villagers were providing supplies to republican rebels living in the foothills above. Most of the population moved to Frigiliana and Competa but some returned in 1953 when the last rebel was killed. With the rebellion quashed, there was no reason for the Authorities to ban people from the village and a small living could be made by the residents making charcoal. However, this was outlawed due to the risk of forest fires and the returning villagers had no choice but to leave Acebuchal again.

El Acebuchal remained unoccupied and fell into ruin until 1998 when a descendant of one of the original villagers bought a house there. He encouraged others to help renovate the 32 homes, town hall, chapel, bar and streets that make up El Acebuchal. The works have been carried out with great care and attention to detail, to return the village to its former glory.

3 families of 10 people now live in El Acebucal permanently and the remaining houses are used as occasional weekend or holiday homes. There are no shops here but there is a bar restaurant that serves up local dishes such as game, wild boar and goat and is always very busy at weekends. Although a very small, quiet place it does attract visitors and the bar is used as a resting point by groups of horse trekkers, walkers and motorbike tours alike. There is also a Casa offering fine wines and tapa sampling in a relaxed family atmosphere. Several homes here are offered as rentals and the village would appeal to anyone looking for peace and tranquillity.