The territory of Alcaucín, in the northern part of La Axarquia on the border of the province of Granada, stretches between the imposing Sierra de Tejeda, the rugged Boquete de Zafarraya - a natural gap between the coast and the interior - and the Periana corridor, where the topography tends to be more gentle. Its municipal boundaries, therefore, contain exceptionally varied and surprising geographic features, giving it a spectacular wealth of scenery.

Pre-historic sites have been discovered at various places in the municipality of Alcaucin, including a cave near to El Roquete de Zafarraya where the remains of a Neanderthal Man. Also close to the village is the Castle of Zalia of Phoenician origin, later used as a fortress by the Moors.