Granada’s Tropical Coast Beaches and Surrounds

Stretching along the Mediterranean Sea and sandwiched between it and the Sierra Nevada is Granada province’s comarca of Costa Tropical. Politically, a comarca is essentially a state of the autonomous region of Andalucía. The Tropical Coast is particularly well known for its mild climate and popular beaches.

The region has more plant life than its neighbor Málaga thanks to the microclimate created by the close proximity of the mountains. The mountains themselves come right to the edge of the land, creating a decidedly rough topographical coastline.

Thanks to the mountains, urban development has been low-scale, and the area’s Mediterranean beaches attract many tourists to its small villages and resort towns. The town of Almuñécar, for instance, triples its usual population of 26 thousand in summer.

Almuñécar is the main resort town of the Costa Tropical. The statue of the Muslim Abd ar-Rahman I attests to the history of the town as the first to be claimed for his new Arab kingdom in 755 AD. The popular Playa Velilla stretches to the sea just out of town. The Playa San Cristobal is closer to town and boasts a pleasant promenade.

Many ruins are found in and around Almuñécar. 2 kilometers outside of the city, one of five Roman aqueducts, 4 of which are still used, dominates the Rio Seco Valley. Other Roman bridges, roads, and buildings dot the landscape. Roman baths were discovered in the town center, as well as part of the same aqueduct. The Castle of Saint Miguel in town is said to have been begun by the Romans, although little remains of their contribution. Below the castle the old Roman palace, called the “Cave of Seven Places”, is now the town museum. Another popular ruin is the Phoenician fish salting factories and irrigation system.

The N-340 highway snakes along the coast, connecting the beach towns of Torrenueva, Carchuna and Calahonda with Almuñécar and Motril. Motril is the largest town in Costa Tropical. It has a tiny sea port, and visitors will enjoy the locally-produce rum and any of a number of Mediterranean dishes. Migas is a lot like couscous, and often comes topped with anchovies, sardines or shrimp. The local popular beach is “Playa Granada,” but there’s also a nude beach nearby.

The tropical coast beaches are beautiful and various. The sunset from Cerro Gorda over La Herradura Bay’s beaches is especially magnificent.