Costa Tropical, Spain

Costa Tropical, Spain

Costa Tropical Spain

Granada’s Costa Tropical boasts dozens of beaches and small coves with crystal-clear water, around 320 sunny days a year and an average temperature of 20 degrees. That’s the backdrop to 73 kilometres of tropical coastline in the province of Granada, named for the exceptionally good weather it enjoys all year round. Two centuries ago, this was the only place in Europe where subtropical fruits such as mangos, cherimoyas, avocados and papayas could be grown. These fruits may evoke exotic flavours and far‑flung places, but they’re actually grown in Europe, in one of the most privileged corners of Andalucía. Nineteen towns make up what’s known as the “European Tropics”. Almuñécar, founded by the Phoenicians in 1000 BC and called Sexi in their time, is steeped in history, with remains of a Roman salted‑fish factory and a fantastic summer jazz festival. Motril is the most populous town in the province of Granada after the city of Granada itself. Among its most impressive monuments are the Iglesia Mayor de la Encarnación and the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza, built on the site of the palace of Queen Aixa, mother of Boabdil, the last king of the Nasrid dynasty. Salobreña rises up like a great mountain of sugar cubes. Its little white houses are scattered around a hill crowned by a monumental Arab castle overlooking the sea. From the top you can enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Sierra Nevada, the Mediterranean and the fertile plains below. Close to the main beaches you’ll find small, quiet coves such as Albuñol, Castell de Ferro‑Gualchos and La Mamola‑Polopos. Nearby are the villages of Albondón, Ítrabo, Jete, Lentejí, Los Guájares, Lújar, Molvízar, Murtas, Otívar, Rubite, Sorvilán, Turón and Vélez de Benaudalla, each set in beautiful natural surroundings. Beyond the beaches and the rich cultural heritage, Granada’s Costa Tropical is ideal for outdoor activities, including golf, paragliding, hiking through inland villages and scuba diving in the depths off Cerro Gordo. At Marina del Este (Almuñécar) and the Club Náutico in Motril you can enjoy all kinds of water sports. The local food is superb: enjoy all sorts of tropical fruits in salads or desserts, along with a wide variety of fish and seafood such as muttonfish, bream and shrimp. And to finish off your meal, why not round it all off with a drop or two of locally crafted rum in your coffee?
Recommended airport
Aeropuerto Federico Garcia Lorca (GRX)
Nearby destinations
  • Granada a 46.76 km
  • Alpujarra de la Sierra a 37.06 km
  • Sierra Nevada a 35.83 km