Costa Tropical, Spain

Costa Tropical, Spain

Costa Tropical Spain

Granada’s Costa Tropical stretches for 73 kilometers along the Mediterranean and is known for its crystal-clear waters, more than 320 sunny days a year, and an average temperature of 20°C (68°F). This exceptionally mild climate once made it the only place in Europe where subtropical fruits such as mangos, cherimoyas, avocados, and papayas could be grown, earning it the nickname the “European Tropics.” Nineteen towns make up this coastline. Almuñécar, founded by the Phoenicians around 1000 BC and once called Sexi, is rich in history, with remains of a Roman salted-fish factory and a renowned summer jazz festival. Motril, the second-largest town in the province after Granada city, is home to notable monuments such as the Iglesia Mayor de la Encarnación and the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza, built on the site of Queen Aixa’s palace, mother of Boabdil, the last Nasrid king. Salobreña is a striking whitewashed hillside town crowned by an Arab castle overlooking the sea. From the top, you can admire panoramic views of the Sierra Nevada mountains, the Mediterranean, and the fertile plains below. Alongside well-known beaches, there are quieter coves and coastal areas such as Albuñol, Castell de Ferro-Gualchos, and La Mamola-Polopos. Inland, villages like Albondón, Ítrabo, Jete, Lentejí, Los Guájares, Lújar, Molvízar, Murtas, Otívar, Rubite, Sorvilán, Turón, and Vélez de Benaudalla are set in beautiful natural surroundings. Beyond sun and sand, Costa Tropical offers a wide range of outdoor activities: golf, paragliding, hiking in the inland villages, and scuba diving in the depths off Cerro Gordo. In Marina del Este (Almuñécar) and at the yacht club in Motril, visitors can enjoy numerous water sports. Local cuisine highlights the area’s tropical fruits—served in salads, desserts, and fresh juices—along with excellent seafood such as muttonfish, bream, and shrimp. To finish your meal, you can even try a splash of locally crafted rum in your coffee, a distinctive taste of this unique corner of Andalucía.
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 33.33 km