Costa Tropical, Andalucia

Costa Tropical de Granada - Overview:

This stretch of coast, due south of the city of Granada, has long been a favourite holiday spot for the inhabitants of that city, but has mainly remained undiscovered by international tourists. Situated halfway between Malaga and Almeria, the Costa Tropical de Granada boasts a superb climate and beautiful scenery. New roads have made this coast more accessible from both international airports and for many years it has been a popular destination with our clients for coastal holidays and as a base for touring the lost white villages of La Alpujarra and the vibrant, historic city of Granada.

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Salobrena	Salobrena

Costa Tropical de Granada - Beaches, coves and activities:

This stretch of Andalucian coast has an enviable micro-climate and normally receives more hours of sunshine than the Costa Del Sol, making it also ideal for winter holidays, particularly as the ski resort of the Sierra Nevada is only one and a half hour's drive away. Other year round activities that can be enjoyed in the area include horse-riding, golf, SCUBA diving, water sports and walking.

Below Salobrena is a long stretch of beach with a wide promenade and a good selection of bars and restaurants. This beach, which only gets busy during the peak summer season, stretches from Salobrena to Motril (about 10km). Along the coast there are many quiet coves and a couple of naturist beaches.

One of the great advantages of a holiday on the Costa Tropical de Granada is that it is ideally situated for visiting the historic city of Granada and the lost white mountain villages of La Alpujarra, both of which can be reached by car in about an hour. This has made it very popular for families who wish to combine a seaside holiday with historic sightseeing and touring.

Costa Tropical de Granada - Villages and towns:

We feature beautiful properties in two of the Costa Tropical de Granada's most picturesuqe villages : Almunecar and Salobrena.

Almunecar:

Almunecar is situated at the height of the tropical coast, very close to the province of Malaga, Granada, La Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The area enjoys a privileged Tropical micro climate which is unique in Europe and the marvellous beaches of Almunecar cover a range of 19km offering a tremendous variety of watersports from swimming, snorkelling and diving to water skiing and windsurfing.

Almunecar has a rich history which is proudly retained in its architecture and the area has many places of interest to explore. There is the Necropolis "Laurita" and "Puente de Noy", a Roman aqueduct, the pillars of "La Albina" and "Torre del Monje," the cave of "Los siete Palacios,"where the municipal museum of archaeology is located, the Arabic Castle of "San Miguel", the church of "La Encarnacion," and the old quarter of the town, where you can amble through the labyrinth of streets.

Almunecar's tourist office organises a guided excursion through the town's millennial treasures. It lasts two and a half hours and takes place on Wednesday and Saturday mornings at 10.30am. There is a minimum number of participants required to make the guided walk a viable enterprise for the tourist office, so it is worthwhile confirming your attendance the day before.

The marvellous beaches of Almunecar stretch for 19km. From remote bays and natural coves to golden sands, all enjoy the characteristic micro climate of the Costa Tropical.

There are numerous interesting places to visit along the coast at Almunecar with beautiful beaches, bays and cliffs. Of particular note are the rocks "Los Penones del Santo" together with a viewing point and a cross above; a monument to "Abderraman I;" the valley of "Rio Verde;" the naturists' beach at "Cantarrijan;" and a seemingly endless array of beaches with a vast array of water sports and the sport harbour of "Marina del Este."

Those seeking to get a little closer to nature will enjoy a visit to "Pena Escrita" Park and the ornithological park "LoroSexi" that is home to 120 species of birds. The "El Majuelo" botanical park has an important collection of tropical plants.
Almunecar is a town where the local people (called Almunequeros) enjoy fiestas and all of them ensure visitors feel part of the celebrations. The most important celebrations are the patron saint fiestas when the town is decorated and partying continues for many days and nights.

Salobrena:

Salobrena is a dazzling, ancient white town clustered around a rocky outcrop overlooking the sea and a fertile valley. It is an attractive holiday & beach resort surrounded by fields of sugar cane and with an interesting Arab castle, located just west of Motril.

Sugar cane, mangoes and custard apples are cultivated here. Inland rise the peaks of the Sierra Nevada and water from these mountains is fed around the fields in irrigation channels built by the Moors.

Salobrena is a maze of narrow, winding streets that climb up to the old Moorish castle which dominates the town. The climb to the top of the town can be thirsty work but there are numerous little local bars along the way to provide the welcome refreshment of a drink and tapas. The views from the castle of the sea, valley and mountains are spectacular.

Beneath the old town on the rock, spreads Salobrena's modern village with low-rise, attractive apartments and houses. Here you can sample enticing tapas and quench your thirst at plenty of bars and restaurants. You'll be offered a vast choice from prawns and clams to morsels of juicy fried fish, slices of jamon and wedges of cheese.

The town of Salobrena has every modern facility including supermarkets and banks. Eating out is not a problem as, in addition to the many beach bars and tapas bars in the town, there is a good and varied selection of restaurants in the area.

This stretch of Andalucian coast has a micro-climate and normally receives more hours of sunshine than the Costa Del Sol making it also ideal for winter holidays, particularly as the ski resort of the Sierra Nevada is only one and a half hour's drive away. From October to April, you could be in the happy position of being able to ski during the day and return to sunbathe on Salobrena's long, clean beach in the late afternoon.

Other year round activities that can be enjoyed in the area include horse-riding, golf, tennis, football, walking, mountain biking, fishing and SCUBA diving along with other air and water sports. A real treat for snorkellers and divers is the artificial reef built in 2004 off the Penon rock to shelter and encourage sealife, now showing remarkable results.

Below Salobrena is a long stretch of beach with a wide promenade and a good selection of bars and restaurants. This beach, which only gets busy during the peak summer season, stretches from Salobrena to Motril (about 10km). Along the coast there are many quiet coves and a couple of naturist beaches.

Thanks to its privileged position clustered around a rocky outcrop, along with its mild year-round climate, Salobrena has 6,000 years of human history with an abundance of Roman remains turn up everywhere.

Its Moorish castle was built in the 10th Century and the Mudejar 16th Century church was built on top of the old mosque.

From various viewpoints in Salobrena, you can take in the rugged landscape of the Sierra del Chaparral which cradles the town to the back. beneath the cliffs are orchards of sub-tropical fruit trees and expanses of sugar cane spreading to the shoreline. The tiny village of La Caleta directly to the west houses the last sugar factory in Europe.

The best way to get to know the town itself is on foot, perhaps joining in one of the Tourist Office's excellent guided tours. The flower-filled streets contain centuries of history, some of it captured in the town's spotless new museum in the former Town Hall building in the old town.

One of the great advantages of a holiday in Salobrena is that it is ideally situated for visiting the historic city of Granada and the lost white mountain villages of La Alpujarra, both of which can be reached by car in about an hour. This has made it very popular for families who wish to combine a seaside holiday with some sightseeing and touring.

Another interesting place to visit is the Penon, the massive rock jutting out to sea. It was a prison during the first and second centuries and eventually became a Christian burial site.

Salobrena enjoys a lively cultural scene, with year round concerts, plays and films. In summer, outdoor shows are held in the Arab Castle, and other activities take place in the Old Town and Parque de la Fuente. It also has colourful annual fiestas and ferias.

Calamedina is a delightful small development of individually designed town houses, located on a hillside about 3km from Salobrena. Little squares and shaded walkways, set amongst arches and towers, typify Andalucian architecture and create a tranquil atmosphere. The cottages are constructed entirely of local materials and furnished to a comfortable standard. They share a communal swimming pool which is set in a large terrace, and is open all year round. Due to its location a few kilometres from the town and beach, we strongly recommend you hire a car for the duration of your holiday at Calamedina.

Costa Tropical - Our holiday accommodation and service:

Travel with secretdestinations.com holidays and enjoy privileged, sophisticated holiday destinations in the Costa Tropical, including Salobrena. Privately owned villas, apartments, villas with pools and hotels, in beautiful coastal and rural locations, hand-picked for an authentic taste of unspoiled secret Spain.

So, if you're looking for an activity holiday walking, cycling and trekking; exploring Spain's fascinating villages, towns and historic cities such as Granada or the Sierra Nevada mountains; fancy a spot of sailing, SCUBA diving, wind surfing, swimming, sunbathing or relaxing on great beaches (much of Spain's south coast is also ideal for a spot of winter sun); or you just want to simply escape the tourist masses with a privately owned apartment, cottage or villa with a pool, call our holiday team today. We can also assist you with flights to Spain, ferry travel and holiday car hire.