The Costa Tropical in Granada
The Nature of the Costa Tropical
A small part of the region is entering Natural Park Tejeda, Almijara and Almara, which has excellent hiking trails and rivers to practice canyoning. The coast itself has two protected areas. One of them is the Natural Park Acantilados de Maro Cerro Gordo near the border of Malaga, which has in our opinon the nicest (nude) beach of the Costa Tropical. The other Natural Monument are the rocks of Almuñecar "Peñones de Almunecar". At the side of Carchuna and La Cucha, close to Motril, are some lovely beaches where all the plants and flowers on the beach are protected. These beaches are in some places formed by rock layers, which results in the seaweed has given these rocks an impressive green color.
The Beaches at the Costa Tropical
One of the most popular destinations of the province of Granada. The sun is shining 320 days a year and the climate is subtropical. There are around 50 beaches and small inlets spread over 73 kilometres of coastline with crystal-clear water, 320 sunny days a year and an average temperature of 20 degrees. The most popular beach towns with all facilities are Almuñecar, La Herradura, Salobreña and Playa Granada. The Costa Tropical owns its name to its exceptional good weather through the year. Two centuries ago, it became the only place in Europe where subtropical fruits such as mango, cherimoya, avocado and papaya could be cultivated. Fruits that evoke exotic flavours and places but, in fact, they are grown in one of the most privileged corners of Andalucía.
At the east side of the Costa Tropical are a lot of "quiet" isolated, but excellent beaches situated. "quiet," because they are less easy to access and or you have to take a walk. In contrast to the coast villages of Malaga, these small urbanizations at the coast have not been developed to tourist centers, due to bad infrastucture and politic decisions. This makes this area untouched and gives the tourist an experience on the Spanish way. The villages that offer the best facilities at the east side of the Costa Tropical are Torrenueva, Calahonda, Castell de Ferro and La Rábita. These towns are very popular by the Spanish people. The beaches can be very crowded in August and with the Spanish bank holidays. It is possible that a beach like Torrenueva has 5 lines of parasols with hundreds of people and 3 km away you have a lovely natural beach occupied with only 30 persons.
The Monuments of Costa Tropical
The region has 17 munipalities of which Almuñecar is the most popular beach town. It was founded by the Phoenicians one thousand years before Christ with the name of Sexi, Almuñécar is a place full of history that maintains the remains of a roman factory of a salted-fish business, five sections of an aqueduct and an Arab castle. Motril is the biggest city of the province after Granada. Among its monuments stands out the Iglesia Mayor de la Encarnación and the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza. In a lot of places along the coast you will encounter remains from the past; the Arabic castle of Salobreña, the old sugar factories from Motril, Arabic watchtowers near Calahonda and La Rabita. the fortresses in La Herradura, Castillo de los Baños, Castell del Ferro, La Rabita and Velez de Benaudalla.
Activities at the Costa Tropical
Apart from sea and culture, the Tropical Coast offers a great number of possibilities such as golf, paragliding, hiking in the villages which are located inland, scuba-diving in the rich depths of Cerro Gordo and the nautical sports that have their centre at the marina of Marina del Este (Almuñecar) and the Club Náutico of Motril. (Source: Patronato Provincial de Turismo de Granada).
The Climate of Costa Tropical
The climate here is considered to be a local steppe climate. During the year there is little rainfall. The Köppen-Geiger climate classification is BSh. In Motril, the average annual temperature is 18.1 °C. About 316 mm of precipitation falls annually. The driest month is July, with 2mm of rain. Most of the precipitation here falls in January, averaging 46 mm. August is the warmest month of the year. The temperature in August averages 25.9 °C. January is the coldest month, with temperatures averaging 11.4 °C. The Costa Tropical of Granada is one of the two places in Europe where grow exotic fruits. So be not surpised when you see growing mangoes, avocados and custard apples on the hill near Almuñecar and Salobreña.
Activities at the Costa Tropical
Apart from sea and culture, the Tropical Coast offers a great number of possibilities such as golf, sailing, paragliding, hiking in the villages, which are located inland, scuba-diving in the rich depths of Cerro Gordo and the nautical sports that have their centre at the marina of Marina del Este (Almuñecar) and the Club Náutico of Motril. (Source: Patronato Provincial de Turismo de Granada).
The Gastronomy of Costa Tropical
Fish and vegetables are the basis of the diet of the Costa Tropicaland is closely related to the Mediterranean diet. The grilled fish, fish stews with rice, seafood and blue fish are some examples of the most popular dished in restaurants at the Costa Tropical The Mediterranean diet is a healthy diet, low in fat and with many vegetables, fruit and fish These three ingredients are the most important for the cuisine of the Costa Tropical.
Fresh seafood is found in most of the restaurants in the municipalities of the Costa Tropical and is served in various ways. The fried fish also has its place at the table in the restaurants. All this, of course, enlivened by the Andalusian gazpacho and holy sign of Andalusia and its cuisine.
Typical food that is served at the beach restaurants are the "espetos" with sardines or octopus which are prepared on charcoal
If we go into the interior of the province of Granada, we see typical dishes like, stews, baby goat or bull´s tail on the menu.
The Situation of Costa Tropical
The Costa Tropical is easy accessable by the highway A-7 from Malaga (airport) or by the highway A-44 from Granada (airport). From both directions it is a 80 km´s drive. The highway A-7 is going all along the coast, which makes the beaches and its towns easy accessable. The region has also interesting inland villages which are worth to visit. These villages are accessable by secondary roads. Also the popular regions Alpujarra and Valle Lecrín and the capital Granada are easy to access by the A-44.
