The Costa Tropical is a small stretch of the Coast Line nestled in between the Costa del Sol and Costa Almeria, although only 60km in length it boasts some of the most beautiful coastline and beaches with breathtaking journeys along its jagged coastline enabling the more adventurous to find that perfect hide-away for soaking up some Mediterranean sun.

Why is it called the Costa Tropical?

The Costa Tropical is rightfully named due to its sub-tropical climate which allows the cultivation of exotic fruits and crops such as avocadoes, mangoes, papaya, bananas and custard apples – crops you would usually associate with the Caribbean. This is because the Costa Tropical benefits from the Sierra Nevada mountain range protecting it during the winter from the cold extremities of mainland Spain. As a result, the Costa Tropical has exceptionally mild winters coupled with hot summers allowing the growth of such tropical fruits. On average, the Costa tropical has 320 days of sunshine annually.

What are the main holiday destinations?

The Coastline on the Costa Tropical is made up of three main tourist destinations. 

Almunecar is by far the largest of the coastal resorts with a population of around 30,000 which increases significantly during summer. Many Spanish families from mainland Spain own property along the coast and escape to cooler climates of the coast as central Spain peaks to quite high summer temperatures.

Almunecar is a bustling town with a vibrant nightlife to suit all people, beautiful beaches, fantastic restaurants and bars and some interesting boutiques which can be found in one of the many narrow streets leading up to the fantastic San Miguel Castle. Furthermore, there is an International School if you felt that you wanted your children to follow the UK curriculum or continue the International Baccalaureate. The school has a bus service with two routes, one to Motril and another to Nerja stopping off at towns and villages along the way.

Salobrena by many is considered the prettiest town on the Costa Tropical. The town is considerably smaller than Almunecar with around 10,000 inhabitants. For further information please see the Salobrena section.

La Herradura is the smallest of three coastal resorts located 5km west of Almunecar. The literal translation for “la herradura” in Spanish is horseshoe and describes the shape of the bay perfectly. La Herradura is a quaint expanding fishing village-cum-resort set in a lovely picturesque bay.

The Marina del Este is located a short drive away – here you will find an extremely chic marina with 227 moorings, restaurants and designer boutiques – an excellent place to spend an afternoon over drinks and tapas.

Slightly inland from Salobrena

The Lecrin Valley is becoming a favourite within the Granada province with lower property prices than the coast. People are attracted to the small white villages nestled in beautiful country surroundings with much of the area cultivated for oranges, lemons, almond and olive groves.

The area is dominated by the Beznar dam which provides water for the surrounding towns and villages. The Beznar dam has some excellent fishing for carp and black bass but make sure you have a local Spanish fishing license and you will also need a day ticket from one of the local bars in Beznar before you start fishing. 

The Lecrin valley is situated mid way between the coast and Granada city lying between 500 and 700m above sea level. Therefore, winters are colder than the coast with the occassional frost.

There are 15 notable villages all with a distinctive feel and character. For more information on the individual villages please click here.

Attractions

There are a host of attractions and activities for all the family; here is just a sample of things that might be of interest during your stay.

Almunecar has a large water park - Agua Tropic enjoyed not only by the youngsters but the young at heart as well!!

There are very good Scuba Diving centres to be found in Salobrena, Almunecar and Marina del Este.

Horse Riding centres with designated trails. Rancho Ferrer located in the lower Alpujarra mountains and Almunecar Horse Riding situated in Taramay.

Quad Biking from Salobrena with trails going up to the Alpujarras – great day out with stops at some traditional Spanish restaurants.

The Alhambra - The most famous attraction to the Granada province - the magnificent Alhambra Palace built in the 12th Century by Muhammed Al-Ahmar where the royal Nasrid Dynasty occupied until the Christians conquered in 1492.  We advise in peak summer months to book ahead as there are only a limited number of places. You can book on line to avoid the disappointment.

Skiing at the  Sol Y Nieve ski resort

SEE OUR FULL LIST OF PROPERTIES