the area | granada | las alpujarras | lecrin valley | salobreña & motril

The Granada coast is commonly known as the Costa Tropical and is on the south coast of Spain, east of the better-known Costa del Sol. This stretch of coastline takes its name from the sub-tropical climate which allows the cultivation of tropical fruits. The area doesn't have the glamour of Marbella but makes up for it with its unique taste of traditional Andalucian life. There are four main resort towns on the coast - La Herradura, Almuņecar, Salobreņa and Motril.

La Herradura means 'horse shoe' and is so named because of the distinctive shape of its bay. The bay provides shelter from the westerly 'Poniente' wind and the easterly 'Levante' and makes La Herradura a haven for practicing many water sports. The nearby 'Marina del Este' and the numerous scuba diving centres ensure that you have as much fun in the water as out of it. The town itself is a picturesque coastal location with idyllic relaxing beaches. Situated at the western end of the Costa Tropical and shielded by the Sierra Nevada, La Herradura enjoys a mild sub-tropical climate all year round. The old part of the town is very attractive, with its narrow streets, white-washed houses, and squares full of flowers. There is a daily covered market where locally grown produce is available and, of course, an abundance of locally caught fish and seafood.

Almuņecar is the 'de facto' capital of the area and is one of the most Spanish resorts along the entire south coast. It's a favoured holiday haunt of the Spanish from Granada and Madrid as it provides excellent leisure facilities but has not yet succumbed the trappings of mass tourism. Almuņecar's old quarter is a charming maze of narrow, cobbled streets topped by the remains of a Moorish castle. The Almuņecar coastline stretches for 19 kilometres with over 25 different beaches which include wide expanses of sand, sheltered coves and small rocky bays only accessible by steep tracks. The Marine del Este, a bustling pleasure marina to the west of Almuņecar is home to a wealth of water sports and has moorings for 227 boats.

Salobreņa, 17 kilometres to the east of Almuņecar, is the most picturesque of the three resorts. Visitors bound for other destinations find themselves compelled to take a detour into Salobreņa when they spot this amazing whitewashed town clinging to the sides of an imposing rocky outcrop, crowned by a magnificent medieval castle. The town is set against the backdrop of the Sierra Chaparral mountain range, looking out to sea across lush fields of exotic sub-tropical fruits.

Four kilometres further east is Motril, the biggest town on the Costa with a thriving commercial, fishing and leisure port. This is the area's main shopping centre with a hypermarket on the outskirts of the town and many supermarkets, bars, restaurants and night clubs in and around the town centre. The marina provides a wealth of water sports and boat excursions including trips to Morocco.

The historic city of Granada, with its fabulous Alhambra Palace, is just 40 minutes drive north of Motril. To the north east of the town you can see the impressive snow-covered peaks of the Sierra Nevada rising to 3,000 metres. If you're holidaying in the winter months you can ski in the morning and sunbathe on the beaches of Motril in the afternoon.