The Tropical Coast of Granada offers a refreshing summer with its privileged climate, beautiful landscape and relaxed atmosphere.
Encased at the foot of the mountains and possessing a privileged climate all year round, the Tropical Coast is 75 kilometers long and corresponds to the Mediterranean coastline of the province of Granada, between Costa del Sol and Costa Almería. Its Mediterranean location and its proximity to northern Africa and the Sierra Nevada Mountains, with the highest peaks on the Iberian Peninsula, protect this coastline from cold winds from the north.
With towers and castles recalling the ancient kingdom of Granada, small towns and white villages, and plenty of beaches to choose from, Costa Tropical is perfect for those looking for a relaxed summer vacation, local vibes and tropical flavour – as its subtropical micro climate with 320 sunny days a year, and an average temperature of around 20º C, makes it possible to grow tropical fruits on the lush fertile plains.
The beach lovers can look forward to remote and secluded coves overlooked by dramatic cliffs as well as the the more open ‘popular’ beaches with all the chiringuitos and other amenities that you would expect of the larger resorts. The informal beach bars called (everywhere around Spain) chiringuitos suit all tastes, ages and pockets. Some of them are a little more upmarket than others but most of them would serve the famous dish of the Tropical Coast – marinated blue fish and squid, as well as grilled sardines al espeto – slowly grilled over an open wood fire on the beach, with salt and olive oil, or tasty shrimps and mussels, all watered with Calvente wine, in addition to the tapas that they serve in the bars with the consumption (or, more and more often, separately).
The main towns of the Costa Tropical are Motril and Almuñécar. Motril has a nice sea port and is principally a manufacturing and the area’s centre of horticulture and growing vegetables and the famous tropical fruits of the region including mango, avocado and chirimoya, while Almuñécar is primarily a resort town and agricultural centre with the summer-time vacation population more than tripling the town’s population.