Almuñécar

Almuñécar is a small coastal city in Granada province that lies between Salobreña to the east and Nerja to the west. A once-laid back fishing town, it has become a resort for Northern Europeans and North Americans to escape from the frigid winters at home. With the expansion of the European Union, more Eastern Europeans have been drawn here too by the sub-tropical climate where the sun shines at least 320 days of the year. == Understand == The municipality includes the villages and neighbourhoods of La Herradura, Cotobro, Taramay and Velilla and has an approximate population of 26,000 inhabitants (2018). This number varies as during the summer months the number of people can be multiplied by 5 times. Since 1975, the town has become one of the most important tourist towns in Granada province and on the Costa Tropical; it has good transport connections and a football (soccer) stadium. Almuñécar is an important setting in Laurie Lee's account of the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning, and referred to as "Castillo" to disguise people's identities. == Get in == Almuñécar is equidistant from the Granada and Málaga airports, 55 minutes by car on the highway. From both airports there are several bus lines that cover the passenger transport service to Almuñécar. The best known and operating in both cases is ALSA, although there are more options. You can also count on the taxi stands at both airports. The price is usually around €130 in both cases (Apr 2023), although this price may be higher depending on the day and time. Another option is private airport transfer companies that operate a very similar service to taxis but with fixed rates. International companies such as Uber also operate in both cities. There is no train line that goes to Almuñécar. == Get around == The local bus transportation is quite good, but alas there is no train service. == See == The sights include ancient Phoenician, as the fish salting factory in the Parque del Majuelo, which is also a botanical park that houses the largest variety of palm trees in Europe. Also Roman ruins, castle, an archaeological museum, the historic old town of Muslim origin, gastronomic museum, and an expansive stretch of inviting beaches. For the sportsminded, all types of water sports are possible, as well as rural walks into the surrounding hills (where the panoramic views are amazing), horseback riding, paragliding and mountain biking. During the warm summer months, "tapa" bars are bursting with life well into the wee hours of the morning. == Do == The area surrounding Almuñécar features some outstanding geography, making it a good spot for extreme sports. Climbing, canyoning, mountain biking and parapenting are popular in the area. Due to its proximity to the coast there is also scuba diving and snorkelling to kayaking and kitesurfing. The Alpujarra mountain area nearby is known for its serene natural environment and ski resort. Due to the richness of the seabed and the rugged topography of its coasts, Almuñécar is a fine place for scuba diving, especially in the nearby town of La Herradura, which belongs to the same municipality. There are several reputable businesses with considerable experience in practicing underwater activities safely. == Buy == == Eat == Almuñécar's gastronomy focuses mainly on fresh fish and tropical fruit. Monkfish (rape), red sea bream (besugo), squids (calamares), grouper (mero), croaker (corvina), and shellfish paella are typical examples of local seafood. There are several restaurants next to the beach where meals featuring these can be eaten al fresco (at tables outside) in the sea breezes. Pub crawls with stops at several bars to try different tapas are also popular. The soil in the area is very fertile, and due to the semi-tropical climate, tropical fruits can be grown here. The most notable are mangos, avocados, loquats, and cherimoyas, but it is also easy to find papayas, guavas, lychees, kiwis, figs and even prickly pears, the fruit of the Opuntia ficus-indica cactus, which are used to make ice cream and jams sold in several local coffee shops. Some typical dessert cakes still made locally include: Cazuela Mohína: an almond-based cake made with brown sugar, sesame and aniseed. Torta de Alhajú: an almond cake wrapped in wafers and honey. Merengazo: a sponge cake topped with egg white meringue. Mar de Plata Restaurant, San Cristobal Beach (by the Mar de Plata Building), ☏ +34 958 63 30 79. == Drink == Almuñécar is not an area known for its wine production, but some beverages are produced in the area thanks to some crops that grow in the area's mild climate. The chirimoya liquor is specific to the area and one of its flagship products. You can also find the herbal liquor known as "Palo de Almuñécar," which is produced from a mixture of herbs and spices macerated in brandy. == Sleep == There are several 3-, 4- and 5-star hotels, campsites and rural lodgings (called "cortijos") in the area. Hotel Arrayanes Playa, Paseo de Cotobro Beach, 5, ☏ +34 958 63 20 74, info@arrayanesplaya.com. Hotel Bahia de Almuñecar, Avenida Juan Carlos I nº 9 (next to the bus station), ☏ +34 958 63 53 00, reservas@bahiahoteles.es. APAL Chinasol Almuñécar (Chinasol Apartments), Av. Del Mediterráneo, 51, ☏ +34 958 63 30 11, reservas@apalchinasol.com. Tourist apartments on the beachfront, on the promenade of San Cristóbal beach. == Connect == To Almuñécar can be reached by two roads. The coastal highway A-7 or through what is known as "Carretera de la Cabra" which is the old regional road A-4050 that connects the city of Granada with the coast. From the A-7, you have to take either of the two entrances to Almuñécar through the national road N-340, which provides access to the town either from the east or the west. == Go next == Malaga Granada