The following article is taken from Eye on Spain, www.eyeonspain.com

Holidays in Almuñecar, Costa Tropical

Almunecar sits between the sea and the mountains forked between two rivers. Pockets of copper and silver mined by the Phoenicians, as early as 800 BC, helped the town prosper for many hundreds of years until the Romans laid heritage to this promising area, the vaults - Cueva de Siete Palacios, salting pits, an aqueduct, and some baths.

Almuñecar Marina del EsteLater the conquest of the Moors left us with an outstanding monument of the past with the famous 'El Castillo de San Miguel' which was then so named after the consequent Christian settlement that later built upon the castle. The carved histories of cultures grafted into the landscape is also gifted with fertile plantations of sense-provoking subtropical fruit such as avocados, bananas, guavas and the remainders of mulberry trees that once laid testimony to the Moorish silk trade. Granada and Malaga are the serving airports to this destination.

Almunecar and La Herradura offer up to 25 excellent beaches, all with distinctive personalities, ranging from secluded coves to shingle laden or tide-swept fine sand. The average annual temperatures start as low as 12° C during the winter months to a whopping high of 34° C in July. Many of these beaches are easily accessible by foot and for those beaches further away, local transport is well provided to get you there. Beach bars can keep you quenched and many offer freshly caught and grilled sardines.

Besides the grilled sardines, local restaurants and bars can also offer local delicacies such as pescado a la sal, embutidos and gambas al pil-pil, respectively fish, sausages and prawns all prepared in the Almunecar style. As well as sampling the local gourmet, other international food restaurants from Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa complement the unique dining experience that the cosmopolitan city of Almunecar has to offer. Many bars and restaurants stay open late and clubs open to offer the reveler a great evening's entertainment.

Boats are available for sailing, and some training can be found. These are supplied at the Marina del Este and on the beach of La Herradura. Yachts can be chartered with a captain. Dinghies and catamarans, can be rented too.

AlmuñecarWindsurfing is very popular in the summer with winds light to moderate. Other times of the year can experience gales, though these are infrequent, please check before departure and daily after you arrive. There are facilities for the beginner through to the more experienced and equipment you may need can be supplied at the shops provided there.

Diving is extremely popular due to the diverse beauty of the seabed. There are at least six diving schools. Cave, wreck and night dives are available. Courses are available for all levels.

Local accommodation is widely available, and due to its history, and its cosmopolitan way of life, the range and diversity is enormous. From humble hostels to four star hotels. There is also the diversity of the modern and the old, so rented accommodation can range from being a picture-past white-washed dwelling to a modern state of the art villa.

There's something for everyone in Almuñecar so we look forward to seeing you here.

 


Comments:

CommentDateUser
With great respect, the article doesn't fully do justice to Almunecar. The variety and quality of food is wonderful and the town itself has such a light and friendly atmosphere, the only surprise is that it's not been 'discovered' by more northern european visitors. Add, the exellent walking and other activities in the scenic mountains around the lovely inland village of Otivar which is 10 mins away, and there's no nicer place for a holiday or relocation anyway along the coast to Malaga.11/17/2010 12:14:00 PMJohn