Have you ever heard of the beaches of Granada? No? Well, that’s normal, seeing as the city of the Alhambra (discover it in the article what to see in Granada) is located almost 50 miles from the sea, and is further shielded by the peaks of the Sierra Nevada. In fact, not many people know that the beaches of the Costa Tropical (which we have already mentioned in our itinerary from Malaga to Almería) are not an extension of the Costa del Sol – in the province of Malaga – but belong to a short stretch of coastline in the province of Granada, which, in Andalusia, turns out to be the provincial capital furthest from its own beaches.
This stretch of coast – for better or worse, much like certain beaches in Huelva – is largely ignored by mass tourism, yet before the anonymous stretch of coastline that runs from Motríl to Almería, there are some very beautiful and fairly popular beaches worth visiting on our Andalusia road trip. Let’s discover them together.
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The Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo
After the beaches of Nerja, straddling the provinces of Malaga and Granada, there is a wonderful nature reserve, the Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo, better known as Maro, whose landscape is characterised by a series of splendid coves enclosed between imposing cliffs dropping sheer into the sea, some reaching a height difference of 250 m. Not all the beaches in this area are easy to reach, and your sat navs may go mad trying to find them.
We point you to the Calas di Torre del Pino, around 4.3 miles from the centre of Nerja, and the stunning, unspoilt Playa de Cala del Cañuelo, 2.5 miles further on from the coves: the turn-off to the beach is at a roundabout, but you’ll find more details in our article dedicated to the Nerja beaches and the surrounding area.
Find all available accommodation in Maro
The first seaside town after the Acantilados is La Herradura, a small and genuine seaside resort that stands out for its narrow promenade overlooking a gulf protected by two cliffs. In addition to the beach in the centre of town, there is a much lovelier one on the eastern side of the gulf, beyond the Faro de La Herradura: Marina Playa, served by a car park near the small harbour.
Find all available accommodation in La Herradura
The beaches of Almuñécar: the jewel in the crown of the Costa Tropical
The setting in which the famous beaches of Almuñécar are set is very different from those described so far: here we are in a moderately urbanised town, rich in history and culture, starting with its ancient Phoenician origins. The sea here is breathtakingly beautiful, and there is no shortage of facilities and hotel accommodation able to welcome the large seaside tourism trade. The seafronts of San Cristobál and Puerta del Mar (with their respective beaches) may bring to mind a much more refined version of the beaches of Málaga and the province. The two stretches of shore are separated by the Peñones de San Cristobál: in our opinion, the short stretch of beach beneath the rocky outcrop is the best place to settle for half a day.
In the Velilla-Taramay area, the beach runs on continuously for around 1.2 miles, and along the seafront there are delightful churrerías and chiringuitos, in the shade of the palm trees.
All available accommodation in Almuñécar
The beaches of Salobreña, a white village by the sea in Granada
The sea of Granada also laps the short stretch of coast opposite Salobreña, a distinctive whitewashed village caressed by the sea breeze. On the seafront of the town, after a visit to the Alcazaba, you can enjoy a lovely swim at the peaceful Playa de la Guardia, split in two by Salobreña’s Peñón (see photo) and 1.2 miles from the town centre. Given the city’s culinary reputation, I’d recommend not missing out on a fine seafood dinner in one of the excellent restaurants along the seafront.
Find all available accommodation in Salobreña
The beaches of Motríl
Motril, a port and commercial hub of great importance to nearby Granada, is not the sort of city that people feel compelled to visit, but its beaches and distinctive natural setting make it a much-loved destination for Granadans on holiday: the Sierra Nevada rises in the distance, behind those who choose to stretch out on the sun loungers of Motril’s two main beaches: Playa Granada and Playa Poniente.
In summer, the beach life at these two stretches of coast becomes lively and a bit chaotic, and people fill the bars and chiringuitos along the seafront. However, if you are not satisfied with these beaches, essentially set within an urbanised setting, you could venture into the surroundings of Motríl, in search of a few lovely surprises in the final stretch of the coast of Granada…
The surroundings of Motríl
Andalusians (and tourists with a more discerning palate) who are not satisfied with the noisy seaside life on the beaches of Motríl head as far as Playa de Calahonda (in Calahonda), a corner of paradise where you are not forced to contend with the endless stretches of sheds devoted to plasticulture, sadly typical of this area. The turquoise waters of Calahonda are framed by the splendid outline of Punta de Cerro-Gordo, the first in a series of acantilados that follow one another along this stretch of coast.
A road we recommend you take because, after just a 1.2 miles, you will have the chance to encounter what is considered the most beautiful beach on the whole Costa Tropical: Playa de la Rijana, a secret gem tucked away between the cliffs that will leave you with your jaw on the floor. The village of La Rijana is located about 14.3 miles from Motríl: you will need to follow the scenic road clinging to the coastline, towards Castell de Ferro. Near the beach there is a car park (on the left if you are coming from Nerja), but you will also find plenty of cars along the road. To reach the beach, head for the tunnel opening at the end of the road that starts from the car park.
This is the last of the Granada beaches to see, before the long stretch of coastline approaching Almería, held hostage by structures dedicated to intensive agricultural production: the first beaches worth noting after this location will be the beaches of Almería, by the Cabo de Gata Natural Park.
