Apal Chinasol

Chilled out Spanish coastal town...

by amapola66

"a regular haunt ..."

We have spent a few summers in Almunecar, with the odd long weekend and overnight stop here and there. The last two summers we visited over the August feria week which is great fun with a fantastic firework display.

Almunecar is a typical Spanish town on the coast of Granada (Costa Tropical) and is the most popular tourist destination for Granada's townies during the summer season. First time I stayed, I only had a few days off and desperately needed to get some sunshine and rest. I stayed at the Hotel Casablanca on the sea front and made the most of my few days chilling out, sampling my favourite Gazpacho soup and boquerones fritas, exploring the little shops and tapas bars of the old town and generally not watching the clock. I also encountered the most delicious pineapple ever !

Have since stayed many times with the Small People and and variety of friends and family in village houses in the old part of town (see my accommodation tips). We have a great time swimming, eating and getting 'flamenco'd out'. Just what's needed for a summer chillout

Almunecar is similar to Brighton in that it has some little old cobbled streets with small shops and boutiques in the center and is a working town. all year round. Life is more traditionally Spanish than other towns along the coast and therefore lived out on the street, with family members of all ages chatting while buying vread, veg and gathering in the tapas bars..

Along the 19 km of local coastline visitors can choose from a large variety of beaches and small coves, ranging from sand to mostly shingle and pebbles. It also offers good diving and exploration of caves and 'old wrecks'.

Almunecar also boasts its own micro climate, and therefore an abundance of fruit of good quality. 15 mins down the coast is Salobrena, where I spent the summer of 2005 and close to the popular Nerja in the other direction. It is a perfect spot for exploring the Granada region with it's mountain villages and seaside towns, not forgetting Granada itself, which is around an hours drive up the mountain.

Almunecar is not glamourous or glitzy- it is more a place to swim, eat, chill out and generally recharge the batteries. Totally relaxed abd unpretentious really.

"The simple pleasures in life..."

Almunecar has an excellent selection of chiringuitos - relaxed beach bars where you can have a very reasonably priced snack or a full blown meal without leaving the beach.

"Almunecar old town"

The old town, overlooked by the castle, is a mass of winding little cobbled streets housing small shops and bars to explore and where we usually rent a village house for the summer.

In the Parque de Majuelo, the charming and highly skilled guitar and cahon maker Antonio has his workshop (pictured with me in front). You should drop by and say hello if you visit Almunecar. There are also some ancient ruins fore those who are into that kind of thing. The park hosts concerts throughout the year including the very popular jazz festival.