The coast of the province of Granada, also known as the Tropical Coast, is famous for its fantastic climate, where the sun shines uninterruptedly and, in addition, it has amazing beaches. You can imagine relaxing here and spending a dream holiday on the Tropical Coast, right?
Once you set foot on the Tropical Coast, you will fall completely in love with its black pebble sand, as well as its calm and transparent waters. This is just a taste of what you will discover next. Gradually you will understand why we have included the following as the ten best beaches in Granada!
1. Playa del Peñón de Salobreña (Salobreña)
Salobrena. Photo by Tilo 2006
Salobreña is a well-known tourist destination located in the province of Granada. Its unique medieval structure is made up of alleys and small white houses, as well as an imposing castle and spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, not forgetting its wide and well-equipped beaches. All this makes this small village the ideal place to spend your vacation. The most renowned beach is undoubtedly the Playa del Peñón de Salobreña, with its 1850 meters of coarse sand. Its blue and transparent waters gently caress the Peñón, a small island connected to the beach through a strip of land.
The beach offers some services, among which the surveillance service and facilitated access for people with reduced mobility stand out.
2. Playa de Calahonda (Motril)
Calahonda (Motril, Granada). Photo by Lugares a Descubrir
The 1200 meters of this urban beach are characterized by its dark and coarse sand, while its blue, crystalline and calm waters have recently won the Blue Flag, an award given by the FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education). Thanks to the large number of facilities available (toilets, showers, walkways, cleaning, surveillance and rescue, as well as a Red Cross cabin and access for people with reduced mobility), the beach has a very high occupancy rate, especially during the summer months.
The charm of the promenade, the hotels and beach bars, together with more than 100 parking spaces and the bus stop close to the beach, will make you like this place even more. Now you know why this beach is in this selection of the best beaches in Granada.
3. Playa de Cantarriján (Almuñecar)
Cantarriján. Photo by Ana C.
This small beach (measuring only 380 meters in length) is located in the Natural Park of Maro-Cerro Gordo, approximately 79 km from the city of Granada. Its sand is fine and coarse, while its waters are crystal clear and serene, so much so that diving is one of the main activities, also thanks to the prohibition of fishing.
The beach is quite frequented, despite not having easy access. You can get there by car (there are more than 50 parking spaces), by bus (there is a transport service from the beach car park) or by boat. In this place, where nudists and non-nudists coexist peacefully, you can enjoy breathtaking sunsets.
Playa de Cantarriján is equipped with numerous facilities and services (showers, toilets, sand and water cleaning service, walkways, and deckchair rental service), as well as bars and beach bars.
4. Playa de la Herradura (Almuñecar)
la Herradura. Photo by betanya
This 2050-meter long beach is located at the foot of the Sierra de Almijara, 7 km from the city of Almuñecar. Its dark sand is mixed with gravel in an environment full of vegetation. The occupancy rate is medium to high, as it is an urban beach. The services (surveillance service, local police, rescue service) and facilities it offers (deckchair and parasol rental service, showers, toilets, cleaning service, walkways, children’s areas, and some beach bars) make it a must-visit place if you are on vacation in Granada.
This place offers you amazing views as you walk along the promenade, in addition to access for people with reduced mobility, and a parking area. On the other hand, the nearby bus stop coincides with the Marina del Este Sports Port, a sports center where you can practice diving.
Last but not least, this area and its seabed have been awarded the Q for Tourist Quality (an award that marks quality in the tourism sector), mainly thanks to the protection of endangered species and the coral reef.
5. Playa de la Joya (Motril)
Playa de la Joya. Photo by jesusspider
The 600 meters of sand and gravel of the small La Joya cove are surrounded by a cliff and rocks that protect them. The difficulty of access (you have to go down a staircase of 200 steps) and the lack of facilities and services are the main features of this virgin beach, where visitors practice naturism.
6. Playa La Rijana (Castell de Ferro)
La Rijana. Photo by sanllur
This cove, 250 meters long, is 20 km from Motril. La Rijana beach is the ideal place for snorkeling or diving, as its waters are completely transparent and calm, and it is not very well known and has no infrastructures. And that’s exactly why this area is so loved by locals! The only existing service is a small beach bar, where you can enjoy a tasty pescaito frito, or drink a cool cocktail while your eyes are filled with the stunning views of this small virgin bay.
7. Playa de La Guardia (Salobreña)
Salobreña. Photo by Dirk Hartung
Its 1100 meters of dark sand are one of the main characteristics of this peaceful yet charming beach. However, what stands out most are the picturesque cabins, built by neighbors who want to spend a day relaxing on the beach.
In addition, there is the possibility that you can have a barbecue or cook delicious skewers. The beach offers a large number of facilities, among which the following stand out: supervision and rescue services, parking, and kayak rental service.
8. Playa de San Cristóbal (Almuñecar)
This dark sand beach called La China, stretches for 1100 meters along the urbanized area of Almuñecar. Its coasts are caressed by the gentle waves of crystal clear waters, surrounded by lush vegetation. It is usually very busy and offers various facilities such as surveillance and rescue services, local police, showers, toilets, deckchair and parasol rental service, cleaning service, trash cans, children’s areas, and some beach bars, where you can taste delicious pescaitos fritos.
9. Playa de El Ruso (Albuñol)
El Ruso nudist beach. Photo by © Rafael Montes
Formerly called Lance Nuevo, this 200-meter long beach owes its new name to a Soviet soldier, who fled the regime to this cove in 1921. The reason for its low occupancy rate is the complete lack of facilities, as well as the difficulty of reaching it. If you want to spend the day at this beach, you can go by boat, or on foot, but you will have to descend a steep path.
However, this beach has warm and dark sand, calm and crystal clear waters that are ideal if you feel like taking a bath, as its shores are very safe.
10. Playa El Cambrón (Salobreña)
The name of this beach, only 86 meters long, refers to the urbanized area of Torre del Cambrón. In this gravel beach, you will not find any facilities or promenade, and the nearest parking and bus stop are 2 km away. That’s why it’s advisable to have the phone number of the nearest Red Cross post (+34 958 82 59 60). If you want to visit the emblematic city of Granada, you should know that it is more than 60 km away.
Source: Raraldays
