Villas in Costa Tropical

Almuñécar suits a town base by the sea, La Herradura suits snorkellers and a sheltered bay, and Salobreña suits a quieter white town. The beaches on the Costa Tropical are mostly grey sand and shingle rather than golden sand. Granada is about an hour inland, Málaga airport about an hour west, and most villas sit on steep hillsides, so hire a car.

Where

Villas: 60
From, per week: £353
Cheapest month: November
Nearest airports: Málaga is the main airport, around an hour from La Herradura and Almuñécar and a little longer to Motril. Flights from London take around two and three quarter hours. Granada airport is about an hour from the coast but has few UK flights, and Almería is closer to two hours away.

Where to stay in Costa Tropical

Almuñécar (central Costa Tropical)

Most of our Costa Tropical villas are in and around Almuñécar, a working Spanish town rather than a purpose-built resort. The Castillo de San Miguel sits on the hill above the old town, and the Peñón del Santo rock splits the two main beaches, San Cristóbal and Puerta del Mar. Many villas are on the slopes behind, among avocado and custard apple orchards, so expect a steep drive home. Málaga airport is around an hour away.

Best for: A year-round Spanish town with beaches, shops and restaurants on foot

Not for you if: You want soft golden sand: the town beaches are grey sand and pebbles, and busy with Spanish families in August.

La Herradura and Marina del Este (west)

La Herradura is a horseshoe-shaped bay between two headlands, Cerro Gordo and Punta de la Mona, a few minutes west of Almuñécar. The water is sheltered, with dive centres and kayak hire along the seafront and a small marina at Marina del Este below the Punta de la Mona. Cerro Gordo is a protected stretch of cliffs with coves underneath. Málaga airport is around 50 minutes away on the A-7 motorway.

Best for: Snorkelling, diving and kayaking in a sheltered bay

Not for you if: You want long beach walks: the bay is closed in by headlands and the beach is coarse sand and shingle.

Salobreña

Salobreña's white houses climb a rock to a Moorish castle, with sugar cane and fruit fields on the flat land around it. The beaches are long and open, divided by El Peñón, a rock with beach restaurants on either side. It is smaller and quieter than Almuñécar, about 15 minutes east of it, and Granada is around an hour inland on the A-44.

Best for: A white hilltop town with long open beaches below

Not for you if: You want to stroll back from the beach in the evening: the old town is a steep climb up from the sea.

Motril and Playa Granada

Motril is the largest town on this coast, with the port, the big shops and a museum on the sugar cane that once covered the plain. Playa Granada, to the west, has a long beach and the Los Moriscos golf course, and Playa Poniente has a promenade lined with beach bars. The A-44 motorway climbs from here to Granada in under an hour, which makes the Alhambra an easy day trip.

Best for: Golf, big supermarkets and the quickest run to Granada

Not for you if: You want a pretty town to wander: Motril is a port and market town, and its villas are spread along the coast.

Jete and Sorvilán (inland villages)

We have just a couple of houses inland. Jete is a small village in the Río Verde valley, about ten minutes up from Almuñécar, among orchards of mango, avocado and custard apple. Sorvilán is further east in the Contraviesa hills, an area of almond trees and small vineyards, on winding roads above the quiet coves around La Mamola. Both suit people who are happy to drive down to the coast each day.

Best for: Quiet countryside with sea views and cooler evenings

Not for you if: You want to walk to a beach or a bar: you will be driving for almost everything.

When to go to Costa Tropical

The Costa Tropical takes its name from its mild climate: the Sierra Nevada shelters the coast, and mangoes and custard apples grow on the terraces. May, June and September are the best months for swimming. July and August are hot, and the beaches fill with Spanish families, especially around the mid-August holiday. Winters are mild enough for walking and trips to Granada, though the sea is cold and some beach bars close. The Sierra Nevada ski area is around two hours from the coast in winter.