IF YOU want an affordable off-season beach holiday on the Costa Tropical of Granada region, look no further than Playa San Cristóbal in Almuñécar. This gem of a resort offers a long beach, a wealth of seafood restaurants (as well as an Asian restaurant), moody sunsets, and the city’s top-rated hotel.
Playa San Cristóbal is located to the west of the Castillo de San Miguel (castle), which overlooks the Almuñécar coastline, and the Peñones de San Cristobal (rocky outcrop). The castle dates to the 8th century, when the Moors ruled the Iberian Peninsula. It served as a defensive stronghold against invasions from land and sea. Over the centuries, the castle underwent various renovations and changes of ownership, reflecting the complex history of the region.
A beautiful place (especially when viewed from above), Playa San Cristóbal has long been a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. Its attracts people with its expansive sands, clear waters, and picturesque surroundings. It is definitely the place to use the ‘panoramic’ mode on your smartphone. Or to have a ‘sundowner’ in a ‘chiringuito’ (beach bar).
Playa San Cristóbal offers a range of amenities and activities, including water sports, beach bars, and restaurants serving fresh seafood. There are various hotels along the seafront – the two most prominent being Helios (top rated) and the Hotel Ibersol Almuñécar Beach & Spa, which is large and with many facilities for guests.
Equidistant between Málaga and Granada, Almuñécar is easily accessible via the A7 motorway and the N-340 national road.
As well as its beaches, the city is renowned for its enormous car boot sale, held in the municipal parking every Sunday morning, and the popular Aqua Tropic waterpark, which is open during the summer months.
- We stayed in the Helios Hotel, which is the top-rated hotel in Almuñécar and provides all-inclusive buffet half and full-board options, rooms with balconies, and four heated pools that can be used free-of-charge even in low season.