Have you ever dreamed of what it would feel like to fly? Well now is your chance to have an experience like no other! Paragliding Spain on the Costa Tropical is the dream destination for many.
La Herradura and Cenes de la Vega are in the heart of Europe’s most southern flying sites for paragliding Spain! There is year round thermal activity, so it is an ideal location to give it a try. If you are wondering what thermal activity is, don’t worry. You can fly with an expert, so you can enjoy the moment with no experience.
The municipality of Almuñécar is a lovely place to live/visit, but in order to enjoy it, you have to get here. What are the airports closest to Almuñécar, La Herradura & Costa Tropical? If you’re flying from another country, or from within Spain, there are a number of airports to use. There are two main choices for airports (Malaga and Granada). We will also touch on other airports that can be used when traveling to Almuñécar.
The streets of La Herradura Old Town contain unique things to see around each corner on this walking route. Get out to Explore, Meander, and Discover!
See how many you can find, and make sure to take photos and share them on social media tagging…….. Almuñécar – La Herradura Ayuntamiento, Turismo Almuñécar-LaHerradura, Tenencia Alcaldía de La Herradura, #Almuñécar #Laherradura
La Herradura Old Town is one of the most picturesque and quaint areas on the Costa Tropical—a must-see for visitors looking to experience traditional Andalusian charm. This historic quarter invites you to wander through its winding cobbled streets, where whitewashed houses and colorful ceramic pots bursting with flowers create a postcard-perfect atmosphere full of light and life.
As you venture deeper into the La Herradura Old Town, you’ll be treated to an open-air gallery that blends traditional Andalusian elements with modern artistic touches. Recently added murals by Nesui celebrate the town’s heritage and offer a glimpse into its customs and way of life. These creative works breathe new energy into the area, helping to maintain its appeal throughout the year.
Begin your journey at the La Herradura Civic Center, located just steps away from the main Andrés Segovia promenade. Here you’ll find the first ceramic mural, featuring a poem inspired by the iconic watchtowers that overlook the Bay of La Herradura.
From there, stroll up Avenida Prieto Moreno until you reach the staircase next to the Centro Civico. Go up the stairs and continue across, passing Keng’s, and then go to the left. Follow this path down to the small plaza. On your left, you’ll discover a vibrant mural by street artist Nesui, depicting the historic “El Chorrillo” fountain. This is located just across the Calle Rambla del Esplinar from Bar El Salon.
El Chorrillo
Mural tribute to the past, the location of the ladies at the fountain “El Chorrillo”
From here, you may cross over the dry riverbed to the east and cross Rambla del Esplinar. Just as you pass Bar El Salon, briefly turn left and then immediately right onto Calle España. At the very next corner, you will find Calle Canalejas, home to the romantic “Kiss Me Corner,” one of the most photographed spots in the old quarter.
Kiss Me Corner
La Herradura’s Kiss Me Corner – “Bésame en esta esquina”.
Take a photo of your kiss and share it on social media. This photo hotspot is situated at the intersection of Calle Canalejas and Calle España.
Be sure to tag your photo with the following: @Almunecarayuntamiento
Continue uphill along Calle España, and you’ll reach Calle Granada. At the far end of this street, you’ll spot a ceramic mural honoring Don Eduardo Palomares Rubio—known as the “Master of La Herradura”—who lived and taught here between 1946 and 1952.
Master of La Herradura
Ceramic mural honoring Don Eduardo Palomares Rubio
Loop back along Calle Granada until you reach Cuesta de Peralta, where it meets Calle San Ramón. Here you’ll find “The Year of the Jurelillos” mural, portraying fishermen transporting their catch by mule to the market—a nostalgic scene from La Herradura’s past.
The Year of the Jurelillos
Mural, portraying fishermen transporting their catch by mule to the market—a nostalgic scene from La Herradura’s past, location.
Nearby, take a moment to read a heartfelt poem dedicated to the town and its flag, written by local poet Gregorio de Haro Garciolo.
Poem by Gregorio de Haro Garciolo
Local to La Herradura. Honoring the town and the flag.
Turn onto Calle Las Morenas, where you’ll pass the old school building and see another mural capturing a scene of four girls picking wildflowers in the fields—an ode to everyday life in La Herradura Old Town.
Four Girls in La Herradura picking flowers in the field
Mural tribute to the past, Four Girls in La Herradura picking flowers in the field location.
Your route continues down Escalera Alta, a staircase adorned with a mosaic tribute to the legendary guitarist Andrés Segovia, who once called La Herradura home. His legacy lives on not only in the renamed Paseo Andrés Segovia but also in the prestigious International Classical Guitar Competition held in his honor, recognized by the Junta de Andalucía for its cultural significance.
Andrés Segovia Guitar Tribute
This mural is a piece of art in tribute to the legendary guitarist Andrés Segovia, located on the Escalera Alta.
Ceramic Mural Monument to the Men of the Sea
At the base of the staircase, near the Church of San José, you’ll encounter a Memorial to the Men of the Sea. This ceramic mural commemorates the tragic naval disaster of 1562, when a storm sank 25 ships of King Philip II’s fleet in La Herradura Bay, claiming the lives of nearly 5,000 people.
To complete your walk through La Herradura Old Town, return to Calle Canalejas, where poetic verses embellish the facades of homes and shops. This area is not only known for its beauty but also its literary spirit, as showcased by the annual “Paulino Álvarez” International Poetry Prize. Don’t miss the poetic murals celebrating Andalusia and the Bay of La Herradura, especially the one found on Calle Príncipe, renowned for its artisanal shops and scenic stonework.
In essence, La Herradura Old Town is a treasure trove of history, art, and Andalusian charm—a place where every corner tells a story and every street invites you to slow down and soak in the beauty.
Monuments and Memorials
Additional things to discover as you explore La Herradura include monuments, memorials, mosaics, tributes, and more. Climb atop the giant bench on the beach or pose next to the Monument to the Shipwrecked Sailors.
Stonework – Mosaics
Poems, Plaques, Tributes
La Herradura Plazas
Plaza Centro Civico
Plaza Independencia
Almuñécar Urban Art: A Cultural Transformation through Murals, Mosaics, and More
Almuñécar, our charming traditional Spanish town on the Granada Coast, has some urban art to show off. We share with you photos to tempt you and the location for you to enjoy it in person. Read more on Almunecarinfo.com
Picture a sentinel in an old stone watchtower, perched high up on the cliffs of Punta de la Mona. He can see for miles out to sea and along the coastline, with mountainous lands jetting right into the sea. He is there protecting the castles and the nearby villages. There’s nothing but the rocky cliffs with the sea crashing below. He has means to communicate with the neighboring watchtowers along the coast, via light signals. This was the life of a watchman back in the 1700’s.
We are often asked about the location or availability of places of worship in the area. There are several places of worship in the area and not all of them are obvious as you walk past. We will share with you the names of each place of worship and they have also been pinned on a map. We don’t have the details of mass for all of them but feel free to search online based on their name.
Did you know there are speed cameras in Almuñécar? This shouldn’t be a big surprise, as there are road signs clearly marking the speed radar zone. That said, when you have beautiful scenery you are looking at or on the hunt for a parking space, you can easily miss those signs. Needless to say when you receive that multa (fine) in the mail, with a photo of your car, it doesn’t feel good. Of course the next reaction is denial and that it couldn’t have been you, as you don’t speed.
Social Media has taken over and some of us can’t live without it. It seems we have an urge to share with the world what a great time we are having or the beautiful place we are located. We’ve scoured Instagram, Twitter, & Facebook to share with you the popular social media spots in Almuñécar & La Herradura. Some are beautiful scenery, while others are a little quirky or fun. Don’t worry if you don’t know where they are located, we share a map with you too! How many locations can you visit and share a photo on social media?
While we aren’t aware of any dedicated vegetarian restaurants in La Herradura, there are many who are vegetarian friendly. If they don’t specifically have something on the menu, be sure to ask to alter their menu items. For example, even when you order a salad, you need to be careful, as many come with ham or tuna. Just specify when you order, as all of the La Herradura restaurants are very friendly.
Cowabunga! Surfboard showers have made their way onshore on the Almuñécar & La Herradura beaches!
Almuñécar & La Herradura has added a bit of fun and color to our beaches. After you’ve enjoyed your time at the beach, locate one of the many surfboard showers and enjoy rinsing off. You don’t need to worry about a wipeout with these surfboards, they are just there to get you clean. More showers have been added and they are fun to seek out.
You will find several fun surfboard-shaped showers installed on our beaches. Can you get a photo of them all? We share a few with you below in our gallery.
Surfboard shower gallery
Surfboard showers can be found on the following beaches:
Tesorillo, Velilla, Puerta del Mar, San Cristobal, La Herradura, Cotobro
Almuñécar Beaches – Almuñécar Playas
With over 19 km of coastline, the Almuñécar beaches (Almuñecar playas and Playa La Herradura) are for everyone. Of course, some of the most popular are those which are easily accessible and right in the urban area of town. There are also several which are secluded or offer small coves or cliffs, for a little variety. Many of the beaches are covered with stones or pebbles, there are even some with dark sand. We think these are some of the best beaches in Granada, playas de Almuñecar.
Almuñécar Tags
The Ayuntamiento wants your selfies, so please use the tags in your photos!
La Herradura Castle has quite the history and is now an interactive museum honoring the 1562 shipwreck in the La Herradura bay. We call it a castle, but it really was used for other purposes.
Batería Defensiva El Castillo de La Herradura
The monument was built in 1770 by Carlos III. This was all part of the coastal surveillance and defense strategy. This was about the same time the towers of Cerro Gordo and Punta de la Mona we also erected. From the castle or fortress, they were able to communicate with the two towers.
This was a way to give warning and defend against Berber pirates and movements on the sea, all to protect the local fisherman and farmers. As well as the first line of protection for the city of Granada. Fires were used as a deterrent during the night and smoke signals were used during the day.
(Battery defensive La Herradura Castle)
The fortress was used by the army until 1839, followed by the civil guard. In 20o5 the Almuñécar Auyuntamiento took over and commissioned the restoration. In 2011 this restoration was complete and in 2021 the inauguration of the Historical Museum “1562-La Furia del Mar” was opened.
Now the castle is an interactive museum and a cultural space that will keep alive the memory of the shipwreck that occurred off the coast of La Herradura in the year 1562, in which 25 galleys of the Armada sank, in which more than 5,000 people lost their lives, a naval disaster greater than that of the Titanic at the beginning of the 20th century.
Historical Museum 1562-La furia del mar – Photo Gallery
La Herradura Museum Hours
Location near Playa La Herradura
The Castle is about 1 block inland from Playa La Herradura, just to the western end of the village. You may also access off of the N340.
As you enter the town of La Herradura, you will notice a large bronze sculpture along the beach. This is the Monument to Shipwrecked Sailors. The deep bay of La Herradura hides the remains of 25 ships of the Spanish Navy, and more than five thousand sailors. The La Herradura naval disaster occurred on October 19, 1562, due to a very large storm.
As you meander the streets of La Herradura or stroll along the beach or paseo, eventually you will likely stop for some tapas. We’ll help you find scrumptious tapas in La Herradura. It may just seem like any regular restaurant from the outside, or it may feel more like a beach-side cafe, but either way, they are going to have some Spanish tapas for you! Just sit down and order a drink to let the magic happen of the Spanish lifestyle happen.
While we aren’t aware of any dedicated vegetarian restaurants in La Herradura, there are many that are vegetarian-friendly. If they don’t specifically have something on the menu, be sure to ask to alter their menu items. For example, even when you order a salad, you need to be careful, as many come with ham or tuna. Just specify when you order, as all of the La Herradura restaurants are very friendly.
