The Guide to Almuñecar & La Herradura In English
The second week of August is the time for the Almuñécar Feria and Fiestas Virgen de la Antigua (The Fair). It is time for celebrations in honor of the town’s patron saint, Virgen de la Antigua. It’s nearly a week full of food, drinks, music, carnival rides, and a procession. It all ends on August 15th with the biggest night in Almuñécar ‘s list of annual festivals and the most spectacular fireworks display!
Food, drinks, carnival rides, procession, boats and fireworks are what you will get when you celebrate the fiestas Virgen del Carmen Almuñécar & La Herradura! This usually includes 3-4 days of activities and fun at the western end of San Cristobal Beach. There are also a few days of festivities in La Herradura. Details for each celebration are listed below.
Each night is full of people gathering at the makeshift bar on the paseo, as well as kids enjoying the small carnival, plus you can’t go wrong with churros and waffles at Elvira’s open late! Then on July 16, it’s the day of Virgen del Carmen, patron saint of fishermen and sailors. The brotherhood will take her and set sail the streets in a procession and then to the waters to bless her in the midst of a festive atmosphere.
Almuñécar is a wonderful place to live and to visit, but don’t be afraid to go a little off of the beaten track and explore the nearby mountains, countryside and the Granada hills. Within just an hour of Almuñécar there is so much to do and see. We have decided to create a 3-day itinerary to help you to get out and explore! Each stop on the route can also be done as a day trip from Almuñécar, but why not take your time and soak it all in? Of course this will be flexible for you to add or remove days, so it is just a guide for you to follow and customize as you like.
When it comes to learning Spanish, we think it is helpful to at least have your basic manners and counting under your belt before you arrive. There are very few locals in town who speak English fluently, so do your best to speak the local language when you can. Once you arrive, there will be local options for Spanish language classes, but the options below can be done before or after you arrive.
Here are the tools we have used and recommend. Everyone has a different learning style, so that is why we are recommending a variety. Learning Spanish can be fun at any age.
It is the night market! If you are out walking the paseo along San Cristóbal Beach, you will be in for a treat to browse the booths each summer.
This is our summer night market and a perfect reason to get out and enjoy the great weather.
If boating is your thing, then you must visit Marina del Este La Herradura. The Marina is nestled in a protected cove, between Almuñécar and La Herradura, with a perfectly protected situation protected by natural rock and a manmade wall. La Herradura is the closest pueblo to the Marina, just over the natural headland called Punta de la Mona. This area is full of summer fun with many activities year-round as well, including many beaches, coves, hiking trails, and more. It is the perfect getaway for everyone.
Escape to a slightly bigger city and experience a day trip from Almuñécar with many things to do in Motril, Spain. Motril is the second-largest city in the Granada Province, with a population exceeding 60,000. Yes, this isn’t a big city by most standards, but it is the biggest on the Costa Tropical. Many of us know it as the place to take care of our paperwork as foreigners, but there is so much more to the city. We want to share with you some of the things to do in Motril, you can do as a day trip or combine with your trip to the Foreigner’s office.
We all have different learning styles and preferences when learning something new. It is no different when you want to study Spanish. Some of us prefer one-to-one Spanish lessons and some prefer group Spanish classes. While some like to get into the details of grammar, others prefer just to listen, learn and chat. Is it best to have intensive Spanish lessons, occasional lessons, play games or just meet up with friends once a week? Only you know what you need and which will work best for you and perhaps it is a combination of them all!
The Holiday calendar below provides the days and dates for La Herradura and Almuñécar public holidays (local & national), ferias, fiestas, and additional public school days off.
If you are in Costa Tropical during June, you may hear people speaking of Fiesta de San Juan or Noche de San Juan. You likely assumed it was some sort of celebration, but it may also leave you with several questions. Who is San Juan? What is the fiesta de San Juan in celebration of? Why do some people say it is June 23rd and others say it is June 24th? Let us help you figure it all out!
