The Costa Tropical spans the coastline of the province of Granada in Andalucia, southern Spain. Sometimes known as Costa Granada,
the region stretches from La Herradura in the southwest of the region up to Castillo de Banos on the border with Almeria.
Made up of mainly of land set aside for agriculture, and arguably the most stunning of all the Spanish regions, the Costa Tropical
boasts stunning mountain ranges, including the Sierra Nevada, which fall toward the sea making the coastline quite rugged and dramatic. Due to this
rugged terrain, this particular Costa is relatively unpopulated when comparing it to the other Spanish regions. It is noted for the small towns and
villages which are dotted around the landscape whilst the coast road which passes through the region is reminiscent of the Pacific Coast highway in
California, USA.
The region of the Costa Tropical is generally more less dry than the neighbouring Costas due to the nearby Sierra Nevada range of
mountains which tend to shelter the region from the winds and leading to a slightly higher rainfall. A stable micro-climate is formed here which leads
to mild winters and cooler summers compared to the inland areas just over the mountains.
The main towns within the Costa Tropical region include Almunecar and Motril which are a tourist destination and an agricultural / manufacturing
centre respectively. Almunecar is extremely popular as a holiday destination for many Spaniards during the summer in contrast to the northern European
holiday makers who arrive here all year round. As with many other coastal Spanish towns, Almunecar has not escaped the builders and has recently
undergone a surge in construction to satisfy the demands of foreign property investors.
With its generally smaller towns and villages and comparatively less development, it is often said that the Costa Tropical is more traditional than
the other nearby Costas such as the Costa del Sol, and as such the cost of living here is much less.
