This page contains useful Garrucha tourist information for people intending to visit or holiday in Garrucha which is a small resort on the Costa Almeria coast of Spain.
In this tourist guide to Garrucha we help visitors who are planning a trip with useful and practical advice on many tourism related subjects such as car hire, accommodation, sightseeing, weather, where to go, where to stay, travel information and what to see and do in Garrucha.
To make the best of your visit and holiday we cover everything you need to know about Garrucha.
We also have photos, picture galleries, views, videos, maps and webcams of Garrucha so you can see what Garrucha has to offer you for your holiday.
Much of our information has been supplied by locals who know the town of Garrucha best. They have submitted their favourite restaurants and bars in Garrucha which many tourists would otherwise miss.
Garrucha is a popular tourist destination due to its superb sandy beaches which draw tourists from all over Europe as well as Spain. Despite its growing popularity for tourism Garrucha remains a small resort which still retains its charm as a lively fishing port on the Costa de Almeria.
Garrucha is located between Vera Playa and the much larger tourist resort of Mojacar.
Garrucha is family-friendly with most activities and things to do centering around the sandy beaches, sea and swimming which is great for children of all ages. Garrucha is very much a safe tourist resort with little crime.
As well as being a popular place for holidays and vacations, many people from all over Europe have bought property in Garrucha and have decided to live permanently in Garrucha, these people are known as expats with most expatriates originally coming from the United Kingdom.
What To Do and See in Garrucha
There are plenty of activities, attractions, trips and excursions you can do when you stay in Garrucha. Do however note that Garrucha is a very small and charming tourist resort so don’t expect much nightlife or opportunities for shopping. Despite this there are many things to do and see and places to visit and explore.
The harbour is the central point of the town because even today Garrucha is still a working fishing town and fishing accounts for a large part of Garrucha’s economy. The fishing boats set off just before dawn and return in the afternoon with their catch. You can buy fresh fish at the fish market by the quayside.
Garrucha is famous all over Spain because of the locally caught red prawns. No wonder Garrucha’s tourist slogan is ‘sun and seafood’!
The promenade is also one of Garrucha’s best attractions and landmarks. The promenade is over 2km long and is lined with palms. The evening brings the locals out for their traditional evening stroll. Behind the promenade are many of Garrucha’s best restaurants, cafes and bars.
One of Garrucha’s most famous sights and attractions are the Cuevas de Almanzora just inland from Garrucha which are caves of which there are hundreds etched into the cliff-face on the edge of the town. Many of these caves are used as dwellings which are permanently inhabited.
Also close to Garrucha and definitely worth a trip out if you are on holiday with your family is the Parque Acuatico Vera water park. It is a great fun day out.
Consider also day trips to the village of Turre, a quaint market town just 5km inland and the livelier tourist resort of Mojacar also with many good beaches and sights.
A must-do sight is the Mini-Hollywood theme park in the Tabernas desert (approx. 45 minutes drive) where legendary Western films were shot such as The Good the Bad and the Ugly, Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade and For a Few Dollars More starring Clint Eastwood. The sets used are still standing.
The town of Vera is to the north and the actual town of Vera is inland from the coast but it also has beaches known as Vera Playas. Go visit the Vera Bull Ring which is a historical bull fighting ring which still has fights. You can have a guided tour from ex-matador who describes in vivid details the emotions and atmosphere of the bull fights.
For excursions further afield consider a two-hour drive to the south of Garrucha to the famous Moorish city of Granada with the world famous Alhambra Palace. You can also ski at the Sierra Nevada slopes which overlook Granada.
History
Garrucha was founded in the early 15th century when a group of fishermen built themselves a defensive tower overlooking the sea. This tower was destroyed in 1518 by an earthquake.
Famous buildings, landmarks and tourist attractions in the old town of Garrucha include the Hermitage de la Virgen del Carmen (the Patron Saint of Garrucha) and the San Joaquin Parish Church. Watching over the coastline is the Jesus Nazareno Castle, built by Carlos III.
Beaches
Garrucha has around 5 miles (8 kilometers) of sandy beaches (playas) which border the Mediteranean Sea. These are blue flag beaches which mean they meet the highest European Union quality standards.
The beach opposite the Garrucha town centre is the only blue flag town beach in Europe. Other Garrucha beaches are La Bolaga, Palomares, Villaricos, Cala del Hortelano, Cal Cristal, Cala de las Conchas, Cala Verde and Puerto del Ray.
There are plenty of sports and activities on the beach such as beach football, volleyball, kite flying and kite surfing, as well as water sports such as snorkelling, scuba diving, sailing and windsurfing. The beach facilities and services are good.
Eating Out/Restaurants
There are plenty of good restaurants and bars in Garrucha which as you would expect with Garrucha being an active fishing port, seafood dishes are plentiful – and delicious! Garrucha is especially famous for its locally caught large red prawns. Dining out and eating out is a pleasure so look for self-catering accommodation for your holiday to Garrucha so you can indulge in the local cuisine.
Weather and Climate
The Costa Almeria is known to be the hottest, driest region of Spain with a desert-like climate. This means the weather in Garrucha is likely to be ideal for a holiday as there is little chance of rainfall and almost guaranteed sunshine and blue skies.
However many from Northern Europe will find it too hot in the peak summer months of July and August as temperatures often hit 40 degrees Celsius.
Where To Stay – Accommodation
The local tourist office offers a service where they can help you find accommodation in Garrucha. There are few hotels, some apartments for rent, some villas for rent but generally there is little choice. We are not aware of any pensions, apart-hotels or hostels. For camping or official camping sites try El Cantal de Mojacar, telephone 950478204.
For hotels try the Hotel Residencial Puerto Playa which is located directly on the beach of Garrucha or the two-star Hotel Tikar.
Markets
On Friday mornings the weekly market in Garrucha is held from about 9am until lunchtime (1pm approx.). You can buy everything from fruit, vegetables, leather goods and clothing. There are also markets at Vera on Saturdays and Mojacar Pueblo on Wedesdays.
Real Estate Agents
Whether you’re looking for a place to rent or to stay at permanently, you can take advantage of the services from the real estate agents in Garrucha who are more than willing to help you in finding your ideal residence.
You can contact ZAR 2010 Real Estate Agency (ZAR 2010 Real Estate Agency in Garrucha, Tel. +34 950 617 373) and Mar Y Viviendas Tel. +34 607 364 894).
Moving to and Living in Garrucha
A small number of expatriates from around Europe have made Garrcuah their permanent home or at least a holiday home for much of the year.
We would love to hear your stories of how your move to Garrucha went and we welcome your contributions – perhaps you can recommend some bars and restaurants as well as other local tips that would help tourists and visitors.
Golf
Golf lovers will find plenty of golf courses close to Garrucha with several golf clubs within a short drive of Garrucha. The nearest golf course to the town of Garrucha is Club Marina Golf Mojacar which is only 2 km away on the coastal road between Mojacar and Garrucha close to the large Urbanizacion Marina del Torre and the excellent Desert Springs Golf Course is 10 km away from Garrucha near the town of Cuevas del Almonzara. This was opened in 2000 and in keeping with the climate of Almeria it is a actually a desert-style golf course. Also inland just off the A7 autoroute is the Poligono Campo de Golf Valle Este Golf Resort 6 km away. Further south of Mojacar there is the Cortijo Grande Golf Resort.
Fiestas
The main fiesta in Garrucha is held in the middle of August. This fiesta (festival) is four days and nights of festivities including music events, dancing, fireworks and much eating and drinking. Another important event and celebration in Garrucha is the fiesta of the Virgen del Carmen on the 16th of July. A colourful procession includes the statue of the Virgin (she is the Patron Saint of Garrucha) which is carried through Garrucha by local fishermen then placed on a boat, blessed and sailed out to sea.
Getting To Garrucha
Located in the province of Almeria, Garrucha is situated around 30 miles (50km) east of Almeria, and about 3 miles (5km) north of Mojacar on the ALP-118 road. There are regular buses between Garrucha and Mojacar.
The nearest airport is Almeria airport which now has many low-cost airlines such as Ryanair flying there. Almeria airport is just 45 minutes drive away. From here you can arrange airport transfers from Almeria airport to Garrucha.
In Garrucha itself there are plenty of local taxis. Other airports to consider would be Murcia San Javier 90 minutes drive away to the north and Alicante airport and Granada airport both 2 hours drive away.
For sat navigation use these co-ordinates: 37°11′N 1°49′W
Car Hire
There are some local car hire companies in the town of Garrucha but you can hire a car from Almeria airport and then you can use your car to explore the area around Garrucha. Remember that Garrucha is a small town and tourist resort so you may be bored after a few days of sunbathing and swimming on the beaches, car rental will enable you to vary your day’s activities.
For an instant car hire quote for Garrucha try our unique price comparison seach engine which searches and compares the cheapest car hire rental rates from national and local car hire companies in the Garrucha area.
Garrucha Tourist Office
Contact details for Garrucha’s official tourist information office are as follows:
Address: Paseo del Malecón 42, 04630, Garrucha (Almería).
Telephone: +34 950 132 783
Email: turismo@garrucha.info
Website: www.garrucha.es
Telephone: +34 950 132 783. Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9am – 2pm.
The tourist centre office in Garrucha can help you will local information such as maps, guides, brochures, help with accommodation and they can answer any questions you have about dates for festivals, fiestas, weather information, transport and transfers to Garrucha.
The Ayuntamiento (Town) de Garrucha website: www.garrucha.es
Page Summary – This page contains unique content about the beach resort of Garrucha, a popular tourist destination on the Costa Almeria coast of Spain. Please help us to make this the number one tourist resource for Garrucha by adding any comments, reviews, ratings and feedback on any aspect of Garrucha that you know about. We also welcome your photos, pictures and videos of Garrucha for posting on our website.
Most Relevant Related Pages:
Leave a Reply