Getaways from Playa Granada Just 30 minutes from Playa Granada, Calahonda hides the deepest and clearest waters of the entire Costa Tropical, leaning medieval towers, an 18th-century castle, and one of the best seabeds for diving in all of Andalusia. 📍 Location: Costa Tropical · Municipality of Motril 🚗 From Playa Granada: 30 km · 25-30 min via N-340 ⏱ Recommended time: Half day or full day 🏖️ Best time: All year round (Mediterranean climate) 🌊 Specialty: Diving, deep and crystal-clear water beaches A Name That Says It All There are places that keep their best secrets in their name
Calahonda comes from the Arabic qal'at al-honda , which literally means "the fortress of the deep cove," referring to the deep and sheltered waters of its bay
And it couldn't be described better
Located at the southernmost tip of the province of Granada, Calahonda is a town belonging to the municipality of Motril that is part of what is known as the Granada Tropical Coast , that stretch of Mediterranean coastline with an exceptional microclimate where avocados and mangoes grow by the sea
For those staying in Playa Granada, Calahonda is the perfect half-day getaway: just 30 kilometers along the coastal road, barely 25-30 minutes by car, you'll find a town with much more history and depth than its size suggests
Medieval towers sinking into the sand, an 18th-century castle built by order of Charles III, Blue Flag and Q for Quality certified beaches, and seabeds considered among the most spectacular in Andalusia
Calahonda is not a mass destination
It is a destination that you discover and guard jealously
From Playa Granada to Calahonda Calahonda is a surprisingly short distance from Playa Granada, making it the most accessible getaway on the entire Costa Tropical from our destination
Stretch Distance Estimated time Playa Granada → Calahonda 30 km 25-30 min Recommended route N-340 towards Almería (coastal road) Alternative A-7 (motorway) — 20 min 🛣️ The most beautiful route is along the coastal N-340: it passes by Cabo Sacratif , one of the most spectacular points on the Granada coast, with views of the Mediterranean at all times
These kilometers of coastal road are worth the trip in themselves. 🅿️ Parking: Calahonda has a parking area next to the promenade
During high season, it is recommended to arrive before 10 am
History at Beach Level: Calahonda's Heritage Calahonda is not just a beach
Its history as a strategic coastal enclave, exposed for centuries to attacks by Barbary pirates, has left a valuable historical-military heritage that today coexists with beach life in perfect harmony. 🏰 El Farillo de Calahonda (Punta del Llano Tower) Medieval Tower · 16th Century El Farillo is the most iconic and photogenic symbol of Calahonda, and one of the most unique monuments on the entire Costa Tropical
It is a defensive tower built in 1575 by the stonemason Juan Alonso, whose original mission was to defend the port of Calahonda from the west against continuous attacks by Barbary pirates
What makes El Farillo absolutely unique is its current state: the tower is sunken and overturned on the beach sand , acquiring an inclination that has made it one of the most striking visual elements of the entire Andalusian coast
This posture, between disaster and dignity, has earned it the popular name of "the leaning tower of Carchuna." From 1839, it was occupied by customs officers, who modified its structure to install a lighthouse that guided ships
Hence its popular name: "El Farillo" (the little lighthouse)
It is built of masonry, with a visible height of 6.70 meters, and inside it preserves a magnificent ashlar vault
Today, El Farillo is a common meeting point for painters and photographers who come to capture sunsets from the sand spit that connects the beaches of Carchuna and Calahonda. 📍 Free access all year round
Located on the border between Carchuna Beach and Calahonda Beach. 🏰 Carchuna Castle · "El Castillejo" 18th Century Fortress · BIC since 1993 Along the beach, a walk leads to the remains of Carchuna Castle , a coastal fortress built in the 18th century by order of King Charles III
The reason for its existence was very specific: the continuous and devastating pirate attacks that ravaged the Granada coast forced the Crown to build a permanent defense at this strategic point
Curiously, once the castle was finished, the attacks ceased
And under its protection, the towns of Carchuna and Calahonda as we know them were born
The enclosure has a rectangular plan, with the main gate facing north and guarded by two towers
On the opposite side is an artillery battery
Its sloped walls are topped with a high breastwork and embrasures
The interior housed rooms and barracks, a gunpowder magazine, a dungeon, a stable, and a chapel
It was declared a Site of Cultural Interest (BIC) in 1993
It has currently been restored and hosts exhibitions and cultural events. 🗼 Atalaya del Zambullón Watchtower · Stunning views At the exit of Calahonda towards Castell de Ferro, perched on a steep cliff, is the Atalaya del Zambullón , another of the coastal watchtowers that dotted the Granada coast to spot pirate ships on the horizon