Carchuna is a coastal village of just over two thousand people in the municipality of Motril, in the province of Granada, in Andalusia. It lies on the Costa Tropical, named for its subtropical climate: sheltered to the north by the Sierra Nevada, it enjoys mild winters and about 320 days of sun a year.
History
The village grew in the 20th century on the plain known as Llanos de Carchuna, where small farmers settled, some from the Alpujarras. The area had long been exposed to pirate raids, as the coastal towers recall. During the Civil War, in 1938, a famous action took place here: the freeing of hundreds of prisoners from Carchuna castle by a Republican commando.
What to see
- Carchuna beach, long and uncrowded, of dark sand and pebbles, with clear water.
- Cabo Sacratif lighthouse, on a headland, with coastal views.
- Carchuna castle and the 18th-century coastal towers.
- The greenhouses and orchards of avocado, mango, cherimoya and other tropical fruit, which grow here thanks to a climate unique in Europe.
Activities
The sea off Carchuna and nearby Calahonda is good for diving and snorkelling, with rocky seabeds full of life. Fishing, kayaking and coastal cycling are also popular.
Around Carchuna
- Calahonda and Castell de Ferro, nearby seaside villages.
- Salobreña, with its Arab castle on the crag.
- Almuñécar, with its botanical park and San Miguel castle.
- The Alpujarras, white villages on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada.
- Granada and the Alhambra, about an hour's drive.
Getting there
Carchuna is about 10 km from central Motril, on the coast road towards Almería. The nearest airport is Granada, about 80 km away; Málaga's is about 110 km.