La Herradura: Coast, History and Water Sports

In the Bay of La Herradura, the Mediterranean provides a suitable setting for water sports such as diving. Playa La Herradura is a 2,050-metre-long and more than 40-metre-wide urban beach with dark sand and gravel.

Coast and Nature

The viewpoint in La Herradura is located at the eastern end of the protected Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo natural area and offers views of the rugged coast and its underwater world. In the wider regional area between Nerja and Almuñécar lies the protected Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo area, with steep cliffs, beaches and small coves, as well as an ecologically valuable strip of sea.

The Sendero Torre de Cerro Gordo is a short circular trail leading to the Cerro Gordo watchtower on the edge of the protected area. The descent along the Sendero Torre de Cerro Gordo offers panoramic views of the Bay of La Herradura.

Water and Maritime Activities

The Parque Subacuático Almuñécar-La Herradura comprises artificial reefs recreating sunken galleons and amphora workshops, as well as training areas for recreational diving. The Puerto Deportivo Marina del Este is located in the Punta de la Mona area of La Herradura and has 227 berths, as well as a dry dock with maintenance and repair services for boats.

There is a lifeguard and bathing supervision service at Playa La Herradura. Windsurf La Herradura offers beginner courses in windsurfing, dinghy sailing and catamaran sailing, as well as kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding excursions towards Maro/Cerro Gordo.

History and Townscape

The Iglesia de San José became the parish church of La Herradura in 1907 and is dedicated to the town's patron saint, San José. The Casco Antiguo de La Herradura contains more than 150 murals inspired by the town's local identity features.

The Casco Antiguo de La Herradura can be explored via narrow, paved streets decorated with ceramic flower boxes from Granada. Construction of the Castillo de La Herradura was commissioned in 1764 by order of Carlos III as a defensive fort, since the bay was threatened by raids and landings by pirates and privateers.

The Castillo de La Herradura houses the interpretation centre „1562, la Furia del Mar“, which commemorates the sinking of the Armada in 1562 in the bay of La Herradura. The Monumento a los Hombres del Mar is a bronze monument by Miguel Moreno in La Herradura and depicts the maritime tradition as well as the shipwreck of Philip II's Armada in the 16th century.

The festivals in honour of San José take place in La Herradura around 19 March; on 19 March, a procession passes through the historic centre and ends with a fireworks display.

Agriculture and Culture

The Herradura Coffee Farm in La Herradura offers guided tours of an agricultural finca where coffee and a wide variety of tropical fruits are grown. The Andrés Segovia Competition took place in La Herradura in 2025 for its 40th edition and is regarded there as an established event in the guitar world as well as a major cultural event.

To the main travel overview: Almuñécar.