Flights

Málaga–Costa del Sol (AGP) is the natural airport: 85 km west, an hour by car on the A-7, with direct flights all year from the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia, Germany and most of Europe. Granada (GRX) is 90 km away over the mountains and has fewer routes, mostly domestic plus a few European. Almería (LEI) is 130 km east. From Málaga the coast eastward is usually quicker than getting to Marbella, despite the distance.

From the airport by coach

ALSA runs a direct coach from Málaga airport (terminal 3, the bus stop outside arrivals) to Almuñécar – one departure a day all year, in the afternoon, with more services in summer. The journey takes an hour and three-quarters and the ticket costs around ten euros. In the other direction the coach leaves Almuñécar in the morning. Book at alsa.com – it fills up. The alternative is the bus or train into Málaga bus station and a change to one of the many ALSA coaches Málaga–Nerja–Almuñécar–Motril–Almería.

Airport → Almuñécar
ALSA direct, about 1 h 45 min, about €10
Málaga bus station → Almuñécar
ALSA, 10–15 a day, 1 h 30 min–2 h
Granada → Almuñécar
ALSA, about 10 a day, 1 h 15 min–1 h 45 min
Taxi from Málaga airport
about €110–130, 1 h

Hire car and driving

A hire car at the airport is most convenient if you are staying outside the centre. From Málaga: A-7/E-15 east past Nerja – the motorway is toll-free and the tunnels many. From Granada: A-44 south towards Motril and then the A-7 west, 1 h 15 min; or the winding but beautiful old road over the mountains via Otívar (A-4050), which takes longer. Driving from the UK is about 2,300 km via France – two long days.

In Almuñécar the streets are narrow and parking a sport. Paid street parking (blue zone) in the centre, car parks under the Paseo del Altillo and at Avenida de Europa, and free parking a little way up the valley. La Herradura has big free car parks on the edge of the village. The beaches towards Cantarriján and Cerro Gordo have few spaces – go early.

Coaches along the coast

The bus station is on Avenida Juan Carlos I, a few hundred metres from the beach. ALSA runs the whole coast: west to La Herradura, Nerja, Torrox and Málaga; east to Salobreña, Motril and on towards Almería; north to Granada. There is no railway – the nearest trains leave from Málaga and Granada (AVE to Madrid from both).

Locally

The town is walkable: from Velilla to Cotobro is half an hour along the shore. A town bus runs Almuñécar–La Herradura–Marina del Este several times an hour in summer, less often in winter, and another line to Velilla-Taramay. Taxis wait at the rank on Avenida de Europa or can be phoned; Almuñécar–La Herradura costs around €12–15. Cycling: the N-340 coast road is hilly and busy; bikes and e-bikes can be hired in La Herradura. In summer a shuttle bus runs down to Cantarriján.