Garrucha

Garrucha is a traditional Spanish fishing town nestling between Mojacar Playa and Vera Playa. It is a wonderful fishing port with plenty for all to see and do. The busy fishing port has been the lifeblood of this town for hundreds of years and still forms a substantial part of the commerce of the area. It is a wonderful sight to see the fleet of fishing boats leave every morning during the early hours in a flurry of fishing activity to return later in the day with their fish. Visitors can watch the fishermen offload their catch on the quayside before it is auctioned off. Garrucha boasts some of the finest seafood restaurants in the province of Almeria. You can enjoy the freshest fish cooked in a variety of Spanish styles all day long. The famous local catch is the Garrucha Red Prawns which are only caught in this area of the Mediterranean Sea. At the other end of the fishing port are the pontoons for mooring sports boats.

Garrucha is a beautiful, lively market town which bustles with activity all year round. Spanning the length of the town is a two kilometre long promenade which is smartly paved and lined with palm trees, gardens and children’s play areas. It is a lovely place to take an evening stroll. During the holiday season in the evening there are interesting craft stalls set up along the promenade with rides for the smaller children. Join in with the locals and enjoy the atmosphere. The promenade and down on the quayside are the main areas to find a good selection of coffee bars, ice-cream parlours and fish restaurants. The magnificent golden sandy beach is ideal for playing beach sports such as volleyball and football and equally perfect for just simply relaxing and enjoying the sun.

The Garrucha Fiesta takes place around the middle of August each year with a fair, live music and plenty of eating and drinking mainly along the beach and port area. On the last of the four day event there is a firework display. The other large fiesta is a religious event in honour of the fishermen’s saint The Virgen Del Carmen who protects them whist at sea. A procession leaves the church with the fishermen carrying the image to a boat in the port; they then go to sea , a whole gathering of fishing boats for a blessing ceremony.

There is an interesting selection of shops and buildings in Garrucha, along with its own town hall and police station. According to the Castillian Chronicles of 1327 Garrucha was previously called Almoriac and being a port it was a strategic area in times of war and over the years has actually has three fortresses built, although only one, The Castillo de Jesus Nazareno, still remains. The other two were destroyed either by war or the famous earthquake of 1518. Currently The Castillo de Jesus Nazareno is being restored to become a venue for local cultural events.

Every Friday morning between 9.00 and 13.00 a large traditional Spanish street market, spanning two main streets, comes to life. There you can buy just about anything from DVD’S, watches and leather goods, to clothes, rugs and bed linen, and of course fresh fruit and vegetables and other local produce such as herbs and honey. Hot tasty chickens and churros are also available at the regular stalls each week. Whilst exploring and enjoying the buzz of the market activity why not stop at one of the many tapas bars for a cup of coffee and a traditional Spanish tapa.

The tourist slogan for the town is ‘Garrucha, Sun and Seafood’. If it were possible the slogan would be longer and would include golden sand, palm trees, and life!