Villaricos

Villaricos is a small, unspoilt fishing village full of charm and tranquillity only ten kilometres from the main port of Garrucha.It’s name meaning ‘rich town’ is derived from the silver mines in the immediate area which were heavily mined, and the silver used to pay Hannibal’s mercenaries when they besieged Rome. The village is situated in the foothills of the Sierra Almagrera Mountains and with its crystal clear turquoise waters and wind sheltered cove it is ideal for both diving or for just relaxing with a good book. The diving in the area is some of the best and there is a local dive school. There are two beaches in Villaricos itself, one which is made up of pebbles and the other of golden sand, which, even though it is the more popular is never overcrowded. Between the two port areas is a short promenade where you can either just sit and watch the world go by or take a stroll which local Spanish enjoy in the evening. Further along the coast it is very rugged with rock pools and small sandy inlets.

There is a good selection of restaurants and café/bars where you can sample some of the catch brought in by the local fishermen who go out daily and sell to the local restaurants. On the beach there is a chirinquito great for a spot of lunch when going to the beach for the day or just for drinks and ice creams. Food in the restaurants can be either British or the Traditional Spanish Cuisine or Tapas. Villaricos is very lively on a Sunday morning when a market is held in the small streets. Locals come to sell locally produced fruit and vegetables as well as other market traders selling clothing, leather goods and various household items.