COSTA TROPICAL ALMUŅECAR: This is the tourist capital of the Costa which takes its name from the sub-tropical microclimate which exists here. The area enjoys more than 320 days of sunshine a year with short mild winters and long hot summers. It's a favoured holiday haunt of the Spanish from Granada and is becoming increasingly popular with foreign visitors. The resort provides excellent leisure facilities but has not been tainted by the trappings of mass tourism. The town's location - 75 kilometres east of Malaga International Airport and just 40 minutes drive from the historic city of Granada - makes it both easily accessible and ideally placed for exploring one of the most fascinating regions of Spain. The coastline stretches for 19 kilometres with no less than 26 different beaches which include wide expanses of sand, sheltered coves and small rocky bays only accessible by steep tracks. SALOBREŅA: described by some as one of the Coasts best kept secrets, this delightful town may not have the international reputation of some of its coastal neighbours but it's an ideal holiday destination for the discerning tourist. Salobreņa can't offer you glitz and glamour - but if you want a relaxing holiday, good beaches, a wealth of leisure activities and a taste of the real Spain then you've come to the right place. MOTRIL: the town of Motril is located in the Spanish region of Andalucia on the Costa Tropical. This is the biggest town on the Costa with a thriving commercial, fishing and leisure port. Situated an hour and a half's drive east of Malaga International Airport and within easy reach of the magnificent Sierra Nevada mountain range, Motril is an ideal base for exploring the many delights of the Andalucian coastline and hinterland. Motril is the Costa's main shopping centre with a hypermarket on the outskirts of the town and many supermarkets, bars, restaurants and nightclubs in and around the town centre. The marina provides a wealth of water sports and boat excursions including trips over to Morocco. The town's coastal strip includes two main beaches - the busiest being Playa Poniente, which is well served with tourist facilities, and the quieter Playa Granada. There are also many sheltered coves, rocky inlets and impressive cliff faces along this stretch of coastline making it popular with divers, snorkellers and sailors. Motril is only a short drive to the fringes of the Alpujarras, one of Spain's most spectacular regions where ancient villages cling to mountainsides on the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada. You'd be hard pushed to find a more fascinating day excursion than a trip into the Alpujarras, made famous by former Genesis guitarist Chris Stewart who chronicled his escape from the rat race here in his best-selling