The Fishing Town of Garrucha

Garrucha is a popular tourist destination due to its superb sandy beaches which draw tourists from all over Europe. Despite its growing popularity for tourism Garrucha remains a small resort which still retains its charm as a lively fishing port on the Costa de Almeria. Garrucha is located between Vera Playa and the much larger tourist resort of Mojacar.

Garrucha is family-friendly with most activities and things to do centering around the sandy beaches, sea and swimming which is great for children of all ages. Garrucha is very much a safe tourist resort with little crime and ideal for families. As well as being a popular place for holidays and vacations, many people from all over Europe have bought property in Garrucha and have decided to live permanently in Garrucha, these people are known as expats with most expatriates originally coming from the UK.

There are a lot of very fun and relaxing things to do as you might expect near a harbour town. Many attractions, trips and excursions you can do when you stay in Garrucha. Do however note that Garrucha is a very small and charming tourist resort so don’t expect much nightlife or opportunities for shopping. Despite this there are many things to do and see and places to visit and explore.

The harbour is the central point of the town because even today Garrucha is still a working fishing town and fishing accounts for a large part of Garrucha’s economy. The fishing boats set off just before dawn and return in the afternoon with their catch. You can even buy fresh fish at the fish market by the quayside. But don’t be fooled by the small size of the port. It is here where Garrucha red prawn is being brought to the world and this prawn is famous.

A prawn is a prawn, is a prawn, is a prawn, right. Well, not in Garrucha. They are so proud of of the local red prawns they even host two events dedicated to this seafood fans’ favourite and there is an homage to the ‘Gamba Roja’ on a marble pedestal as a roundabout centrepiece at the main town entrance.

The superior quality and intense flavour of Garrucha red prawns has made them a highly soughtafter delicacy, not just on the Costa de Almería, but throughout Spain and beyond. They are fished in deep waters off the coast in front of the town, where there is the ideal habitat for the prawns and where they feed off a native species of plankton found on the seabed.

These prawns are so special that there is a “Gamba Roja de Garrucha” Quality Mark, which the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office renewed for 10 years in February 2019. Understandably they fetch a high price and are the star product for the local fishing industry.

As the name suggests Garrucha red prawns have an intense red coloured shell. They are bigger than typical pink-shelled prawns. The meat is white and smooth with pink stripes. You can just slap Garrucha red prawns on the grill or the barbecue. The most traditional way to cook them is to simply place them in a hot pan on a bed of coarse sea salt for three or four minutes on each side, ideally accompanied by an ice cold beer or a crisp white wine. Try them yourself!