At the foot of San Miguel Castle, in the heart of Almuñécar, lies one of the city's best-kept secrets: El Majuelo. This botanical-archaeological park is a surprising mix of tropical nature and ancient ruins. As you walk through the park, among palm trees, bamboo and exotic shrubs from Asia, the Americas and Africa, stone basins suddenly loom up - remnants of a Roman fish salt factory that once supplied the region with garum and canned fish. The park is home to as many as 182 different plant species, carefully categorized and maintained.
What was once a place of labor and production has now become an oasis of tranquility, where you can both learn and relax. Children can roam freely, couples will find shady benches, and those who love photography will hit their memory cards full among the greenery and stones. Free to enter and open at any time of the year - highly recommended for a spontaneous moment of nature in the middle of the city.
El Majuelo is the ideal stop for those who want to escape the bustle of the promenade or the heat of the beach. An hour is all you need to follow the paths, admire the ruins and stop at the information signs explaining all about the past and the plants. Feel free to bring your own drink or picnic, or slide into the small restaurant at the edge of the park. It is a place for nature lovers, history buffs, tranquility
Dutch 
English