The chirimoya — custard apple — grows almost nowhere in Europe outside this valley, and the subtropical strip behind Almuñécar produces most of Spain's crop. Torrecuevas, up in the hills above the town, marks the harvest with the kind of neighbourhood fiesta that has no interest at all in being a tourist attraction, which is exactly why it is worth going to.
What to expect. Tastings of the fruit itself and of what people make from it, contests, verbena dancing that runs late, and the barrio out in the street for three days. It sits on the 12 October holiday, so the timing is dependable even when the programme is not published far ahead.
Practical bit. October on the Costa Tropical is still warm enough to swim and the summer crowds have gone. Torrecuevas is a few kilometres inland and uphill from Almuñécar — a short drive, no useful bus in the evening. A car also gets you the rest of the valley: the avocado and mango terraces, the Cotobro coves, and the road up to the Alpujarras.
