Southern Spain can be one of the more affordable destinations in the world to visit. But tours and other activities can still add up. Especially when you have an entire family in tow. Luckily, there are a variety of free things to do in La Herradura, Spain with kids.
Your family can hike up to Cerro Gordo on the west side of town, check out the view from the lighthouse on the east side of town, or explore other hikes nearby La Herradura. There are four main playgrounds in town, a weekly Friday family meetup, or head inside on a rainy day to the library at the Centro Civico. And don’t forget about the most obvious free activity for families in La Herradura - the beach!
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Cerro Gordo Nature Preserve
To the west from La Herradura town, you’ll see a cylindrical building sitting atop the peninsula as you enjoy the sunsets. It used to be a defense tower. And because of that, Cerro Gordo has spectacular views of the sea from all angles. It's a fun free activity for families that all ages can enjoy - plus, it's free of course!
If you’re driving, it takes 10-15 minutes to get to Cerro Gordo. Drive up to Restaurante Mirador de Cerro Gordo (according to Google Maps). Park there, and then take the short trail behind the restaurant to the tower for some spectacular views of the coastline on either side of that small peninsula.
If you’re hiking, follow the trail at the far west end of the beach in La Herradura. Right by Chambao de Vicente, there’s a trail that starts amidst some boulders. That trail eventually makes its way up to the tower of Cerro Gordo.
It is an exposed hike, so in the hotter months it’s best to complete in the mornings. Though the top of Cerro Gordo is also a popular spot for watching the sunset in the evenings.
La Herradura Lighthouse
The lighthouse in La Herradura sits on the peninsula between La Herradura and Marina del Este. You can’t tour the lighthouse or anything, but it does provide for some spectacular views of the sea from all angles.
The easiest way to find it is by typing in "Punta de la Mona Lighthouse" into Google Maps and following walking directions from there. The walk up to the lighthouse has a mix of paved roads, gravel or dirt roads, and some trails. When you are walking on paved roads, there isn’t always a sidewalk, but there is always at least a designated pedestrian lane.
You’ll come across a few trails to explore that are more what you would traditionally think of as “hiking”, but they’re better suited for a quick out and back unless you’re in it for the day, as many of them lead to neighboring towns.
Overall, it’s a fun destination for the kids. You’ll definitely get your exercise in, but it’s still doable for bigger kids or with a carrier for little ones. Plus you’ll find a bit of nature without having to go too far, and you’ll see some spectacular views from the top!
Other Hikes
If you have a car available, there are a number of other hikes near La Herradura that can be enjoyed by kids and adults of all ages. I found downloading the Wikiloc app to be helpful when planning out hikes. You can filter by distance, elevation gain, and difficulty level when searching on the map. If you use the paid version, you can also download offline maps to not lose your way if you’re out of a service area.
Some popular family-friendly hikes near La Herradura include ones based from Molvizar, Otivar, and one called Rio Chillar that can be closed in drier months due to fire risk.
Trails are less formal than in some other parts of the world. You won’t typically find a trail map at the trailheads, and they aren’t usually marked very well along the way. That being said, the path is usually pretty intuitive. And if you have the paid version of Wikiloc, you can make sure you’re on track as you go with its GPS feature.
Playgrounds
There are four playgrounds to choose from just in the small town of La Herradura. And you can't find a more kid-friendly activity than a playground. Especially when you're looking for free activities.
In addition to the playgrounds, there’s also a paved sports area next to the beach for things like basketball and football. A lot of families also gather at Plaza de la Indepencia for roller skating, bike riding, ball play, and general kid fun.
The one main playground is located here, next to the secondary school. But you really can't miss it as you're walking down the main beach road. There are two main play structures, swings, and plenty of space. And it’s a good thing it has so much space, because it’s a popular place for all families to gather at all times of the day! Its popularity makes it a fun activity for the whole family in La Herradura, because parents will get to socialize while the kids play.
There are also two beach playgrounds that are convenient when the kids want a break from rock skipping, wave hopping, and paddleboarding. One is on the west side of town near Chiringuito Bueno. The other beach playground is on the east side of town near Chiringuito Bambu. The eastside beach playground is also where the Friday family meetups take place!
The final playground is more inland and takes a decent walk uphill to get to. However, it does provide for some spectacular views, has a basketball court, and is often more protected from the wind when it gets a bit intense down by the beach. It's located on the street "Maravillas Alta".
Go to the Beach
Okay, I know going to the beach is a pretty obvious choice for a free family activity in La Herradura. But I can’t make this list and leave it out! In addition to swimming, rock skipping, and seashell and precious stone hunting, on either far end of town you can also go snorkeling.
To the east, you can snorkel at the Playita you’ll find just as the road starts to head up the hill. To the west, you’ll find people snorkeling by the boulders near Chambao de Vicente. Of course you can snorkel in all areas of the beach in La Herradura. Those are just the places you’re likely to see a larger variety and density of fish because of the large rocks that are there for fish to hide in. The rest of the beach is open sea so less of a gathering place for vulnerable fish.
As the final beach activity, don’t forget to set up shop somewhere for the sunset! If you really want to see the sun dip below the horizon and you’re there at a time of year when the western peninsula gets in the way, try heading to the east end of the beach. Sometimes it provides just enough of a different perspective to allow the sun to be seen all the way to the water as it sets.
Friday Meetup
If your family is social and wants to meet other kids and families, it’s pretty easy to make connections at the beaches and playgrounds at all times of day. But if that doesn’t happen, you’re guaranteed to meet other families looking to socialize every Friday evening at the eastern beach playground next to Chiringuito Bambu. Depending on the time of year, it will either start at 4pm or 5pm. Just ask another family in town, and someone will definitely have an answer for you!
So bring a beach blanket, some snacks, and enjoy an evening chatting with other families and watching another magical sunset at the beach! It's a family activity in La Herradura you won't want to miss.
Almunecar Friday Market
Almunecar is around 15 minutes from La Herradura. It’s a larger town, but also has the amenities that come with a larger city. Things like Aldi, larger supermarkets, some health food shops, and of course, the Friday Market.
I know a market doesn’t necessarily seem like a free activity for kids in La Herradura, but you don’t have to spend money! It was fun to people watch, check out the bustle of the market, and “window” shop at the different stands and tents. We had a fun morning exploring and didn't end up buying anything at all!
Almunecar Friday Markets are every week from 10am - 2pm. Just look for "Mercadillo" in Google Maps and you'll find its location. You’ll find everything you could think of, and everything you never even thought of, at the market. It’s a bustling place of locals and tourists alike. Kids will have fun seeing the hustle and bustle of the market, and maybe even picking something out for themselves! And unlike other weekly markets in the area, this one doesn't close down in colder months and is year round.
You’re likely to find all kinds of clothing… dresses, t-shirts, swimsuits, kids clothes, underwear, shoes, etc. There are also produce stands, souvenir ceramics, regular kitchenware like pots and pans, watches, purses, electronics, baskets, dried goods, and the list goes on.
It’s a fun way to spend the morning, and a good excuse to check out the town of Almunecar.
Library at Centro Civico
Finally, if you’re needing an indoor activity that’s free in La Herradura for the kids, you could check out the small library in town at the Centro Civico. It’s on the third floor and has a modest selection of books for adults and kids. The books are mostly in Spanish, but you can find some books in English as well. Plus, maybe it’s a good time to practice that Spanish!
As you can see, despite its small size, there are plenty of free activities for families in La Herradura. If you’re looking for other things to do in La Herradura with kids, you might be interested in these other articles:
- Things to do with kids in La Herradura without needing a car
- Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in La Herradura
- Indoor Activities for Kids in La Herradura
There are plenty of free and low cost activities for kids in Malaga as well! If you're planning on visiting the city of Malaga, check out 11 Things To Do in Malaga With Kids - No Car Necessary!