Travesía La Herradura

Abd al-Rahman I, the future founder of the Umayyad Emirate of Córdoba, arrived on these shores in 755 after a perilous journey from Damascus. At the time, the area was known simply as 'Sat' and was prized across the Islamic world for producing exceptional raisins, a testament to the agricultural richness of the coastal valley. Today, the bay of La Herradura retains that same sense of arrival, welcoming swimmers to a 1500-meter course that follows the curve of the Mediterranean coastline. The race, scheduled for September 6, 2026, serves as a late-season gathering for the regional circuit, with participants receiving a timing chip and commemorative cap at the registration desk near the beachside restaurants.

The water and the shore

As you push off from the sand, consider the defense mechanisms that once defined this bay. The town’s coat of arms, granted by King Carlos I in 1526, displays three turbaned heads, a permanent reminder of the era when Barbary pirate raids necessitated constant vigilance from coastal watchtowers. While the threat of piracy has long faded, the environment remains shaped by the surrounding geography. To the east, the Marina del Este at Los Berengueles cove presents depths between 3 and 6.5 meters, where rocky promontories funnel the current into the horseshoe-shaped bay. This distinct maritime character draws athletes who typically navigate the calmer waters found at the neighboring Salobreña event or the nearby Nerja crossing earlier in the summer.

Beyond the immediate coastline, the landscape is deeply layered. Near the upper reaches of the Jate river, which feeds the bay’s northern end, archaeologists have uncovered remains of a 6th-century Byzantine mausoleum, evidence of a human presence stretching back to the Bronze Age. The race day itself begins at 12:00 for the adult category, a timing that allows the morning light to fully illuminate the transition from the sandy shallows to the deeper, protected waters of the horseshoe. Local customs still honor the sea's significance, particularly the tradition of the San Juan bonfires on the night of June 23-24, when residents traditionally wash their eyes in the water at midnight to signify the start of the safe swimming season. By September, the sea has settled into its late-summer rhythm, providing a predictable venue for the final leg of the provincial circuit.