Algarrobo is named after the carob tree and it is also one of the villages visited on the route of Sun and Wine. Natives of the town are called Algarrobeños. You have to be careful when arranging to meet someone there. You must specify whether you mean Algarrobo Costa or Algarrobo Pueblo as you could end up waiting 3 km in the wrong location. The Costa has a lovely promenade with bars and restaurants and many foreign residents can be seen cycling or power walking with their Nordic walking poles whilst fishermen bring their boats back to rest on the sand after an early morning fishing spree. Two different worlds rubbing along quietly together.
As you drive into the Pueblo you can admire the new fountain on a circle of grass. There are plenty of parking spaces along the side and top end of the large attractive park and you can leave your car there while you stroll through the village. If you want a peaceful walk then make sure you don´t go at lunchtime when the village sounds like a race circuit as the residents come home from work with their tires screeching on the hot tarmac. As the streets are not much wider than the cars you will spend most of your time ducking into doorways to avoid getting squashed. The winding streets become quite steep in places and little dogs will usually escort you as you continue on your way.
Many of houses have beautiful plants and flowers in their doorways and balconies and the streets are bedecked with a panoply of colour. The Rio Algarrobo passes through the village and after a wet winter the sound of running water refreshes the soul. Like many Axarquia villages this one has prehistoric origins with historical evidence of human settlements from the Bronze Age. The main attraction is the parish church of Santa Ana with its bell tower, built in the 17th century but originally dating back to 1505 and in the municipal boundary are two watchtowers Torreladeada from the Islamic era and Torrenueva, a 16th century military fort.
Interesting times to visit the pueblo are the patron saint´s feria on 20th January which begins with a procession from the chapel of San Sebastian to the parish church. During the second half of August, when they hold the flamenco festival, or at the beginning of September for the traditional bonfires and harvesting. After the grape treading the Verdiales de Algarrobo are danced in country houses where the musical instruments used are castanets, guitar and mortar and percussion using an empty anisette bottle. Algarrobo is situated 37 km from Málaga.