Costa del Sol

The Senda Litoral de Malaga (Malaga Coastal Path) is a projected 160 km path following the entire coast of Malaga province from Manilva to Nerja. Once completed, this long-distance path will be a major tourist attraction for the Costa del Sol, and for Andalucia.

There are many different excursions from La Costa del Sol offering the perfect opportunities to see the major attractions in Andalucia without the hassle of having to organise it yourself. Coach tours where pick up will be either from central meeting points or your hotel.

Mijas can be split into two main areas; Mijas Costa and Mijas Pueblo. Mijas Costa is popular among tourists and has a large English population, it is here that you will find the town's beaches and more hotel and apartment rental opportunities. Mijas Pueblo is the original old town of Mijas and boasts authentic Andalucian town houses, colourfully decorated with flora.

Just 25km from Malaga Airport on the popular Costa del Sol, this Mediterranean coastal town offers winter sun or a lively summer experience. Popular among tourists due to its' accessibility and inexpensive cost of living, Fuengirola has become one of the most popular destinations on this costa.

Home of the popular El Caminito del Rey walk, just south of the stunning Ardeles with its lakes and reservoirs and set in breathtakingly beautiful Andalucian countryside, El Chorro is an excellent destination for those looking for some country air.

Benalmadena is a coastal resort on the popular Costa del Sol with great accessibility from Malaga Airport (19km) and a short drive from popular destinations like Marbella, Torremolinos and Fuengirola. The town is made up of two main parts, the busier Benalmadena on the coast and the more authentic Benalmadena pueblo or old town as it is also known.

Estepona is a rare coastal destination - one of the few towns on the Costa del Sol to have retained its character and traditional feel, despite the influx of tourism in this part of Andalucia. The casco antiguo (old town) is what you'd expect from a picturesque Andalucian town - narrow, cobbled streets lined with beautiful stone houses and plazas, and walls ablaze with vibrant colour from the large variety of flora.

If you're looking for basic, central accommodation in Torremolinos, there is an increasing number of welcoming hostals in the town, especially in Calle del Peligro, which is just a short stroll from the Bajondillo beach. Some of them even have a sea view.

The Caminito del Rey is a cliff-side path hanging 100m above the waters of the river Guadalhorce reservoir, as it runs through the famous beauty spot; El Chorro Gorge, near the villages of El Chorro in Alora and, Ardales, about 25 km inland from Malaga city.

Buying property on the Costa del Sol has long been a popular investment. With good quality villas and apartments spreading from Nerja to Sotogrande, it comes as no surprise. In recent years, the Spanish property market on the Costa del Sol has been providing a steady return on investment.

The Costa del Sol and its resort destinations are home to variety of hotels, here you will find everything from the five star classic accommodation complete with swimming pools, mature gardens with the most amazing tropical foliage, luxury golf resorts hotels, boutique hotels and charming bed and breakfasts.

The major international car rental companies have offices in most Andalucian cities and at the airports such as Málaga Airport, Seville, Jerez. The smaller local car rental companies tend to be less expensive. It's advisable to reserve a rental car online before arriving, particularly during peak periods. On arrival follow the instructions in your rental confirmation.

Puerto Banus is located in the Nueva Andalucia suburb of Marbella, 6km to the west of the town centre, just before you reach the small town of San Pedro de Alcantara. Although it may at first appear as a developed old Spanish fishing village with an impressive mountain backdrop, Puerto Banus was in fact designed and built in 1970 by local property developer José Banús as a luxury marina and shopping complex.

The people of Malaga are proud of the fact that Picasso was born here and it was a big day when the King and Queen of Spain inaugurated the Museo Picasso (Picasso Museum) on the 27th October 2003. On that first day alone almost 2,000 people visited. the museum, which is housed in the Palacio de Buenavista.

It is easy to understand why Malaga City is capital of the Costa del Sol. Once considered the poor cousin of Andalusia’s capital city, Seville, it now competes successfully for attention, thanks to its profusion of quirky museums, delightful pedestrianised centre, innovative restaurants and stylish hotels, many featuring trendy rooftop terraces with bar, pool and stunning views.

The name Alhambra comes from an Arabic root which means "red or crimson castle", perhaps due to the hue of the towers and walls that surround the entire hill of La Sabica which by starlight is silver but by sunlight is transformed into gold.

The Costa de Sol can be divided into two sections: East and West, with Malaga city at its centre. The eastern Costa del Sol is much shorter, stretching from the provincial capital as far as Nerja, where it meets the Costa Tropical of Granada province.

Marbella is known as a glamorous resort town and is a favourite location with the rich and famous, boosted by foreign residents who are seduced by the lifestyle. But there's plenty for ordinary folk to see and enjoy too in southern Spain's answer to St Tropez.

Torremolinos has thankfully long outgrown its Monty Python spam and chips image and, over recent years, has evolved as an attractive and appealing resort noted for its clean sandy beaches, wide choice of hotels and restaurants and unparalleled variety of entertainment, activities and nightlife available.

Nerja is a picturesque coastal resort town some 50 kilometres east of Málaga city conected by the A-7 coastal highway. It marks the eastern limit of Málaga provine's Costa del Sol. Once a sleepy fishing village, the town now has a resident population of over 25,000.