Andalucia, Costa del Sol region

Andalucia, Costa del Sol region

Andalucia is the Spanish Autonomous Community with the greatest number of inhabitants and the second in surface. Its varied landscapes, the benignancy of its climate and the friendly character of its population have turned it into one of the most attractive regions of Spain. Its southern coast, known as the Costa del Sol (Sun Coast), is one of the most popular travel destinations in all Europe. And this is not surprising: the many miles of sandy beaches, a wonderful climate with more than 3,000 hours of sunshine a year, the mild Mediterranean sea, extensive sports and leisure facilities, relaxed atmosphere and excellent food are some very good reasons to spend your vacation just here.

The Costa del Sol stretches over 300 kilometers from the Strait of Gibraltar to the east to the province of Granada, where it borders the Costa Tropical (Tropical Coast). The vast majority of the Costa del Sol, however, belongs to the province of Malaga. Moving from Malaga to the west, one reaches just after a few kilometers Torremilinos, which has become already during the 1960s the center of international tourism in the area. Moving further to the west one finds lined up other well-known tourist resorts: Benalmadena, Mijas and Fuengirola. The next stop is then the chic Marbella, which is well worth a visit. A little quieter than the previously mentioned places are San Pedro de Alcantara and Estepona.

The area offers something for everyone: couples, families, groups of friends and, of course, golfers. The Costa del Sol caters to the young and old alike, offering a host of entertainment choices for both natives and visitors. The coast boasts one of the highest concentrations of world-class golf courses (mostly in the province of Malaga), to the extent that it is often dubbed “The Costa del Golf”. For families there are theme parks, including water parks, safari parks, go-karting and many beautiful public gardens. For those seeking night life the main areas of attraction are, next to the boulevards and town centers of the tourists resorts, Benalmadena’s Puerto Marina & ’24-hour square’ and Puerto Banus near Marbella. Both are trendy, but be warned: the bars and clubs don’t get busy until near midnight and stay open ’till dawn.

The area’s infrastructure is well organized with the new Autopista del Sol providing access from Malaga to Estepona and beyond to Gibraltar. The old N-340 coastal road (now also called the A-7) is a little slower but offers some lovely sea views as it winds its way along the coast. Links between Granada, Seville and Cordoba – cities with a great number of historical and cultural landmarks – are easily accessible for those wishing to venture further inland. The International airport has regular flights to most major cities and is located just 10 minutes from Malaga City centre.

Depending on what you enjoy you could drive for 10 minutes inland and find typical white Andalucia villages, visit designer shops in Puerto Banus, enjoy a meal mixed with the scent of orange blossom in Marbella Old Town, choose from the numerous golf courses on the Costa Del Sol, sit on the beaches, walk in the mountains, ski on the lakes, visit a children’s theme park, go to a flea or street market.