Costa del sol, Spain

The “Coast of the Sun” is situated in the southern region of Spain – in the autonomous community of Andalusia. The region consists of the city of Málaga and the towns of Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Mijas, Marbella, San Pedro de Alcántara, Estepona, Manilva, Vélez-Málaga, Rincon de la Victoria, Nerja, Torrox, the community of Sotogrande, San Roque and La Línea de la Concepción. This coast is a very popular tourist destination and is a hot spot for the rich and famous.

The Costa del sol averages 300 days of sun shine each year with both a moderate summer and winter, making it a fantastic place for sunbathing and outdoor activities. There are fabulous beaches but also beautiful and adventurous mountains in the background as well so you can sunbath one day and go climbing or hiking the next. With such a beautiful climate and diverse terrain, there is something for everybody! Here are a few ideas if you are considering a trip to Costa del sol.

What would a vacation be without a round of golf? There are about 70 golf courses on the Costa del sol. Marbella is one of the best places on the coast to play and has world class golf courses. Or, how about a dolphin safari? There are fantastic dolphin & Whale watching Safaris out in the Straits of Gibraltar with departures from La Linea, Gibraltar and Tarifa. Speaking about the Straits of Gibraltar, you can also take a 15 km trip across the Straits of Gibraltar on a catamaran to visit and go shopping in Tangier in Morocco. Of course you should really take in some bull fighting which is located all over the coast.

For family trips, take a trip to the interactive underwater park, which has almost three thousand species from different regions of the world. The park is devoted to marine life and one of the most amazing attractions is the dolphinarium. The zoo in Fuengirola is considered one of the best in world and the the crocodile park in Torremolinos has reptiles from Africa, Asia and America.

Don’t miss an amazing ride on a cable car that allows visitors to go to the top of the Calamorro peak in the Sierra de Mijas mountain range. At the top is the most amazing view of the whole coast. How about riding in an aerostatic balloon where you float over the Ronda highlands? There is also rock climbing at the El Chorro gorge – which is actually world renowned and a Mecca for those devoted to the sport.

Where to stay? Well, the most well known resorts lie west of Malaga – Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Fuengirola and Mijas Costa. Down the coast lies Marbella with its famous marina at Puerto Banus, Estepona, Sotogrande as well as Gibraltar.