Located in its own microclimate with 325 days of sunshine, the Malaga coastline’s western most resort of Estepona has successfully combined tourism with tastefulness on the Costa Del Sol.
Backed by the Sierra Bermeja mountains and 50 miles from Malaga, Estepona is far from popular Costa spots such as Torremolinos and Benalmadena – one reason why it has retained its authentic Spanish town feel. By choosing to develop upscale apartments and five-star hotels such as the Kempinksi, Las Dunas and the Crowne Plaza, Estepona has generally attracted a wealthier clientele and local property companies are still developing luxury apartments, many overlooking golf courses.
But golfers are not the only happy folk in this region. The resort has 13 miles of coastline and three Blue Flag beaches, including the coves of Playa del Cristo, the town’s La Rada beach and the well-known Costa Natura nudist beach in nearby Arroyo Vaquero.
Spa hotels attract those looking to wind down, while boutique hotels and apartments cater for luxury travellers. The mountains offer numerous walking trails.
Estepona’s old town is a white-washed affair with cobbled streets, a historic clock tower and the flower filled Plaza de los Flores. Wet of town is the Blue Flag marina and its lively Sunday market.
Lesser known spots in the area include the Roman sulphur baths of Manilva village and the Sierra Bermeja mountain trail from Estepona to the highest peak, Los Reales, at 1500 metres. Shoppers will find exclusive stores and an infinity pool at Estepona’s beachside Laguna Village complex, while a 15 minute drive away is the shopping haven of Puerto Banus with its yacht-strewn marina (one of 38 in Andalusia).
Next door is Marbella, the “capital” of the Costa del Sol, with its luxury hotels, high-end restaurants and the colourful old town, while foodies will be at home in the Moorish mountain village Benahavis, know locally as the dining room of the Costa del Sol.
What to Do?
At Selwo Aventura, Estepona’s wildlife park, 2000 animals roam its 100 hectares in a semi-free state in specially designed natural habitats, easily explored on foot or in all-terrain vehicles. There’s even accommodation in its two “villages”, Watu and Massai. Equally adventurous is the Bahia Water Park in Algeciras with its slides, flumes and water chutes.
Alternatively, the old mountain railway to Ronda provides spectacular views not visible by car and takes in tiny villages with Victorian stations, waterfalls, cork forests and lakes. Ronda itself is a dramatically located Moorish village, famous for its El Tajo gorge spanned by the 18th century bridge. Other villages worth visiting are Istan and Ojen.
Heading south, surfers haven Tarifa offers year round whale and dolphin watching. The Foundation for Information and Research on Marine Mammals runs daily excursions.
Gibraltar is also a wildlife hotspot. Most famous for the Barbary Apes, Europe’s only wild and free-living primates, the upper rock also attracts rare birds and, in spring and autumn, migrating birds, eagles, buzzards and vultures. The Alameda public gardens house and educational wildlife park, rehabilitating illegally captured wild animals.
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